________________________________________________________________________ 

Training Guidelines for the Fire Debris Analyst 

Lesson Plan (Module) 7 

Date: November 2006 Instructor: Qualified Instructor 

Subject: Incendiary Devices Total Time: 8 hours 

Learning Objectives 

3⁄4 Knowledge of different types of incendiary devices. 

3⁄4 Recognition of components making each device. 

3⁄4 Understanding function of each component. 

3⁄4 Understanding how pyrophoric or highly reactive elements like white phosphorus 

or potassium and sodium metals can be used in improvised incendiary devices. 

3⁄4 Knowledge of spontaneous combustion and its use in incendiary devices. 

3⁄4 Understanding how remote or delayed ignition sources work. 

3⁄4 Knowledge of incendiary solid mixtures like thermite and black powder. 

3⁄4 Comprehending the value of trace evidence, fingerprints, flammable or 

combustible liquids, and physical matching of materials. 

3⁄4 Skills to prioritize testing and avoiding destruction of potential evidence. 

3⁄4 Ability to identify residues for proper analysis. 

Suggested Reading 

1. Fire Protection Handbook, NFPA, Quincy (MA): National Fire Protection 

Association, 2003 

2. National Fire Protection Association. NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion 

Investigations, 2004 Edition. Quincy (MA): National Fire Protection Association, 

2004 

3. Dean WL (1984) Examination of Fire Debris for Flare (Fusee) Residues by 

Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry 

4. DeHaan, JD, Kirk’s Fire Investigation, Ed., 5th ed., Brady/Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2002 

5. Shelef R et al. (1996) Development of Latent Fingerprints from Incendiary 

Bottles, Journal of Forensic Identification, 46(5), pp 556-69 

6. “Setting Fires With Electrical Timers: An Earth Liberation Front Guide”, Fireant 

Collective, May 2001 

7. Saferstein, R, Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science. Pearson 

Prentice Hall 2003 

8. Fire Findings (1995) Fusees get extremely hot, leave telltale signs of their 

presence, Fire Findings, 3(2), pp 5. 

9. The Poor Man’s James Bond, Vol. 1, Kurt Saxon, Delta press 

10. Bertsch, W, Holtzer, G, Sellers, C, Chemical Analysis for the Arson Investigator 

and Attorney. Hüthig Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg 1993 
11. Kirkbride, K.P., Kobus H.J.,The Explosive Reaction Between Swimming Pool 

Chlorine and Brake Fluid, Journal of Forensic Sciences, 36 (3), 282-284, 1991 

Introduction 

Incendiary devices are often used to start malicious fires, both alone and in conjunction 

with ignitable liquids. Devices can be used to achieve remote ignition or delayed ignition 

or to assure ignition of fuel loads. The analyst must understand how such devices 

function and what residues are left that can aid in the identification of the contents, 

concealment and connections of such devices. This module teaches essential knowledge 

of various types of incendiary devices, including a simple Molotov cocktail bottle, a 

complicated improvised thermite bomb or destructive napalm, and metal-based 

incendiaries. 

Outline 

1. Types of Incendiary Devices 

a. Molotov cocktail 

b. Incendiary capsule 

c. Thermite 

d. Spontaneous combustion 

e. Phosphorus delay 

f. Swimming pool chlorine and brake fluid 

g. Timed gas explosion 

h. Napalm 

i. Safety flares or fusees 

2. Components of Incendiary Devices 

a. Container: bottle, capsule, pipe 

b. Wicks (cloth rag) and other distributing media 

c. Bung (rubber, glass, or plastic) to tightly close bottle, or glue to seal pipe 

bombs 

d. Fuel: flammable/combustible liquids, metals, powders, or other elements 

e. Mechanical, electromechanical, digital, biological or chemical timers 

f. Igniter: matches, chemical reaction, electric spark or focused sun ray 

3. Function of Components 

a. Breakable glass bottles, resistant to fuel but breakable upon impact and 

wick or cloth rag soaked in flammable liquid to ignite spilled fuels of the 

shattered bottle 

b. Other devices such as timed gas explosions use butane lighter refill (made 

of aluminum cylinders), sodium hydroxide and a candle. NaOH dissolves 

cylinder, butane is released and ignited by candle. 

4. Evidence Recognition and Testing 

a. View evidence and plan all tests to be conducted. 
 

 

 

 

 

b. Physical and nondestructive tests performed first to preserve evidence 

c. Fingerprints from glass or other containers 

d. ID switches, integrated circuits, or other electrical components used as 

timing device 

e. Fiber identification of wick or fabric and possible matching with suspect’s 

cloth. DNA clothing articles 

f. Identification of fuels, metals, nonmetals, salts or other chemicals using 

proper analytical procedures 

Teaching Aids 

• Handouts 

• Video on safety handling of incendiary devices 

• PowerPoint presentation 

• Construction of incendiary device with simulated components 

Summary 

Educating laboratory analysts about the wealth of information obtained from examining 

undestroyed, partially destroyed, and post explosion incendiary devices is emphasized. A 

complete and successful examination can lead to proving the use of an incendiary device 

and to connecting a suspect to the incident (by recovering fingerprints for example). 

Knowledge of incendiary devices, their composition and how they function, will help 

new analysts plan and perform the proper examinations. 

Test Questions 

1. Napalm is a mixture of: 

a. Alcohol and potassium permanganate 

b. Hydrochloric acid and aluminum foil 

c. Gasoline and melted paraffin wax or other thickener 

d. Smokeless powder and zinc powder 

2. Reporting the possible presence of thermite requires, at least, the presence of: 

a. Magnesium and Wood chips 

b. Manganese and Ethylene chloride 

c. Charcoal and sulfur 

d. Aluminum and Titanium 

e. Aluminum and Iron 

3. Spontaneous combustion occurs when concentrated sodium chloride solution is 

added to phosphoric acid. True or False 
 

 

 

 

 

4. White phosphorus is most soluble in: 

a. Water 

b. Ammonium hydroxide 

c. Carbon disulfide 

d. Cyclohexane 

e. Vegetable oils 

5. What happens when swimming pool chlorine (calcium hypochlorite) is mixed 

together with brake fluid (polyethylene glycol type)?

 a. Nothing 

b. Mixture appears dormant for between 5 and 30 seconds, then it erupts 

 in flame 

c. Increases the life of brake fluid 

d. An endothermic reaction takes place and the mixture temperature is 

decreased 

e. Instant eruption of fireball 

6. A mixture that self ignites upon contact of its components is called: 

a. pyrophoric 

b. spontaneous 

c. hypergolic

 d. hygroscopic 

7. The combination of fuel and oxidizer that is known to be unstable with long 

storage in pyrotechnics is: 

a. aluminum and potassium perchlorate 

b. aluminum and ammonium perchlorate 

c. sulfur and ammonium perchlorate 

d. sulfur and potassium chlorate 

8. The pyrotechnic material in most modern firecrackers that causes the loud report 

is: 

a. black powder 

b. flash powder

 c. lead picrate 

d. mercury fulminate