Fire investigation procedures

Author(s):  
John J. Lentini
Keyword(s):  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Yuan Lei ◽  
Tzu-Yan Tseng ◽  
Kuang-Chung Tsai

Author(s):  
Kerry D. Parrott ◽  
Pat J. Mattes ◽  
Douglas R. Stahl

This paper proposes that the advanced Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) techniques and methodology currently used by the automotive industry for product and process design can be reversed and used as an effective failure/root cause analysis tool. This paper will review FMEA methodologies, explain the newest advanced FMEA methodologies that are now being used in the automotive industry, and will then explain how this methodology can be effectively reversed and used as a failure analysis and fire cause determination tool referred to as a “reverse FMEA” (rFMEA). This paper will address the application of these techniques and methodology to vehicle fire cause determination. This methodology is particularly suited to situations where multiple potential fire causes are contained within an established area of origin. NFPA 921 Guide for Fire & Explosion Investigations [1] and NFPA 1033 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator [2], often referenced by the fire investigation community, prescribe following a systematic approach utilizing the scientific method for fire origin and cause determinations. The rFMEA methodology is proposed as a fire investigation tool that assists in that process. This “reverse FMEA” methodology will then be applied to a hypothetical, illustrative case study to demonstrate its application.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 76-88
Author(s):  
I. S. Taubkin

The article addresses the issues of the particular terminology for fire forensic investigations. Definitions for the basic parameters of a fire hazardous area, determining its susceptibility to ignition, and their relationship to the impulses initiating such areas’ combustion are analyzed.Two main tasks of forensic fire examinations are reviewed: establishing the technical cause of a fire, its organizational cause, and consequences. The author gives definitions for these tasks and the term “ignition source”.The paper’s relevance stems from the need to prevent mistakes in terminology when conducting a forensic fire investigation. The article may be of use for practicing experts and specialists in fire forensics’ theory and practice.


Author(s):  
Amanda Davies ◽  
Barney Dalgarno

<span>The effective teaching of fire investigation skills presents logistical challenges because of the difficulty of providing students with access to suitable fire damaged buildings so that they can undertake authentic investigation tasks. At Charles Sturt University (CSU), in the subject JST415, </span><em>Fire Investigation Cause and Origin Determination</em><span>, the novel approach of providing students with a CD based virtual environment based on the scene of a burned down house, as an alternative to having them undertake investigation of a real fire scene, has been implemented. This paper describes a quantitative and qualitative study exploring the effectiveness of this teaching resource. A key finding from this study was that students felt that the virtual fire investigation task had important advantages over undertaking a real investigation task, even though there were some limitations in the overall degree of realism of the experience. The results also suggested that students found that the visual fidelity and navigation capabilities provided within the environment were quite adequate for carrying out their fire investigation activity. Importantly, students also felt that the ability to revisit the virtual scene as many times as they wanted, at a time convenient to them, gave it advantages over a real investigation task if they were to be provided with only one or the other.</span><br />


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