5/18/2024 2:26:01 PM	FIRE 209 Course Outline as of Fall 2013	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  FIRE 209	Title:  FIRE INVESTIGATION 1A
Full Title:  Fire Origin and Cause Determination
Last Reviewed:2/25/2013

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.50	Lecture Scheduled	1.25		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	21.88
Minimum	1.50	Lab Scheduled	1.00		2 min.	Lab Scheduled	17.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	2.25			Contact Total	39.38
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  43.75

Total Student Learning Hours: 83.13

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  P/NP Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

This course covers the principles of fire investigation and the roles and responsibilities of a fire investigator, fire investigation and arson laws, the legal aspects of fire investigation, search and seizure procedures, documentation of fire scenes, evidence collection, fire behavior and chemistry and its effect on fire investigations, accidental ignition sources, principles of electricity and electrical ignition sources, arson fire indicators, incendiary devices, vehicle, structural and wildland fire investigation, the effect of explosions on fire investigations.  Upon successful completion of the course, the student is awarded a Fire Investigation 1A certificate from the State Board of Fire Services.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Course Completion of FIRE 71 AND Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course covers the principles of fire investigation and the roles and responsibilities of a fire investigator, fire investigation and arson laws, the legal aspects of fire investigation, search and seizure procedures, documentation of fire scenes, evidence collection, fire behavior and chemistry and its effect on fire investigations, accidental ignition sources, principles of electricity and electrical ignition sources, arson fire indicators, incendiary devices, vehicle, structural and wildland fire investigation, the effect of explosions on fire investigations. Upon successful completion of the course, the student is awarded a Fire Investigation 1A certificate from the State Board of Fire Services.

(P/NP Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Course Completion of FIRE 71 AND Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Not Certificate/Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.   Describe the legal considerations necessary to conduct fire investigations.

2.   Diagram the evolution of fire behavior in a structure and identify the fire indicators common to each stage of fire     growth.

3.   Demonstrate the methodologies used to determine fire origin in structures, vehicles and the wildland.

 

Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1.   Demonstrate an understanding of the arson trends and the terminology used in fire investigations.

2.   Demonstrate an understanding of fire behavior as it relates to fire investigation.

3.   Describe the laws and case decisions applicable to fire investigation.

4.   Describe Federal and California arson laws and legal considerations in arson cases.

5.   Describe the principles of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 921 and the indicators and methodologies used to investigate structure fires.

6.   Identify the common causes of accidental fires.

7.   Describe the conditions that lead to electrically caused fires.

8.   Identify the indicators unique to arson fires.

9.   Describe the ability to process and document a fire scene.

10. Demonstrate the ability to process and document a fire scene.

11. Describe the methodology used to investigate wildland fires.

12. Describe the different type of explosions and their impact on fire investigation.

Topics and Scope

I.    Introduction to Fire Investigation

     A.  Terminology

     B.  Arson trends and statistics

II.   Fire Behavior

     A.  Combustion

     B.  Pyrolysis

     C.  Fire chemistry

     D.  Heat transfer

     E.  Phases of fire

     F.   Effects of accelerants

III.  Legal Aspects of Fire Investigation

     A.  Constitutional law

     B.  Search and seizure

          1.  Consent

          2.  Plain view doctrine

     C.  Case law

           1.  Michigan vs. Tyler

           2.  Michigan vs. Clifford

     D.  Courtroom testimony

IV.  Arson Law

      A.  Federal arson law

      B.  People vs. Fry

      C.  California arson law

      D.  Prosecutorial considerations in arson cases

V.    Investigation Methodology

      A.  National Fire Protection Association Standard (NFPA) 921

      B.  The scientific method of investigation

      C.  Point of origin determination

           1.  Point of origin and fire cause

           2.  Overhaul

           3.  Structure fire point of origin indicators

                a.  "V" patterns

                b.  Low burns

                c.  Structural damage

                d.  Depth of char

                e.  Flashover

                 f.  Glass indicators

                g.  Melting temperatures

                h.  Ignition sources

                 i.  Impact of firefighting operations

                 j.  Reconstruction of the area of origin

                k.  Structure fire investigation methodology

     D.  Accidental fire causes

          1.  Types of fire causes

               a.  Natural

               b.  Accidental

           2.  Misrepresentation of fire scenes

           3.  Heating equipment

           4.  Cooking equipment

           5.  Smoking

           6.  Misuse of flammable liquids

           7.  Open flames and sparks

           8.  Spontaneous heating

VI.   Electrical Fire Investigations

      A.  Residential and commercial electrical standards

      B. Aluminum wiring and accidental fires

      C.  Electrical fire considerations

      D.  Electrical appliances

      E.  Electrical principles

           1.  Wiring systems

           2.  Over-current protection devices

           3.  Conductors and insulators

           4.  Calculations and formulas

      F.  Ignition by electrical means

      G. Testing of electronic devices

VII.  Arson Fires

      A.  Motives

      B.  Indicators

      C.  Use of accelerants

      D.  Structural damage/irregularities

      E.  Fire location and damage

      F.  Incendiary devices

           1.  Electrical incendiary devices

           2.  Mechanical incendiary devices

           3.  Chemical incendiary devices

     G.  Fire effects

     H.  Fire movement and pattern analysis

     I.  Recognizing fire indicators

     J.  Tracking the fire course

     K.  Point of origin determination

VIII. Documenting and processing a Fire Scene

     A.  Narrative

     B.  Interviewing and witness statements

     C.  Evidence

     D.  Photographs

     E.  Diagrams

     F.  Duties upon arrival

     G.  Securing the fire scene

     H.  Fire fatalities

          1.  Identification and preservation of the body

          2.  Effect of fire on human tissue

          3.  Coordination with law enforcement

      I.  Exterior examination of the structure

     J.  Interior examination of the structure

     K.  Commercial fire scene considerations

     L.  Residential fire scene considerations

IX.  Vehicle Fire Investigations

     A.  Accidental vehicle fires

     B.  Vehicle fire prevention devices

     C.  Vehicle arson fires

     D.  Vehicle fire scene examination

     E.  Vehicle fuel and emission systems

X.   Wildland Fire Investigation

     A.  Fire causes

     B.  Fire behavior

     C.  Fire scene examination

          1.  Indicators

          2.  Incendiary devices

          3.  Evidence collection

XI.  Explosions and Explosive Combustion

     A.  Terminology

     B.  Types of explosions

           1.  Mechanical explosions

           2.  Chemical explosions

           3.  Diffuse vapor explosions

     C.  Explosive types

          1.  Low explosive

          2.  High explosives

          3.  High and low order

     D.  Investigation of explosions

Assignments:

1.  Reading 20 - 30 pages daily from textbook and State-supplied student supplement

2.  Group presentation

3.  Fire investigation report

4.  One site investigation/field trip

5.  Summative exam

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 5 - 10%
Fire investigation report
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 5 - 10%
Site investigation
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 5 - 10%
Group presentation and field investigation
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 70 - 80%
Summative exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Kirks Fire Investigation, 6th Ed; by John D. DeHaan, Publ. Prentice Hall

CFSTES Manual Fire Investigation 1A, California Fire Service Training and Education System, Sacramento, CA 1996 (classic)

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