Practical Fire and Arson Investigation, Second Edition

Did you know. . .. . . that arson has been described as the fastest-growing crime in America?. . . that arson is the most expensive crime committed?. . . that over 8 billion dollars was estimated lost due to fires in 1994?. . . that an estimated 86,000 structure fires of incendiary or suspicious origin were reported in 1994?David Redsicker provides these statistics and much more, including practical methods, information, and advice for investigating these types of crimes, in Practical Fire and Arson Investigation, Second Edition.Extensively rewritten second edition of this practical manual - More than 40% new material!Practical Fire and Arson Investigation, Second Edition is a significantly revised, updated, and expanded new edition of this best-selling book in the Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations series, edited by Vernon Geberth. As in the first edition, specific details on the basic principles are presented, and advanced applied techniques for conducting a thorough fire and arson investigation are detailed. New topics covered in the Second Edition include:Extensively rewritten chapters on determining origin and cause, eliminating accidental fire causes, investigating fatal fires and vehicular fires, and documenting the fire/crime sceneFire scene photography using "painting with light"Importance of evidence preservation and analysis in civil litigation of liability and product defects

Arson: The American ExperienceFire ServicePolice ServicePublic AwarenessFire Investigation MethodologyModel Arson Task ForceRole of the Fire InvestigatorSix Basic Steps for Fire InvestigationReferences and Selected ReadingsArson Motives and PathologyArson for ProfitCommercial Fire ChecklistRevenge and PrejudiceVanityJuvenile Fire Setters and VandalismCrime ConcealmentPsychological CompulsionMass Civil Disturbance (Riot)TerrorismReferences and Selected ReadingsBuilding Construction: Fire Problems and PrecautionsClassification of Building ConstructionBuilding ComponentsStructural LoadsHigh-Rise ConstructionStructural Fire PrecautionsFire Extension and Accepted Architectural DesignsDesign ProblemsConstruction and Material ProblemsFire Detection, Alarm, and Suppression SystemsNeutralizing Fire Protection SystemsGlossary of Building TermsReferences and Selected ReadingsChemistry and Behavior of FireComponents of FireHeatOxygen and OxidationFuel and Its Physical StateChemical Chain ReactionOther Terms Relating to the Chemistry of FireBehavior of FireClassification of FirePhases of FireRate of BurnStructural Fire SpreadDirection and Rate of SpreadBurn PatternsRapid Movement - Slow MovementSmoke and Flame ColorFire SuppressionReferences and Selected ReadingsDetermining Origin and CausePhysical Examination of the Fire SceneExterior ExaminationInterior ExaminationRoom and Points of OriginFire LanguageSummaryReferences and Selected ReadingsEliminating Accidental CausesElectrical FiresLightningGas and Flammable VaporsBuilding Heating EquipmentAuxiliary Home Heating EquipmentCooking-Related FiresChildren and PetsImproper Storage of Combustibles/FlammablesSpontaneous Combustion/IgnitionSmokingClandestine LaboratoriesConstruction, Renovation, and DemolitionDirect SunlightProduct Liability and SubrogationReferences and Suggested ReadingsInvestigating Fatal FiresSix-Phase Investigative ApproachFire IncidentExamination of the BodyOrigin and Cause/Investigative CanvassDetermining Investigative ProcedureCause of Death and Investigative ProcedureFollow-Up InvestigationArrest and TrialSpecial Evidence at Fire ScenesReferences and Selected ReadingsInvestigating Vehicular FiresPoliciesNotification and ResponseVehicle Collisions and Relation to FiresVehicle Identification and Owner InformationSalvage ExaminationElimination of Accidental CausesMultiple Points of OriginHeat IndicatorsOther FactorsReferences and Selected ReadingsIncendiary Fire EvidenceTime-Delayed Ignition DevicesAccelerants and Related Burn PatternsLegal Aspects of Evidence CollectionEvidence CollectionIdentification of EvidenceLaboratory Analysis and TestingEvidence StorageShipment/Transferal of EvidencePresenting Evidence in CourtDisposal of EvidenceConclusionReferences and Selected ReadingsAppendixDocumenting the Fire/Crime SceneCrime SceneDocumentation SequencePhotographyVideographySketchesReferences and Selected ReadingsSurveillancePlanning the Surveillance OperationReconnaissanceSurveillance MethodsApplying Surveillance to Arson InvestigationSummaryReferences and Selected ReadingsInterviewing and InterrogationInvestigative CanvassEvaluating the SubjectTimelinessPhysiological FactorsUnique Interview SituationsInitial Interview Procedure: An ExampleInterviewing and Interrogation StrategiesCommon Interviewing ErrorsSummary of GuidelinesLying WitnessConstitutional Rights of IndividualsReferences and Selected ReadingsCourt Qualification and TestimonyPretrial TestimonyTrial PreparationWitness Stand Behavioral GuidelinesCross ExaminationDefense ExpertStandard for Professional Qualifications of Fire InvestigatorReferences and Selected ReadingsLegal AspectsIntroductionDefinitionsProblems of Proof in Arson ProsecutionOther Legal ConsiderationsExigent CircumstancesCriminal Search WarrantFederal Rules of EvidenceProsecution for Insurance FraudSummaryReferences and Selected ReadingsIndex