Chapter 18: Fires and Explosives

A reaction that requires the input of energy in order for the reaction to take place.

A chemical reaction that releases energy as one of its products.

Fuels that are easily vaporized and support combustion, and are highly exothermic.

Ammonium nitrate; pellets of it are coated with fuel oil.

________ are either natural or deliberate.

The spark from the spark plug causes a very rapid combustion to take place.

________ has added flexibility and refinement to GC analysis of fire scene evidence.

Fires that are deliberately set with criminal intent.

A fiber made from fused silica is coated with an adsorbent such as charcoal or Tenax.

A detector that help aid sifting through evidence to find explosive residues from the scene.

Flash point at or above 140°F (60°C) and below 200 °F (93.4°C)

The lowest temperature that will allow a liquid to produce a flammable vapor.

Flash point at or above 73 °F (22.8°C) and below 100°F (37.8 °C)

The ________ may be a blasting cap or other suitable primary explosive.

It happens when a machine overheats either through misuse or incorrect placement.

A profile of compounds that are present in each type of accelerant, such as gasoline, are monitored by the mass spectrometer.

Caused by lightning strikes; flammable gases that escape from the ground around an oil field and combust.

Two tubes containing charcoal or Tenax are inserted partway into the container through holes in the top.

________ is a finely milled mixture of carbon, sulfur, and potassium nitrate.

The wave that is created by this blast will shatter anything that gets in its way.

________ may contain as few as two steps or up to four or more.

________ can be easily set off by using a flame, a spark, or chemicals such as acids.

If the point of origin is near a wall or corner of a room, smoke damage on the wall (s) usually occurs in a "V "shape.

________ happens due to malfunction of wirings or overheating.

________ are specially trained dogs that can sniff out trace evidence of hydrocarbon accelerants.

The reaction of a fuel with oxygen.

Occurs when there is incomplete combustion in a fire.

Used to detect the presence of explosive residues.

It involves direct application of a spark or flame source to the fuel.

The ________ depicts the four elements that must be present in order to have a fire: a source of heat or energy, fuel, source of oxygen, and chain reaction between the fuel and oxygen.

Started with malicious intent involves a number of steps.

One that takes place at less than optimal efficiency.

Metal and glass may melt or distort owing to high heat.

________ consists of small particles containing nitrocellulose (single base) or nitrocellulose and NG (double base)

The highest temperature.

The mass spectrometer looks for particular ions that are characteristic of particular types of flammables.

It may be possible to pour off the liquid from the residue, filter it to remove solid particulates, separate the hydrocarbon from the water, and make a direct injection into the gas chromatograph.

Flash point below 73°F (22.8°C) and boiling point below 100 °F (37.8°C)

Flash point below 73°F (22.8°C) and boiling point at or above 100 °F (37.8 °C)

Flash point at or above 100 °F (37 °C) and below 140 °F (60°C)

Flash point at or above 200 °F (93.4 °C)

Fires generally start in a low area of a building

The depth of wood charring depends upon the intensity of the heat near the wood and the time of exposure

_________ is the destruction of a surface due to heat or other factors

used to describe the degradation of an accelerant due to heat or other environmental factors

a technique for sampling and examining the volatiles associated with a solid or liquid sample

a small container of charcoal or Tenax or a plastic strip coated with one of them is placed or suspended inside the container

two tubes containing charcoal or Tenax are inserted partway into the container through holes in the top

a fiber made from fused silica is coated with an adsorbent such as charcoal or Tenax

an evidence container is opened and a small quantity of a suitable solvent is added

Some of the accelerant residue is put in a distillation apparatus with some water, which is then boiled and distilled

a profile of compounds that are present in each type of accelerant, such as gasoline, are monitored by the mass spectrometer

the spark from the spark plug causes a very rapid combustion to take place

not as powerful as the positive pressure blast phase but it is capable of doing additional serious damage to objects that have already been damaged by the initial blast

have detonation velocities below 3280 fps

have detonation rates above 3280fps

One example would be a pipe bomb wherein a fuse made of black powder is used to detonate smokeless powder inside the pipe

The final explosive is usually a secondary explosive

Sometimes rags that have been used to clean up spills from kerosene or another fuel can heat up enough to cause “______” if they are left in a closed area for a long time.