Background - NJ International Association of Arson Investigators

Background Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Issues Facing Fire Investigators •  Fire investigators use fire patterns during scene examinations •  Very little research is available regarding fire patterns after post flashover burning. –  Little to no material to cite. •  Some “experts” have discounted fire pattern analysis as reliable. –  Because of flashover. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Things you may hear. . . •  There comes a time, a point in the progression in the development of fires in enclosed rooms such, where fire patterns no longer have the capacity to answer the question that’s being asked. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Things you may hear. . . •  Once a fire reaches full room involvement, fire investigators going in and trying to apply fire pattern analysis to the damage that they observe are likely to be absolutely wrong in their area of origin determination. . . Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Things you may hear. . . •  Ventilation-­‐generated fire patterns can occur anywhere in the room. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 USFA Fire Burn Pattern Tests •  1994-­‐1995. 10 controlled burns. •  First “scientifically” controlled research into the formation, growth, nature and investigative analysis of post-­‐fire patterns. •  Purpose was to identify the circumstances leading to the creation of fire patterns used by fire investigators during origin and cause investigations. Committee, T. U. (1997). Report of the United SPresented tates Fire Administration rogram for he Study of D
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FI Chad . Patterns. USFA. Campanell on 10/28/2015 USFA Fire Burn Pattern Tests -­‐ Results •  Fire patterns provide “definitive” data useful to the determination of the origin of fires. •  Fire patterns are influenced, most notably, by ventilation and flashover. •  Ventilation was shown to change or “move” patterns making correct interpretation difficult. •  Flashover was able to obscure some patterns present on room surfaces prior to flashover. Committee, T. U. (1997). Report of the United SPresented tates Fire Administration rogram for he Study of D
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FI Chad . Patterns. USFA. Campanell on 10/28/2015 USFA Fire Burn Pattern Tests -­‐ Results •  Fresh air being drawn into the room through the lower portion of the door mixed with excess fuel and produced a jet of flame or hot gases which continued to travel across the floor and impact the wall. •  A “clean burn” pattern was produced at the point of ventilation impact with the wall. •  In every post-­‐flashover fire, the truncated cone patterns persisted and were readily identifiable. Committee, T. U. (1997). Report of the United SPresented tates Fire Administration rogram for he Study of D
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FI Chad . Patterns. USFA. Campanell on 10/28/2015 USFA Fire Burn Pattern Tests -­‐ Limitations •  None of the USFA tests allowed low-­‐energy fuels to burn against walls prior to flames spreading to larger fuel packages. •  Only 10 burns conducted. Limited follow up experimentation. Committee, T. U. (1997). Report of the United SPresented tates Fire Administration rogram for he Study of D
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FI Chad . Patterns. USFA. Campanell on 10/28/2015 2005 – Las Vegas, NV •  ATF CFIs and FPEs conducted fire investigation training for public and private sector investigators. •  Objective was to educate investigators about the effects of flashover on a compartment fire. Carman, S. W. (2008). Improving the Understanding of Post-­‐Flashover ire Bb
ehavior. SFI C2had 008 -­‐D
International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Presented to the NJ IFAAI y SA CIFI . Technology (pp. 221-­‐232). Sarasota, FL: National Association o
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nvestigators. Campanell on 10/28/2015 2005 – Las Vegas, NV •  Two identical cells were burned for 120 seconds post-­‐flashover. •  Students were tasked with doing a non-­‐invasive examination of each cell and identify the QUADRANT of origin. •  In each case, 3 out of 53 identified the correct quadrant. It was a different three in each case. Carman, S. W. (2008). Improving the Understanding of Post-­‐Flashover ire Bb
ehavior. SFI C2had 008 -­‐D
International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Presented to the NJ IFAAI y SA CIFI . Technology (pp. 221-­‐232). Sarasota, FL: National Association o
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nvestigators. Campanell on 10/28/2015 2005 – Las Vegas, NV Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 2005 – Las Vegas, NV Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 2005 – Las Vegas, NV •  In both cases, “clean burn” was observed on the wall opposite the door and on the wall adjacent to the door. •  These ventilation induced patterns were, at least partially, to blame for the incorrect responses. Carman, S. W. (2008). Improving the Understanding of Post-­‐Flashover ire Bb
ehavior. SFI C2had 008 -­‐D
International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Presented to the NJ IFAAI y SA CIFI . Technology (pp. 221-­‐232). Sarasota, FL: National Association o
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nvestigators. Campanell on 10/28/2015 2005 – Las Vegas, NV Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Things you may hear about this study •  What this study suggests is that the methodology the fire investigators are using, although in conformance with NFPA 921, don’t appear to result in reliable or accurate conclusions, not because they’re not good fire investigators, but because they’re applying a methodology that doesn’t have the capacity to allow them to be consistent and accurate. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Things you may hear. . . •  This exercise begins to give you some idea of the problems and limitations of fire pattern analysis. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 2006 – Understanding of Post-­‐Flashover Fire Behavior – Steve Carman •  FDS modeling created to display the visualizations of the 2005 cells. •  The model showed the fire was most intense in the area of origin prior to flashover. •  When the room transitioned through flashover, the most intensity was in the post-­‐flashover ventilation path. •  The balance of the room maintained relatively uniform heat-­‐flux intensity. Carman, S. W. (2008). Improving the Understanding of Post-­‐Flashover ire Bb
