Advancing Arson Investigation: A Comprehensive Review of Crime Scene Techniques, Analytical Methods, and Evidence Management
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract: Catching arson has numerous constituents and is all about effectively establishing the scene, the cause, and how it occurred. This all-encompassing look highlights the evolution of crime scene tactics, analytical instruments, and management practices involved in managing arson investigations. The approach increasingly presents different technologies that can be utilized for fire scene documentation, including digital forensics and fire pattern analysis, as well as the significance of forensic chemistry in identifying accelerants. It also discusses evidence collection, preservation, and chain of custody methods considered best practices for maintaining the integrity of findings for use in litigation. The paper highlights how fire science and law enforcement skills are exploited with new analytical tools to make arson investigation an interdisciplinary field in precision and efficiency. It demonstrates how, through this analysis, ongoing development in the field may be noted and further recommendations made for improvement of investigatory outcomes concerning arson cases.
Downloads
References
Beety, V. E., & Oliva, J. D. (2018). Evidence on fire. NCL Rev., 97, 483.
Bian, C. (2018). Thermogravimetric analysis of arson evidence. Procedia engineering, 211, 456-462.
Cheenmatchaya, A., & Kungwankunakorn, S. (2018). The detection of residual gasoline for forensic soil investigation in arson. Australian journal of forensic sciences, 50(1), 110-121.
Chi, J. H. (2013). Using thermal analysis experiment and Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) to reconstruct an arson fire scene. Journal of thermal analysis and calorimetry, 113(2), 641-648.
Chi, J. H., & Peng, P. C. (2016). Application of investigation techniques to identify an arson fire. Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, 39(5), 578-584.
Choi, S., & Yoh, J. J. (2017). Fire debris analysis for forensic fire investigation using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy, 134, 75-80
Dhall, K., Sodhi, G. S., & Kapoor, A. K. (2014). Development and enhancement of bloodied marks exposed to arson simulation. Indian Police J, 61(3), 187-96.
Franjić, S. (2018). Investigation of arson. J Crim Forensic Stud, 1(1), 180001.
Halford, E., Keningale, P., Taleb Hussain, A., & Condon, C. (2024). Assessing the utility of a virtual reality arson crime scene investigation simulation. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 18, paae122.
Harrison, K. (2013). The application of forensic fire investigation techniques in the archaeological record. Journal of Archaeological Science, 40(2), 955-959.
Henneberg, M. L., & Morling, N. R. (2018). Unconfirmed accelerants: Controversial evidence in fire investigations. The International Journal of Evidence & Proof, 22(1), 45-67
Hong, H., Xie, D., Duo, S., & Wang, W. (2020). Investigating the oxidation behavior of carbon steel in fire scene: A new method for fire investigations. ScienceAsia, 46(1), 59-64.
Icove, D. J., & Hargrove, T. K. (2014, July). Project Arson: uncovering the true Arson rate in the United States. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on Fire Investigation (ISFI 2014), Sarasota, FL, USA (pp. 283-292).
Kebakaran, T. (2018). Forensic gas chromatography analysis of time elapsed gasoline in fire scene investigation. Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, 22(1), 72-79
Korver, S., Schouten, E., Moultos, O. A., Vergeer, P., Grutters, M. M., Peschier, L. J., ... & Ramdin, M. (2020). Artificial intelligence and thermodynamics help solving arson cases. Scientific reports, 10(1), 20502.
Labree, W., Nijman, H., Van Marle, H., & Rassin, E. (2010). Backgrounds and characteristics of arsonists. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 33(3), 149-153.
Lentini, J. J. (2012). The evolution of fire investigation and its impact on arson cases. Crim. Just., 27, 12.
Maurer, M. K., Bukowski, M. R., Menachery, M. D., & Zatorsky, A. R. (2010). Inquiry-Based Arson Investigation for General Chemistry Using GC− MS. Journal of Chemical Education, 87(3), 311-313
Muller, D., Levy, A., & Shelef, R. (2011). Detection of gasoline on arson suspects’ hands. Forensic science international, 206(1-3), 150-154
Muller, D., Levy, A., & Shelef, R. (2014). A new method for the detection of ignitable liquid residues on arsonist suspects hands. Fire technology, 50(2), 393-402.
O'Hagan, A., & Ellis, H. (2021). A critical review of canines used to detect accelerants within an arson crime scene. Forensic Research and Criminology International Journal, 9(2), 65-72.
