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Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation

By John J. Lentini

Published January 26th 2006 by CRC Press – 608 pages

Series: Protocols in Forensic Science

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Description

Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation provides comprehensive coverage from historical, developmental, current, and practical perspectives. The author, uniquely qualified with years of experience in both on-site investigations and lab analyses, provides a resource that is unparalleled in depth and focus. The book is distinctive in that it not only discusses the appropriate techniques for fire scene investigation and the chemical analysis of fire debris, but it also focuses on the history of fire investigation and how the profession has evolved.

Specific topics of interest include:

  • An interpretation of GC-MS data from ignitable liquid residues

  • An explanation of fire analysis as it relates to chemistry, physics, and fluid dynamics

  • A critical assessment of common fire investigation errors with a discussion of how these errors affect real cases

  • A systematic examination of fire investigation mythology - how the myths originated and how they continue to be promulgated

  • The presentation of landmark legal cases that affect the protocol of fire investigations

  • The development of new tools used in investigations

  • Professional interaction - how to deal with clients, expert witnesses, lawyers, and the courts

    A thorough and accessible book, Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation provides not only the practical information necessary to conduct an effective inquiry but also with insight into the science, history, and theory behind what makes fire investigation a multi-faceted profession.

    • Reviews

    "…Lentini has witnessed fire investigation and laboratory analysis move from art to science and it seems that with this in mind he has attempted to capture the truth and expose the mythology of fire investigation. . . What makes this book particularly readable is Lentini's easy, conversational style and the fact that the publisher spared no expense with the illustrations…contains over 360 colour photographs and numerous other colour diagrams and figures…the quality of the colour reproduction is high and the illustrations definitely enhance the value of the book to the reader…well worth the cost."

    -Mark Sandercock, Ph.D., Canadian Society of Forensic Science

    "Every fire investigator, fire analyst, consulting expert, and civil and criminal fire litigation attorney should read this book. …Overall the fully NFPA 921 compliant book is not so much an elementary textbook on how to do fire investigations as it is a primer on how to do them correctly and how to draw accurate, provable conclusions. …Perhaps the most important and unique aspect of the book is this point of view. Without regard for the feelings of the incompetent, Lentini's text highlights and holds up to scrutiny the frequent errors in fire investigation science, technology, and methodology rampant in fire investigation today and in the past. …Even beyond its content, this is one of the finest and most expensively produced fire investigation texts ever."

    Patrick M. Kennedy, CFEI, CFPS, MIFireE

    Principal Expert

    Fire and Explosion Analyst

    John A. Kennedy and Associates

    Chairman,

    National Association of Fire Investigators

    Contents

    Introduction

    Fire and Science

    The Chemistry and Physics of Combustion

    Fire Dynamics

    Fire Investigation Procedures

    Analysis of Ignitable Liquid Residues

    Evaluation of Ignition Sources

    Thirty Fire Scene Scenarios

    The Mythology of Arson Investigation

    Sources of Error in Fire Investigation

    The Professional Practice of Fire Investigation

    Name: Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation (Hardback) – CRC Press 
    Description: By John J. Lentini. Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation provides comprehensive coverage from historical, developmental, current, and practical perspectives. The author, uniquely qualified with years of experience in both on-site investigations and lab analyses,...
    Categories: Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Science - Law