Fire and Arson Evidence

Fire may be used by criminals to

• burn down structures

• commit crimes

• destroy evidence

Forensic scientists study the effect of fire damage to determine if the fire was _________________

• an accident or arson

• accident or useful

All fires from burn patterns.

• True

• False

Burn patterns are influenced by what?

• combustible material

• how much oxygen is present

• the type of fire that is burning

• smoke stains

Examples of accelerants include

• gasoline

• kerosene

• chemicals

• gases

• wood

What is a trailer?

• accelerant

• material designed to spread the fire

Two main types of fire analysis

• solid samples

• liquid samples

• evaporation

Two key criteria for investigating an arson scene are

• burn patterns

• locate the point of origin

• determine the cause3 of fire

list two examples of physical evidence found at a fire scene

What kind of imprints and impressions do scientists look for as evidence?

• fingerprints

• tool marks

• tire tracks

• footprints