Rao, D. (2014). An Autopsy Study of Homicide and Ar-son-54 Cases. Int J Forensic Sci Pathol, 2(4), 30-33.
Sodhi, G. S., & Kaur, J. (2020). Forensic Investigation of Arson: A Review. The Indian Police Journal, 67(1), 49-54.
Sturaro, A., Vianello, A., Denti, P., & Rella, R. (2013). Fire debris analysis and scene reconstruction. Science & Justice, 53(2), 201-205.
Touroo, R., & Fitch, A. (2018). Crime scene findings and the identification, collection, and preservation of evidence. Veterinary Forensic Pathology, Volume 1, 9-25.
Yadav, V. K., Nigam, K., & Srivastava, A. (2020). Forensic investigation of arson residue by infrared and Raman spectroscopy: From conventional to non-destructive techniques. Medicine, Science and the Law, 60(3), 206-215.
Zhang, Y., Zhu, X., Zhao, C., Peng, B., Yang, S., & Xie, L. (2019, October). Study of diesel residues from fire debris in a bus arson experiment. In 2019 9th International Conference on Fire Science and Fire Protection Engineering (ICFSFPE) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
Darrer, M., Jacquemet-Papilloud, J., & Delémont, O. (2008). Gasoline on hands: Preliminary study on collection and persistence. Forensic science international, 175(2-3), 171-178.
Green, M. K., Kuk, R. J., & Wagner, J. R. (2017). Collection and analysis of fire debris evidence to detect methamphetamine, pseudoephedrine, and ignitable liquids in fire scenes at suspected clandestine laboratories. Forensic Chemistry, 4, 82-88.
Cavanagh, K., Du Pasquier, E., & Lennard, C. (2002). Background interference from car carpets—the evidential value of petrol residues in cases of suspected vehicle arson. Forensic Science International, 125(1), 22-36.
Anderson, G. S. (2005). Effects of arson on forensic entomology evidence. Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal, 38(2), 49-67.
Ogle, R. A., Haussmann, G., Lucas, R. J., Carpenter, A. R., & Morrison III, D. R. (2003). The Scientific Investigation of Arson Fires.
Malainey, S. L., & Anderson, G. S. (2020). Effect of arson fires on survivability of entomological evidence on carcasses inside vehicle trunks. Forensic science international, 306, 110033.
Wang, N., Zhao, S., Cui, S., & Fan, W. (2021). A hybrid ensemble learning method for the identification of gang-related arson cases. knowledge-based systems, 218, 106875.
Pandohee, J., Hughes, J. G., Pearson, J. R., & Jones, O. A. (2020). Chemical fingerprinting of petrochemicals for arson investigations using two-dimensional gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection and multivariate analysis. Science & Justice, 60(4), 381-387.
A forensic guide for crime investigators : Standard operating procedures.
https://specac.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-atr-ftir-spectroscopy/
Suvar, N. S., Prodan, M., Ghicioi, E., & Toplician, A. (2024). Identification of hazardous organic substances for fire investigation with portable GC-MS. In MATEC Web of Conferences (Vol. 389, p. 00020). EDP Sciences.
Jais, F. I., Mastura, S., Mahat, N. A., Ismail, D., & Asri, M. N. M. (2020). Forensic Analysis of Accelerant on Different Fabrics Using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Chemometrics Techniques. Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences, 16(2).
Aqel, A., Dhabbah, A. M., Yusuf, K., AL-Harbi, N. M., Al Othman, Z. A., & Yacine Badjah-Hadj-Ahmed, A. (2016). Determination of gasoline and diesel residues on wool, silk, polyester and cotton materials by SPME–GC–MS. Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 71, 730-736.
Suvar, N. S., Prodan, M., Ghicioi, E., & Toplician, A. (2024). Identification of hazardous organic substances for fire investigation with portable GC-MS. In MATEC Web of Conferences (Vol. 389, p. 00020). EDP Sciences
Dhabbah, A. M. (2020). Detection of petrol residues in natural and synthetic textiles before and after burning using SPME and GC-MS. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 52(2), 194-207.
Arnon Grafit, Dan Muller, Sarit Kimchi, Yaniv Y.Avissar, Development of a Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) Fiber Protector and its Application in Flammable Liquid Residues Analysis, Forensic Science International https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.09.004
Muehlethaler, C., Leona, M., & Lombardi, J. R. (2016). Review of surface enhanced Raman scattering applications in forensic science. Analytical Chemistry, 88(1), 152-169.
