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Training Guidelines for the Fire Debris Analyst 

Lesson Plan (Module) 9 

Date: November 2006 Instructor: Qualified Instructor 

Subject: Other Evidence Total Time: 12 hours 

Learning Objectives 

3⁄4 To create an awareness of the forensic significance of non-fire debris types of 

physical evidence from fire scenes. 

3⁄4 To create an awareness of the potential destruction of other types of evidence 

during fire debris examination. 

Suggested Reading 

1. Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, Editor R. Saferstein, PrenticeHall, Inc., 9th ed., 2006. 

2. NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigation. Quincy, MA. 2004. 

Chapter 9 

3. Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 5th Edition, J. D. DeHaan, Brady/Prentice Hall, 

Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2002, chapter 14. 

4. Handbook of Forensic Services Revised 2003 at www.fbi.gov: 

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/handbook/intro2.htm 

5. Forensic Science Handbook, 2nd edition, Editor R. Saferstein, Prentice-Hall, 

Inc., 2002. 

6. Forensic Science Handbook Volume II, Editor R. Saferstein, Prentice-Hall, 

Inc., 1988. 

7. Forensic Science Handbook Volume III, Editor R. Saferstein, 

Regents/Prentice-Hall, 1993. 

8. Forensic Science Handbook Volume I, 2nd edition, Editor R. Saferstein, 

Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2002. 

9. Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, 7th edition, Barry A.J. Fisher, CRC 

Press, 2004. 

10. Forensic Science - An Introduction to Criminalistics, Peter R. DeForest, R.E. 

Gaensslen, and H. Lee, McGraw-Hill, 1983. ISBN: 0070162670 

Introduction 

The student will be introduced to the many diverse types of physical evidence that might 

be present at the fire scene or in the submitted evidentiary materials recovered from a fire 

scene. 
Outline 

1. Seek appropriate consultation 

a. Scene 

i. Determine what possible types of examinations are required on a 

particular piece of evidence. 

ii. Prioritizing and preserving potential evidence. 

iii. Package evidence appropriately based on the above determination. 

b. Laboratory 

i. Determine whether other analyses can/should be performed on 

evidence in a fire debris container prior to an ignitable liquid 

examination. 

ii. Package evidence appropriately based on results of consultation. 

2. Friction ridge patterns/impressions 

a. Latent 

b. Patent 

c. Plastic 

3. Impression evidence 

a. Shoe impressions 

b. Tire impressions 

c. Tool marks 

4. Biological evidence 

a. Detection 

b. Identification 

c. Individualization (DNA) 

i. Types of evidence to consider 

d. Types 

i. Fluids 

1. Stains 

2. Liquids 

ii. Anatomical parts 

5. Physical matches 

6. Trace evidence 

a. Fibers 

i. At the scene 

ii. In the fire debris 

iii. Singed fibers on the suspect 

iv. Comparing textile wick (Molotov cocktail) to textile in possession 

of suspect 

b. Glass 

i. Molotov cocktails 

ii. Glass from scene on suspect 

c. Hairs 

i. At the scene 
 

 

 

ii. In the fire debris 

iii. Singed hairs on the perpetrator 

d. Soil 

e. Paint 

f. Gunshot residues 

i. Primer residues 

ii. Gunpowder 

g. Building materials 

i. Brick 

ii. Concrete 

iii. Plaster board 

iv. Wood (processed/natural) 

v. Insulation 

7. Firearms 

8. Questioned Documents (including charred papers) 

9. Digital evidence 

a. Hard drives 

b. Digital/analog media 

10. Controlled substances 

a. Paraphernalia 

b. Clandestine laboratories 

i. Safety issues 

ii. Awareness of possible secondary incendiary devices 

iii. Evidence of controlled substance manufacturing 

11. Role of the medical examiner 

a. Medical examiner reports 

b. Toxicology 

c. Pathology 

Teaching Aids 

Visitation of respective forensic disciplines 

 Visual aids 

Handout 

 PowerPoint presentation 

Summary 

Having completed this training, the student will be aware of the many types of potential 

evidence that could be present at a fire scene. The student will be able to execute the 

correct evidence handling procedures to ensure that all forensically significant evidence 

will be preserved. 
 

 

 

 

Test Questions 

1. Blood stains cannot be individualized after any exposure to fire or heat. True or 

False 

2. Fingerprints are rendered useless by exposure to fire conditions. True or False 

3. A torn match can sometimes be identified back to its matchbook by a physical 

(jigsaw fit) comparison. True or False 

4. At a fire scene, a shoe print is located in soil below a broken ordinary clear glass 

window; the authorities have a suspect in custody. Which of the following is 

more likely to provide a positive link between the suspect and the scene? 

a. soil comparisons with soil on the suspect’s shoe 

b. identification of an ignitable liquid on the suspect’s shoe 

c. recovery of glass fragments embedded in the suspect’s shoe 

d. shoe impression examination 

5. A charred document has been submitted to the laboratory for authentication and 

ignitable liquid analysis. Which one of the following steps is recommended? 

a. consult a questioned documents examiner 

b. process the charred document for ignitable liquids by usual methods 

c. repackage the charred document in plastic 

d. examine the document using a forensic light source 

6. A cigarette butt is found at the fire scene. What types of examinations could the 

cigarette butt be subjected to?

 a. DNA analysis 

b. latent print examination 

c. cigarette brand identification 

d. all of the above