Training Guidelines for the Fire Debris Analyst 

Lesson Plan (Module) 13 

Date: November 2006 Instructor: Qualified Instructor 

Subject: Classification, Interpretation and Identification Total Time: 40 hours 

Learning Objectives 

3⁄4 To understand the criteria for the classification of ignitable liquids 

3⁄4 To identify the limitations of GC/FID data per ASTM 1387 

3⁄4 To recognize the impact various substrates can have on data interpretation 

3⁄4 To properly identify a group of ignitable liquids in accordance with ASTM E1618 

Suggested Reading 

1. ASTM E 1387-01, “Standard Test Method for Flammable or Combustible 

Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas 

Chromatography,” ASTM International. 

2. ASTM E 1618-01, “Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in 

Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass 

Spectrometry,” ASTM International. 

3. GC-MS Guide to Ignitable Liquids, Newman, R., Gilbert, M., Lothridge, K., 

CRC Press, 1998. 

4. Accelerant Identification in Fire Debris by Gas Chromatography/Mass 

Spectrometry Techniques, Kelly, R.L., Martz, R.M., Journal of Forensic 

Sciences, Vol. 29 (3), pages 714-722, 1984. 

5. GC/MS Data Interpretation for Petroleum Distillate Identification in 

Contaminated Arson Debris, Keto, R.O., Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 

40 (3), pages 412-423, 1995. 

6. An Accelerant Classification Scheme Based on Analysis by Gas 

Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), Nowicki, J., Journal of 

Forensic Sciences, Vol. 35 (5), Pages 1064-1086, 1990. 

7. GC/MS Data from Fire Debris Samples: Interpretation and Applications, 

Wallace, J.R., Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 44 (5), pages 996-1012, 

1999. 

8. Detection of Petroleum-Based Accelerants in Fire Debris by Target 

Compound Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, Keto, R.O., Wineman, 

P.L., Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 63 (18), pages 1964-1971, 1991. 

9. Microbial Degradation of Gasoline in Soil, Mann, D.C., Gresham, W.R., 

Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 35 (4), pages 913-923, 1989. 
10. Microbial Degradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons: Implications for Arson 

Residue Analysis, Kirkbride, K.P., Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 37 (6), 

pages 1585-1599, 1992. 

11. Turpentine in Arson Analysis, Trimpe, M.A., Journal of Forensic Sciences, 

Vol. 36 (4), pages 1059-1073, 1991. 

12. The Petroleum-Laced Background, J.J. Lentini, J.A. Dolan, and C. Cherry, 

Journal of Forensic Sciences, 45 (5), pages 968-989, 2000. 

13. Differentiation of Asphalt and Smoke Condensates from Liquid Petroleum 

Distillates Using GC/MS, Lentini, J.J., Journal of Forensic Sciences, 43(1), 

pages 97-113, 1998. 

14. The Identification of Isopar H in Vinyl Flooring, Wells, S.B., Journal of 

Forensic Sciences, 50(4), pages 865-872, 2005. 

15. Persistence of Floor Coating Solvents, Lentini, J., Journal of Forensic 

Sciences, 46(6), pages 1470-73, 2001. 

16. Basic concept of pyrolysis for fire debris analysts, Stauffer E., Science and 

Justice, 43(1), pages 29-40, 2003. 

17. Analysis and Interpretation of Fire Scene Evidence, J.R.Admirall & K.G. 

Furton, Editors. CRC Press LLC, 2004; Chapter 5 “Analytical Methods for the 

Detection and Characterization of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire 

Debris”, Julia A. Dolan; and Chapter 6 “ASTM Approach to Fire Debris 

Analysis”, Reta Newman. 

18. The transfer and persistence of petrol on car carpets, K. Cavanagh-Steer, et 

al., Forensic Science International, 147(1), pages 71-79, 2005. 

19. Pyrolysis Products of Structure Fires, J.D.DeHaan, K.Bonarius, Journal of 

Forensic Science Society, 28(5-6), pages 299-309, 1988. 

20. Fire Investigation, Daéid, N.N. Editor, CRC Press, 2004; Chapter 5 “Modern 

laboratory techniques involved in the analysis of fire debris samples”, Reta 

Newman; Chapter 6 “Interpretation of laboratory data”, Reta Newman; and 

Chapter 7 “Sources of interference in fire debris analysis”, Eric Stauffer. 

21. Background interference from car carpets – the evidential value of petrol residues in 

cases of suspected vehicle arson, K. Cavanagh, et al., Forensic Science International, 

125, pages 22 – 36, 2002. 

