Forensic Pathology for Police - Brainshare Public Online Library

498 19 Burns and Fire-Related Deaths
gases, and superheated air, it is appropriate to certify such deaths as being due to
“smoke and soot inhalation.” When thermal injuries are considered contributory,
listing “thermal injuries” is likewise appropriate. Example: part I – Smoke and soot
inhalation; part II – Thermal injuries.
If other factors, such as underlying natural disease, injury, or intoxication,
are considered contributory, it is appropriate to list these in part II of the death
certificate, with smoke and soot inhalation, thermal injuries, or both listed in
part I.
As described above, in deaths that precede the fire, the manner of death can be
natural, homicide, suicide, or accidental. In cases where victims die from the effects
of the fire, then accidental deaths are, by far, the most common. If a person dies in
an arson where the fire was intentionally set by another individual, it is appropriate
to rule that death a homicide, whether or not the death itself was intentional. Rarely,
a homicide is committed by setting the victim on fire. If a person dies in an arson
that they themselves set, in the absence of other evidence of suicide such deaths
are probably best ruled as accidental deaths. Occasional persons intentionally set
themselves on fire in an act of suicide. The term “self-immolation” is sometimes
used to describe such cases.
Fire Investigation
As mentioned numerous times in the preceding paragraphs, it is absolutely necessary
for an official fire investigation to be performed whenever a fire-related death
occurs. The responsibility for performing such an investigation is typically outside
of the realm of the death investigation office, and often falls on the fire marshal or
perhaps the state crime laboratory. It is important for death investigation agencies
and fire investigators to work together and share information when investigating
these cases. Important questions that fire investigators attempt to answer include
how the fire started and where the fire started.
Cremations
Occasionally, forensic scientists will be asked to evaluate “cremains,” the ashes
that remain after a body has been cremated. These cases are extremely difficult
to evaluate and often require the combined efforts of pathologists, anthropologists,
odontologists, and other forensic scientists. Since the process of cremation
involves total or near-total incineration of all organic material, only the inorganic
components of the human body, including parts of bone and teeth, and
occasionally other tissues. The presence of various implanted structures, such as
dental restorations or orthopedic hardware, provides the best route for positive
identification.