ehavior. SFI C2had 008 -­‐D
International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Presented to the NJ IFAAI y SA CIFI . Technology (pp. 221-­‐232). Sarasota, FL: National Association o
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nvestigators. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Carman Smokeview Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Carman FDS Model Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Conclusions •  Ventilation causes damage and fire patterns. •  Fire pattern interpretation is important. •  Proper fire pattern interpretation may assist in origin determination. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Things you may hear . . . •  The error rate for fire investigators to determine the quadrant of origin consistently goes up with the more time that the fire burns beyond flashover. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Things you may hear. . . •  The problem was that fire investigators are applying pre flashover fire pattern analysis techniques to post flashover fires. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 EKU Study 2010-­‐2012 •  Total of 24 test burns conducted –  10 initiated in high HRR fuel packages. –  14 initiated in low HRR fuel packages. •  All tests burned post flashover for a limited time. •  “This study revealed that both visible and measurable damage associated with the area of origin persisted through full-­‐room involvement and the involvement of secondary, higher heat release rate fuels” Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Research Project Details Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Campanell/Avato fire pattern study •  2011 – present •  370 controlled burns to date. •  9 facilities •  Dozens of configurations. •  Initial research paper completed for ATF Certified Fire Investigator Candidate program in May 2012. Approximately 1000 pages in length. •  Submission for IAAI in first stage of review. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Campanell Fire Pattern Study •  Purpose is to record the consistency of fire pattern formation and persistence by reviewing a large number of different configurations and ignition scenarios. •  Low HRR (<100 kw) and High HRR (>100 kw) origin fuel packages •  Origins Against and Away from the gypsum board walls. •  Pre and Post-­‐flashover conditions •  Single and Multiple Points of Origin Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 The National Fire Academy – Emmitsburg, MD
Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Facilities – The National Fire Academy •  Over 300 total burns executed, documented and studied. •  8 identical, one-­‐room, concrete buildings. •  4.0 meters W x 2.8 meters D x 2.4 meters H. •  Door and a window located on Side A. •  Identical and varied room configurations and fuel packages. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 The Viking Motel – Sisseton, SD Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 The Viking Motel – Sisseton, SD •  10 total burns executed, documented and studied. •  10 identical rooms in one building. •  3.7 meters W x 6.0 meters D x 2.4 meters H. •  Door and window located on Side A. •  Identical room configurations (5/5 mirror images). Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Camden County Complex – Blackwood, NJ Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Camden County Fire Training Academy – Blackwood, NJ •  4 total burns executed, documented and studied. •  Four identical concrete cells in one building. •  2.8 meters W x 4.0 meters D x 2.4 meters H. •  Door centered on Side A. Window on Side D. •  Various room configurations and fuel packages. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Denver Fire Seminar Burn Cell Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Denver Fire Seminar – Denver, CO •  1 total burn executed, documented and studied. •  1 Full scale cell with 2 doors •  12 1/3 scale models with one door and one window (respectively) in varying configurations. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Fort Belvoir Flashover Simulator Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Fort Belvoir Flashover Simulator •  2 total burns executed, documented and studied. •  Simulated furnished room in upper floor of standard flashover simulator. •  One upper door and two lower doors. •  Allows for multiple ventilation options. •  Allows for unobstructed video facing primary vent from inside the compartment. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 ATF National Academy – Glynco, GA Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 ATF National Academy •  10 total burns executed, documented and studied •  4.0 meters W x 2.8 meters D x 2.4 meters H •  Door off-­‐center on Side A, Window centered on Side C. •  Varied room configurations and fuel packages. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Alexandria (VA) Fire Training Academy Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Alexandria (VA) Fire Training Academy •  2 total burns conducted. •  One two room compartment featuring a windowless room leading into room with a window and a door. •  One single room compartment featuring a door and a window on Side A. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Prince William (VA) Fire Training Academy Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Prince William (VA) Fire Training Academy •  3 total burns to date •  Two room compartment featuring a windowless room leading into a room with a window and a door to the exterior. Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015 Armored Sled Camera Presented to the NJ IAAI by SA CFI Chad D. Campanell on 10/28/2015