Yadav, V. K., Nigam, K., & Srivastava, A. (2020). Forensic investigation of arson residue by infrared and Raman spectroscopy: From conventional to non-destructive techniques. Medicine Science and the Law, 60(3), 206–215. https://doi.org/10.1177/0025802420914807
Lancaster, S. T., Sahlin, E., Oelze, M., Ostermann, M., Vogl, J., Laperche, V., ... & Irrgeher, J. (2024). Evaluation of X-ray fluorescence for analysing critical elements in three electronic waste matrices: A comprehensive comparison of analytical techniques. Waste Management, 190, 496-505.
Vanhaecke, F., Resano, M., Koch, J., McIntosh, K., & Günther, D. (2010). Femtosecond laser ablation-ICP-mass spectrometry analysis of a heavy metallic matrix: determination of platinum group metals and gold in lead fire-assay buttons as a case study. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 25(8), 1259-1267.
Hong, H., Xie, D., Duo, S., & Wang, W. (2020). Investigating the oxidation behavior of carbon steel in fire scene: A new method for fire investigations. ScienceAsia, 46(1), 59-64.
Gagliano‐Candela, R., Colucci, A. P., & Napoli, S. (2008). Determination of firing distance. Lead analysis on the target by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Journal of forensic sciences, 53(2), 321-324.
Mach, T., Rogula-Kozłowska, W., Bihałowicz, J. S., & Rybak, J. (2023). Elemental composition and origin of PM10 in a fire station in Poland. Real-time results from the XRF analysis. Environment Protection Engineering, 49(1).
Nammari, D. R., Hogland, W., Marques, M., Nimmermark, S., & Moutavtchi, V. (2004). Emissions from a controlled fire in municipal solid waste bales. Waste Management, 24(1), 9-18.
Chi, J. H., & Peng, P. C. (2016). Application of investigation techniques to identify an arson fire. Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, 39(5), 578-584.
Juvonen, R., Lakomaa, T., & Soikkeli, L. (2002). Determination of gold and the platinum group elements in geological samples by ICP-MS after nickel sulphide fire assay: difficulties encountered with different types of geological samples. Talanta, 58(3), 595-603.
Clair, E. G. (1978). Forensic Chemistry in Canada—In Review and Retrospect—. Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal, 11(2), 167-177.
Kobilinsky, L. (Ed.). (2011). Forensic chemistry handbook. John Wiley & Sons.
Bastide, B., Porter, G., & Renshaw, A. (2019). Detection of latent bloodstains at fire scenes using reflected infrared photography. Forensic Science International, 302, 109874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109874
Choi, S., & Yoh, J. J. (2017). Fire debris analysis for forensic fire investigation using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy, 134, 75–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2017.06.010
Dhall, J. K., Sodhi, G. S., & Kapoor, A. K. (2013). A novel method for the development of latent fingerprints recovered from arson simulation. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 3(4), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejfs.2013.03.002
Martin Fabritius, M., Broillet, A., König, S., & Weinmann, W. (2018). Analysis of volatiles in fire debris by combination of activated charcoal strips (ACS) and automated thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (ATD/GC–MS). Forensic Science International, 289, 232–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.05.048
O’Hagan, A., & Calder, R. (2020). DNA and fingerprint recovery from an arson scene. Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal, 8(1), 15–29. https://doi.org/10.15406/frcij.2020.08.00303
Vineyard, A. R., Hazelrigg, E. J., Ehrhardt, C. J., & Connon, C. C. (2019). Evaluation of Bluestar® Forensic Magnum and Other Traditional Blood Detection Methods on Bloodstained Wood Subjected to a Variety of Burn Conditions,. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 64(3), 878–887. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13946
Yadav, V. K., Nigam, K., & Srivastava, A. (2020). Forensic investigation of arson residue by infrared and Raman spectroscopy: From conventional to non-destructive techniques. Medicine, Science and the Law, 60(3), 206–215. https://doi.org/10.1177/0025802420914807
Jose R. Almirall & Kenneth G. Furton, Analysis and Interpretation of Fire Scene Evidence, 1st edn., London, 2004.
Max M. Houck & Jay A. Siegel, Fundamentals of Forensic Science, 2nd edn., USA, 2001.
B.R. Sharma, Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials, 4th edn., Delhi, 2007.
National Building Code of India (Fire and Life Safety), Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, 2005
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles published in our journal are licensed under CC-BY 4.0, which permits authors to retain copyright of their work. This license allows for unrestricted use, sharing, and reproduction of the articles, provided that proper credit is given to the original authors and the source.