Fire Cause Determination

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Fire Cause Determination

• Fire Causes

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Hot Water Heaters

• Electric water heaters almost never cause fires.
• One of the most common ignition sources of fires
  involving utility rooms are gas water heaters.
• Find the source of gasoline.

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Hot Water Heaters (cont.)

• Did they just cut the grass?
• Overuse of aerosol products.
• Storing combustibles too close.
• Children playing with unit.

4
Electric Heaters

• Are used in areas like garage apartments and
  trailers used by contractors.
• If temperature drops low enough they will come
  on.
• Used under sinks.

5
Electric Heaters (cont.)

• Placed against walls and other combustibles.
• A heavy load on a bad cord.
• Used with long extension cords.
• Drying clothes.

6
Cigarettes

• You may find signs of carelessness.
• You will not find the butt that caused the fire.
• A smoker may smoke 50/day, but, he will know
  where everyone went
• Just ask him!

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Cigarettes (cont)

• If you suspect smoking in bed check underside of
  the mattress.
• bed fires
• grass fires
• trash fires
• couches - chairs

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Cigarettes (cont)

• In just 10 minutes smoke will appear.
• Fire will begin in approx. 30 minutes but no
  longer than 4 hours.
• It must be insulated.
• Temperature inside padded furniture maybe
  1400-1600F.

9
Cigarettes (cont)

• Annealing of springs used with other signs.
• Smoldering fire will be deep seated with heavy
  charring.
• Do not rule it out -- do not overuse.

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Exterior Attic Fires

• Lightening 50,000F (act of god) 200,000 amps
• Sweating pipes.
• Fireworks
• Ridding pest
• Wiring

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Exterior Attic Fires (cont)

• Birds, Squirrels, Rats
• Children Playing with fire.
• Arson
• Discarding ashes on porch and in outside trash
  can (signs of smoldering fire)

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Exterior Attic Fires (cont)

• Thawing pipes
• Roofers
• Removing paint with heat

13
Fireplaces

• Sparks popping
• logs rolling out
• combustibles too close
• flammable liquids too close or misuse
• construction members too close to fire box

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Heaters

• Modern central heat and air units rarely cause a
  fire.
• If a gas line caused the fire the occupant may
  mention there has been an odor of gas early in
  the investigation.

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Heaters (cont)

• Space heaters
• standing too closetrial by fire
• usually self correcting
• Boxes stored too close
• Drying clothes
• Toddler placed item on heater

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Heaters (cont)

• Floor Units
• Rugs
• Boxes
• Clothing falling over unit
• Hangers found on vents
• Debris build up..dust trash

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Stove Fires

• It come on right by itself
• Never mind the knobs, find the pot
• The occupant was
• not home
• sleeping
• drunk

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Stove Fires (cont)

• The occupant was (cont)
• drunk and sleeping
• on the phone
• watching tv
• looking at the other fire down the street
• just purchased a new cordless phone

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Stove Fires (cont)

• The hood light caused it.
• The gas stove shorted out
• It Did Really

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Bed Fires and Bedrooms

• Find the 4 year old
• If children in the house question them but do not
  lead them
• Fire will begin on side or under the bed

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Bedroom Fires (cont)

• A point of origin in the closet is almost always
  children.
• They are trying to hide to play with fire

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Other Causes

• Electric Blankets have to be folded or rolled up
  to start a fire
• Fans a curtain will over heat a fan
• Extension cords
• Water bed heaters

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Other Causes (cont)

• Cigarettes
• Incense
• Candles (for that special moment)