JUSTIN ADAM SALES (4BS CRIMINOLOGY)
CDI 6, FIRE PROTECTION AND ARSON INVESTIGATION
EVIDENCES IN ARSON
EVIDENCE, in law, any of the material items or assertions of fact that may be
submitted to a competent tribunal as a means of ascertaining the truth of any alleged
matter of fact under investigation before it.
ARSON, Is Any person who burns or sets fire to the property of another.
PRIMA FACIE is a Latin expression meaning at first sight or based on first
impression. The literal translation would be 'at first face' or 'at first appearance', from
the feminine forms of primus and facies, both in the ablative case.
FIRE INSURANCE is a contract of insurance against the loss/damage by accidental
fire or other occurrences customarily included under a fire policy.
THERMAL PATTERN ANALYSIS is the processing of burned substance its residue
and visual patterns of charring, melting or point of blast from a pressurized elements.
1. V-PATTERN Section 4 of NFPA 921 states that any fuel source can cause
inverse "V" patterns. When a fire burns against combustible wall, it creates an
inverted "V" pattern. As the fire burns up and out it reaches the ceiling. Now
the fire can no longer burn up, only out.
2. DOUGHNUT - Igniting on a flat surface that spreads and feeds on the
material in a round type on it’s reach. Commonly slower in spreading as it
heat its surrounding before it becomes the fuel for the fire to consume.
3. RUN DOWN patterns are indication of ignition of a part of the property from
the upper level going down. Commonly caused by melted plastics, rubber or
any substance that is flammable as wood charred chips can also aid the fire
to consume any flammable substance beneath it.
4. LIQUID POUR Typically fire travelled based on the presence of ignitable
liquid commonly identified as gasoline, alcohol or any flammable liquid making
contact into solid surfaces causing irregular pattern of burning
5. BLACK SOOT are created by the depositing carbon caused by fire, it shows
whenever large amount of fumes or smoke travel in other parts of the burning
property.
6. COLUMNAR Pattern is a-like pattern of the V, however it differs from the heat
and fuel-feed intensity of the material burning as the V pattern represents a
slower rate of burn unlike in columnar which indicated the substance as more
intense as it carries the flame with more pressure causing a straight pattern
vertically
COMMON EVIDENCES IN ARSON
A. DEPTH OF CHAR: It means how deep the burning char from the surface of
the wood was, it was used to indicate the burning time including the location
where the fire originated.
B. CRAZING OF GLASS: It means the presence of irregular cracks in glass
because of the rapid heating which usually was an indication of accelerators.
C. RUBBER Mostly indication of electrical induced fire. Found as solidified
molten rubber or flakes in electrical wiring, though electrical wiring is not
considered as maintaining substance to fuel fire, but it can be an easy pin-
pointed location to cause ignition such as sabotaged electrical appliances or
lines.
D. PLASTICS Criminals go after into easily and combustible materials to cause
arson, and one of it are plastics as it is harder to extinguish due to its
properties than wood fires and it is commonly used as containers for gasoline
and other highly flammable fluids
PD 1613
ARSON DEFINED : Section 1. Arson. Any person who burns or sets fire to the
property of another shall be punished by Prision Mayor. The same penalty shall be
imposed when a person sets fire to his own property under circumstances which
expose to danger the life or property of another.
AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES: Section 4. Special Aggravating
Circumstances in Arson. The penalty in any case of arson shall be imposed in its
maximum period;
1. If committed with intent to gain;
2. If committed for the benefit of another;
3. If the offender is motivated by spite or hatred towards the owner or
occupant of the property burned;
4. If committed by a syndicate.
PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF ARSON:
Section 6. Prima Facie evidence of Arson. Any of the following
circumstances shall constitute prima facie evidence of arson:
1. If the fire started simultaneously in more than one part of the building or
establishment.
2. If substantial amount of flammable substances or materials are stored
within the building note necessary in the business of the offender nor for
household us.
3. If gasoline, kerosene, petroleum or other flammable or combustible
substances or materials soaked therewith or containers thereof, or any
mechanical, electrical, chemical, or electronic contrivance designed to
start a fire, or ashes or traces of any of the foregoing are found in the ruins
or premises of the burned building or property.
4. If the building or property is insured for substantially more than its actual
value at the time of the issuance of the policy.
5. If during the lifetime of the corresponding fire insurance policy more than
two fires have occurred in the same or other premises owned or under the
control of the offender and/or insured.
6. If shortly before the fire, a substantial portion of the effects insured and
stored in a building or property had been withdrawn from the premises
except in the ordinary course of business.
7. If a demand for money or other valuable consideration was made before
the fire in exchange for the desistance of the offender or for the safety of
the person or property of the victim.