22. Aromatic Content in Medium Range Distillate Products – Part I: An Examination of 

Various Liquids, Dolan, J.A., Stauffer, E., Journal of Forensic Sciences, 49(5), pages 

992 – 1004, 2004. 

23. Effect of Background Interference on Accelerant Detection by Canines, Kurz, M.E., 

et al., Journal of Forensic Sciences, 41(5), pages 868 – 873, 1996. 

Introduction 

Upon completion of this lesson the analyst will be able to interpret chromatographic data 

from fire debris samples to (a) determine whether an ignitable liquid is present and to (b) 

identify and classify the ignitable liquid. 

Outline 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Why classification is necessary 

a. the products with similar chemical composition are marketed for 

different uses 

b. the products with different chemical composition are marketed for the 

same usage 

2. Evolution of Ignitable Liquid Classification 

a. ATF & IAAI (1983) 

b. ASTM E 1387-90 

c. ASTM E 1387-95 

d. ASTM E 1387-01 

e. ASTM E 1618-01 

f. ASTM E 1618-06 

3. Data Analysis: GC/FID 

a. visual comparison/pattern recognition 

b. limitations 

4. Data Analysis: GC/MS 

a. compound identification 

b. visual comparison (TIC) 

c. extracted ion chromatography (EIC) 

i. major ions present in MS of common ignitable liquids (single ions) 

ii. summed ions 

d. target compound chromatography (TCC) 

i. target compounds in different classes of ignitable liquids 

5. Ignitable Liquid Classification Scheme 

a. criteria for the identification of gasoline 

i. general TIC profile 

ii. presence and or absence of types of hydrocarbons 

b. criteria for the identification of distillates 

i. general TIC profile 

ii. presence and or absence of types of hydrocarbons 

iii. de-aromatized and re-aromatized distillates 

c. criteria for the identification of isoparaffinic products 

i. general TIC profile 

ii. presence and or absence of types of hydrocarbons 

d. criteria for the identification of aromatic products 

i. general TIC profile 

ii. presence and or absence of types of hydrocarbons 

e. criteria for the identification of naphthenic paraffinic products 

i. general TIC profile 

ii. presence and or absence of types of hydrocarbons 

f. criteria for the identification of normal alkane products 
 

 

 

 

 

 i. general TIC profile 

ii. presence and or absence of types of hydrocarbons 

g. criteria for the identification of oxygenated products 

i. presence of ignitable oxygenated compounds 

h. light, medium and heavy range 

i. carbon range 

6. Interference from Substrate Materials 

a. carpet and carpet padding 

b. wood 

c. paper products 

d. shoes and clothing 

e. polymers 

f. condensates 

g. vehicle fires 

h. others 

Teaching Aids 

Practical exercises (interpretation of analytical data) 

Handout 

 PowerPoint presentation 

Summary 

Classification of ignitable liquids is essential since products with similar composition are 

marketed under different brand names for different uses. The ignitable liquid is classified 

by its chemical nature and by its boiling point range. 

Test Questions 

1. Which of the following are bacteria more likely to degrade in a gasoline sample? 

a. certain aromatics 

b. cycloalkanes 

c. naphthalenes 

d. indanes 

2. How do you distinguish between a distillate and a de-aromatized distillate? 

a. relative abundance of extracted ion profiles for aromatic compounds 

b. GC/FID data 

c. total ion chromatogram 

d. the profile of 128, 142, 156 ions 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. What fresh petroleum distillate elutes primarily between C8 and C12?

 a. light 

b. medium 

c. heavy 

d. gasoline 

4. A chromatogram has a series of homologous triplets from C10-C16. What does 

this commonly represent? 

a. heavy petroleum distillate 

b. medium petroleum distillate 

c. polystyrene 

d. polyethylene 

5. What type of an ignitable liquid has similar summed extracted ion profiles for 

ions (57+71+85) and (55+69+83)? 

a. isoparaffinic product 

b. naphthenic paraffinic product 

c. petroleum distillate 

d. aromatic product 

6. Which of the following does not fall under the ASTM classification of oxygenate?

 a. acetone 

b. petroleum ether 

c. isopropyl alcohol 

d. diethyl ether 

7. Kerosene falls into which ASTM classification? 

a. heavy petroleum distillate 

b. medium petroleum distillate 

c. mid-heavy petroleum distillate 

d. none of the above 

8. Gasoline identified in fire debris can be readily associated with a particular 

gasoline source. True or False 

9. Detection of terpenes is conclusive proof that turpentine was used as an 

accelerant. True or False