FIRE PROTECTION AND ARSON INVESTIGATION
SCIENTIFIC FIRE
SCIENTIFIC FIRE
PATTERN ANALYSIS
PATTERN ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTOR: MARK ANGELO R. EDUARTE, RCRIM
SPALLING
Spalling is the breaking, cracking, or flaking of concrete,
masonry, or brick surfaces due to exposure to heat.
It happens when:
Moisture inside concrete turns to steam
Internal pressure builds up
Surface layers break off
Scientific Causes of Spalling
1. Steam pressure from internal moisture
2. Thermal expansion of aggregates
3. Rapid cooling from hose streams
4. Structural stress and collapse
5. Poor-quality or aged concrete
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SPALLING
🚫
1⃣ “Spalling automatically means accelerant was used.” False.
🚫
2⃣ “Deep spalling means the fire started there.” False.
🚫
3⃣ “Spalling only occurs in very hot fires.” False.
4⃣ “Spalling patterns show pour patterns from accelerants.”
🚫Highly unreliable assumption.
WHAT IS OXIDATION?
Oxidation is the basic chemical process of combustion.
In fire investigation context, oxidation refers to:
The chemical combination of oxygen with materials (such as
metals, rock, or soil) caused by exposure to high temperatures.
It often produces:
Discoloration
Rusting
Scaling
Surface changes
Lines of demarcation
TEMPERATURE
DETERMINATION
Temperature determination involves estimating the
approximate temperature reached in a fire by examining
materials that have:
Melted
Warped
Softened
Discolored
Oxidized
TEMPERATURE
DETERMINATION
If that material is found melted or deformed, the fire must
have reached at least that temperature.
Example:
Material Approximate Melting Point
Aluminum ~660°C
Copper ~1085°C
Lead ~327°C
Window glass (softening) ~600–800°C
THERMAL EXPANSION AND
DEFORMATION OF MATERIALS
Thermal expansion is the tendency of materials to
increase in size (length, area, or volume) when heated.
Almost all common materials:
Steel Wood
Concrete Aluminum
Glass
When they cool, some return to their original shape (temporary
deformation), while others undergo permanent deformation.
SMOKE AND
SOOT IN FIRE
INVESTIGATION
What is Soot?
Soot is a black, carbon-rich
particulate formed during
incomplete combustion of
carbon-based fuels.
Modern structures contain many
synthetic materials — meaning
heavy soot production is common
even in accidental fires.
CLEAN BURN
A clean burn is a light or “clean-
looking” area on a surface where
soot has been burned off.
Why it happens:
Direct flame contact
Very intense radiant heat
What it looks like:
Light area beside dark, sooty
surfaces
CALCINATION
Calcination is the heat damage to
gypsum or plaster walls during a
fire.
What happens:
Heat drives out the chemically
bound water in gypsum.
Why it matters:
Helps show heat intensity
May help evaluate burn duration
HEAT
SHADOWING
Heat shadowing occurs when an
object blocks heat from reaching a
surface.
Example:
A chair blocks heat from a wall →
the area behind the chair remains
lighter.
Important Rule:
Conducted heat does NOT create Radiated heat, convected heat, or
heat shadowing.
flame contact can create heat
shadows.
LOCATIONS OF
PATTERNS
Fire patterns can appear on:
Walls
Ceilings
Floors
Structural members
Exterior surfaces
Any surface exposed to heat,
smoke, or flame can show
patterns.
FIRE PATTERN
ANALYSIS
After firefighters declare the fire
out:
The investigator:
1. Identifies fire patterns
2. Analyzes heat effects
3. Traces fire spread
4. Determines possible origin
5. Identifies fuels involved
All analysis must be based on:
✔ Fire dynamics
✔ Scientific method
DYNAMICS OF
PATTERN
PRODUCTION
This means understanding how:
Fire grows
Heat spreads
Flames move
Ventilation affects burning
Without understanding fire
behavior, patterns can be
misinterpreted.
FIRE PATTERN
Fire patterns are the visible or
measurable effects left after a fire.
Examples:
Charring
Oxidation
Melting
Soot deposits
Structural collapse
Color changes
LINES OR AREAS
OF
DEMARCATION
These are borders showing
differences in heat or smoke
damage.
Example:
Dark area beside a light area.
They depend on:
Material type
Heat release rate
Duration
Suppression efforts
TYPES OF FIRE
PATTERNS 1. Movement Patterns
Show the direction the fire
There are two main types:
traveled.
1. Movement Patterns
Examples:
V-patterns
2. Intensity Patterns Smoke trails
Flame spread patterns
These help trace fire back toward
its heat source.
TYPES OF FIRE
PATTERNS 2. Intensity Patterns
Show differences in heat exposure.
There are two main types:
Example:
1. Movement Patterns
Deep char in one area
Light char in another
2. Intensity Patterns
These may indicate:
Fuel quantity
Heat concentration
Fire spread direction
SURFACE
EFFECT OF CHAR
Wood exposed to fire turns into:
Char
Ash
Darkened surfaces
Wood undergoes chemical
decomposition (pyrolysis).
Char is very common in structural
fires.
DEPTH OF CHAR
Investigators measure how deep wood is burned.
General idea:
Deeper char = longer exposure to heat
Less char = farther from heat source
But:
⚠ Depth of char is NOT reliable for calculating exact burn time.
DEPTH OF CHAR
DIAGRAM
Investigators may:
Create a grid
Measure char depth at different
points
Compare differences
This helps trace possible origin.
PASSIVE AND ACTIVE DETECTION
AND SUPPRESSION EQUIPMENT
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
- PROVIDE RESPONSE
- REQUIRES ACTION TO WORK.
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION
- PROVIDE PROTECTION
- WORKS WITHOUT HUMAN ACTION DURING FIRE
ACTIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
Example: Fire Alarm Systems
Detect smoke/fire early and alert
occupants.
ACTIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
Example: Emergency Escape
Lighting
Provides light during power failure
for evacuation.
ACTIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
Example: Disabled Refuge
Communication system for
mobility-impaired persons during
emergencies.
ACTIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
Example: Emergency Voice
Communication System (EVCS)
Allows firefighters to communicate
in high-rise buildings.
ACTIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
Example: Public Address / Voice
Alarm
Plays announcements for
evacuation.
ACTIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
Example: Portable Fire
Extinguishers
Used manually to put out small fires.
PASSIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
Its goal:
Prevent fire spread
Contain fire
Protect structure
Example: Fire Doors
Slow fire and smoke spread.
PASSIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
Its goal:
Prevent fire spread
Contain fire
Protect structure
Example: Compartmentation
Fire-resistant walls and floors to
limit fire size.
PASSIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
Its goal:
Prevent fire spread
Contain fire
Protect structure
Example: Fire Curtains
Automatic barriers to stop fire
spread.
PASSIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
Its goal:
Prevent fire spread
Contain fire
Protect structure
Example: Fire & Smoke Dampers
Installed in ducts to stop fire
traveling through ventilation.
SUMMARY
Fire investigation relies on:
Understanding fire behavior
Identifying patterns
Interpreting heat effects properly
Avoiding assumptions
Remember:
Fire patterns show how the fire behaved
— not automatically why it started.
THANK YOU!