MCCCD Program Description

Fire Investigation I

Course: FSC209

First Term: 2011 Summer I

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S

Description: Methods of determining point of fire origin, path of fire travel, and fire cause. Includes recognizing and preserving evidence; interviewing witnesses; arson laws and types of arson fires; and court testimony, reports, and records.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. List the main elements that determine fire behavior and define heat transfer. (I) 2. Describe the classifications of building construction as they relate to fire investigators. (II) 3. Explain the relationship between point of origin and fire cause. (III) 4. List the primary causes of accidental fires and incendiary fires. (III) 5. Explain the methods of photography and sketching commonly used by fire invetigators. (IV) 6. Simulate the proper methods of investigating and documenting a structural fire. (IV) 7. Cite the primary considerations in investigating electrical, wildland, vehicle, and fatal fires. (V) 8. Explain the difference between an interview and an interrogation and the proper procedures for conducting each. (VI) 9. Explain methods of evidence collection and storage and the uses of forensic laboratories for fire investigations. (VII) 10. Explain the basic rules of evidence and other major legal aspects of arson prosecution. (VIII) 11. Cite the types of investigative reports and explain the content of each. (IX)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Fire Behavior A. Principles of burning 1. Fire triangle 2. Tetrahedron of fire B. Method of heat transfer 1. Conduction 2. Convection 3. Radiation C. Classes of Fires D. Flashover and Backdraft E. Combustion By-Products II. Building Construction A. Classifications 1. Fire resistive 2. Noncombustible 3. Heavy timber 4. Ordinary 5. Wood frame B. Structural Loads 1. Dead 2. Live 3. Impact C. Elements of construction D. Fire walls and fire doors E. Fire protection systems III. Determining Point of Origin and Fire Cause A. Examination of Interior of Structure 1. Ceiling and floor damage 2. Lowest level of burning 3. V patterns 4. Structural damage 5. Depth of charring 6. Glass, melting, and heat damage 7. Drafts 8. Reconstruction of scene 9. Elimination of accidental cause B. Accidental fire causes 1. Chemical heat energy 2. Electrical heat energy 3. Mechanical heat energy 4. Nuclear heat energy 5. Fuel 6. Lightning 7. Sunlight 8. Chemical spills 9. Others C. Incendiary fires and fire cause 1. Indicators of incendiarism 2. Methods used to start fires 3. Insurance companies` roles 4. Motivation of a fire setter 5. Relationship between arson and pyromania IV. Documenting the Fire Scene A. Photography 1. Camera operation 2. Storage of photographs 3. Procedures for intestigative photography 4. Photographs for use in court B. Fire scene sketching 1. Purpose 2. Types of sketches and materials 3. Areas for sketching 4. Minimum requirements of sketch 5. Sketching systems 6. Platting methods C. Fire scene investigation and report writing for structure fires 1. Information collected and recorded 2. Security of scene 3. Documentation of firefighting efforts 4. Safety considerations 5. Examining the structure`s exterior 6. Examining the structure`s interior 7. Interviewing witnesses 8. Documenting description of scene 9. Government sources of information 10. Formulating the written report D. Non-residential rural fires V. Investigating Special Types of Fires A. Electrical fires 1. Primary causes 2. Examining electrical services and equipment 3. Evaluating damage to wire 4. Examining electrical appliances 5. Considerations caused from electrical sources B. Wildland fires 1. Causes 2. Characteristics 3. Effects of wind and terrain 4. Examining the fire scene 5. Agencies to assist with investigations C. Vehicle fires 1. Problems posed by vehicle fires 2. Vehicular fire safety and fuel systems 3. Obtaining facts relating to vehicle fires 4. Multiple vehicle examinations 5. Examining the incident scene 6. Examining the vehicle`s interior and exterior 7. Examining other areas of the vehicle 8. Records pertaining to the vehicle 9. Motives for vehicle incendiarism D. Fatal fires 1. Agencies to be involved 2. Primary responsibilities of the investigator 3. Examining the fire scene 4. Procedure for determing cause of death 5. Procedure for determining victim`s identification 6. Procedure for determining homicide by fire 7. Arson as a means to conceal homicide 8. Suicide by fire 9. Other special considerations VI. Interviews and Interrogations A. Goals 1. Obtain truth 2. Secondary goals B. Procedures for conducting interviews C. Procedures for conducting interrogations VII. Evidence Collection and Presentation A. Collection of evidence 1. Major problems 2. Chain of evidence 3. Storage of evidence 4. Non-fire scene evidence B. Forensic laboratory services 1. Types of evidence 2. Crime scene search 3. Laboratory examinations and equipment 4. Procedures for shipping evidence 5. Recommended fire scene equipment VIII. Legal Aspects of Arson Prosecution A. Rules of evidence B. Types and relevance of evidence C. Investigator/prosecutor cooperation D. Fact Sheets as evidence E. Courtroom testimony and demeanor F. Arrest, trial and court procedures in Arizona G. Types of arson laws H. Elements necessary for arson conviction I. Civil and constitutional rights of individuals J. Courtroom and trial procedures K. Types of law enforcement agencies L. Arrest, search, and seizure M. Common law arson N. Producing the corpus delecti O. Cooperative efforts between public and private investigators IX. Notes and Report Writing A. Reasons for reports B. Content of field notes C. Investigative reports and content 1. Preliminary report 2. Investigation report 3. Prosecution report D. Essential components of reports E. Preparing to write formal reports F. Material information in reports

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 3/22/2011

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.