Examination of Firearms Review: 2007 to 2010 - Interpol

A burned vehicle and its interiors may be used as fingerprinting evidence in forensic
work. The geological matrices inside the car can be studied and compared. A study
has been conducted on examining quartz grains after they have been exposed to fire.
The article demonstrates that while soil and sediment alter in car fire temperatures,
most quartz grains are not altered in temperatures below 900°C. As a result,
thoroughly studied grains can be used in forensic work. 26
As mentioned before, a failure of a mechanical or electronic component may cause
fire. Ignitions based on mechanical origins are varied, including friction and further
sparks, overheating, abrasion of electronic wires, leakage of flammable gases and
corrosion. Electronic sources of ignition are also multiple, consisting of arcing,
resistance heating (e.g. by poor connections), external heating due to a rupture in
3, 30
insulation and a discharge of static electricity.
A suggestion for the technical improvement of the detection area has been
demonstrated in a meeting. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) has usually been
used for locating metallic damage with a conductor and excluding other matter. A
comparison between SEM and an alternative method, a confocal laser scanning
microscope, has been conducted by examining dozens of electronic conductors
gathered from fire scenes. 31
2.4 Fatal fires
More than a million people die each year as victims of suicide or homicide. Some of
these cases are straightforward and obvious, but some challenge investigators in
detecting the cause of crime. Depending on the country, its region and culture, the
method of fatal death varies greatly. For example, burning is the most common
suicidal method in females in India. 32 In the Adana region of Turkey, nearly seven
per cent of deaths due to burns are criminal in nature. Homicide cases are committed
either by torching of homes or arson with kerosene whereas fire accelerants are used
in cases of suicide. 33 In Germany, on the other hand, the number of self-cremation is
on the rise. Using an ignitable substance is also common there. The number of
psychotic patients is high and victims have often attempted suicide earlier on. 34
There is a report on catastrophic fires that claimed multiple victims in the United
States in 2008 covering structural and non-structural fires and determining roles of
smoke alarms and sprinklers. 35
One extreme unsettled fire cause is ignition of a human body where the body often
has significant burns on the abdomen, upper legs and chest. No apparent source of
ignition exists and generation of the fire seems to have been spontaneous.
Furthermore, the surroundings of the body are often unharmed. Despite various case
reports about this matter, the general mechanism of the fire seems to be a modest
external flame source which inflames clothes or other suitable substances and
subsequently releases subcutaneous fat. 36-38
Fatal fire scene investigation has been developing towards archaeological
techniques due to the possibilities they offer of maximising evidence recovery and
interpretation. 39 Archaeological data collection methods are systematic, consisting of
grids or zones and starting from the least destructed areas in order to avoid scene
disturbance. The use of alternative light sources can be used in searching the scene.
426