Arson and Explosion Evidence - 8.06
Review Questions
1. How are fire scenes different than regular crime scenes for investigators?
2. What is the blast effect?
3. What are the two types of high explosives?
4. What is a substrate control? Why is it done?
5. How is the evidence from a fire scene collected? What should be avoided?
1. Fire scenes will deteriorate at a faster pace than normal crime scenes and will have to be cleaned up for health reasons. Investigators have limited time to gather up as much evidence as possible.
2. The blast effect is the outward rush of gas from the bomb’s origin point and can be as high as 7,000 miles per hour.
3. Dynamite and TNT.
4. Substrate control is the collection of a non-contaminated sample that is compared to the contaminated sample. This allows forensic scientists to observe whether or not accelerant was present.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. What do you think would be the most challenging part of investigating a fire or explosion crime scene? Why?
2. Do you think search warrants should be required for fire scenes? Why or why not?
3. Do you think more countries should adopt the practice of putting color coded chips in explosive materials? Why or why not?
4. Why do you think crime scenes involving homemade bombs have increased?
5. Why do you think the procedures are different from normal crime scenes to those involving fire and explosions? What benefits or challenges are there because of these different procedures?
1. The most challenging part of investigating an arson or explosion crime scene is the way evidence is gathered; one must make sure it is not contaminated or that it will be enough. Since the evidence will deteriorate quickly, investigators will have to act quickly.
2. No, because everything of property will probably be destroyed and hazardous to people; no one can live in a place that has been charred to the ground, either partially or completely. Furthermore, investigators need to get in there as fast as possible to collect evidence before it
1. How are fire scenes different than regular crime scenes for investigators?
2. What is the blast effect?
3. What are the two types of high explosives?
4. What is a substrate control? Why is it done?
5. How is the evidence from a fire scene collected? What should be avoided?
1. Fire scenes will deteriorate at a faster pace than normal crime scenes and will have to be cleaned up for health reasons. Investigators have limited time to gather up as much evidence as possible.
2. The blast effect is the outward rush of gas from the bomb’s origin point and can be as high as 7,000 miles per hour.
3. Dynamite and TNT.
4. Substrate control is the collection of a non-contaminated sample that is compared to the contaminated sample. This allows forensic scientists to observe whether or not accelerant was present.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. What do you think would be the most challenging part of investigating a fire or explosion crime scene? Why?
2. Do you think search warrants should be required for fire scenes? Why or why not?
3. Do you think more countries should adopt the practice of putting color coded chips in explosive materials? Why or why not?
4. Why do you think crime scenes involving homemade bombs have increased?
5. Why do you think the procedures are different from normal crime scenes to those involving fire and explosions? What benefits or challenges are there because of these different procedures?
1. The most challenging part of investigating an arson or explosion crime scene is the way evidence is gathered; one must make sure it is not contaminated or that it will be enough. Since the evidence will deteriorate quickly, investigators will have to act quickly.
2. No, because everything of property will probably be destroyed and hazardous to people; no one can live in a place that has been charred to the ground, either partially or completely. Furthermore, investigators need to get in there as fast as possible to collect evidence before it