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| Preface | |
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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Introduction | |
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| The Fire Problem | |
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| The Detection of Incendiary Fires | |
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| Analytical Fire Investigation | |
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| The Scientific Method | |
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| The Elementary Chemistry of Combustion | |
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| Atoms, Elements, and Compounds | |
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| The Oxidation Reaction | |
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| Carbon Compounds | |
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| Other Elements | |
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| Organic Compounds | |
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| Hydrocarbons | |
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| Petroleum Products | |
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| Carbohydrates | |
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| Pyrolysis of Organics | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| State of the Fuel | |
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| Summary | |
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| The Nature and Behavior of Fire | |
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| Basic Combustion | |
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| Flaming Fire | |
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| Structure of Flames | |
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| Smoldering Fire | |
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| Explosive Combustion | |
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| Heat | |
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| Heat and the Rate of Reaction | |
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| Heat and Temperature | |
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| Heat Release Rate | |
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| Heat Transfer and Heat Flux | |
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| Direct Flame Impingement | |
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| Flame Plume | |
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| Sequence of a Room Fire | |
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| Beginning or Incipient Stage | |
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| Free-Burning Stage | |
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| Post-flashover Stage | |
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| Decay Stage | |
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| Flow of Hot Gases | |
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| Effects of Environmental Conditions | |
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| Temperature | |
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| Humidity | |
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| Wetness of Fuel (Fuel Moisture Content) | |
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| Wind | |
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| Oxygen Content | |
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| Summary | |
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| Combustion Properties of Liquid and Gaseous Fuels | |
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| Types of Fuel | |
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| Gases | |
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| Liquids and Their Vapors | |
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| Solids | |
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| Physical Properties of Fuels | |
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| Vapor Pressure | |
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| Flammability (Explosive) Limits | |
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| Flash Point | |
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| Flame Point/Fire Point | |
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| Ignition Temperature | |
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| Ignition Energy | |
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| Boiling Points | |
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| Vapor Density | |
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| Heat of Combustion | |
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| Hydrocarbon Fuels | |
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| Nonhydrocarbon Liquid Fuels | |
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| Combustion of Liquid Fuels | |
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| Pyrolysis and Decomposition of Liquids | |
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| Fuel Gas Sources | |
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| Gas Lines | |
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| Natural Gas | |
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| LP Gas | |
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| Summary | |
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| Combustion Properties of Solid Fuels | |
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| Pyrolysis | |
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| Combustion Properties of Wood | |
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| Components of Wood | |
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| Ignition and Combustion of Wood | |
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| "Low Temperature" Ignition | |
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| Wood Products | |
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| Paper | |
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| Plastics | |
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| Paint | |
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| Metals | |
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| Coal | |
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| Dust Explosions | |
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| Fire Behavior | |
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| Flame Color | |
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| Smoke Production | |
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| Summary | |
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| Sources of Ignition | |
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| Primary Ignitors | |
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| Matches | |
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| Lighters | |
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| Torches | |
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| Candles | |
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| Secondary Sources | |
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| Sparks/Arcs | |
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| Hot Objects/Hot Surfaces | |
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| Friction | |
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| Radiant Heat | |
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| Chemical Reaction | |
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| The Role of Services and Appliances in Starting Fires | |
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| Gas Appliances as Ignition Sources | |
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| Electric Appliances | |
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| Kerosene Heaters | |
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| Oil Storage | |
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| Electricity | |
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| The Role of Hot and Burning Fragments in Kindling Fires | |
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| Wind-Blown Sparks | |
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| Fireplaces and Chimneys | |
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| Long-Term Heating "Low-Temperature" Ignition | |
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| Trash Burners and Bonfires | |
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| Hot Coals | |
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| Hot Metals | |
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| Mechanical Sparks | |
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| Firearms Residues | |
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| Smoking as a Fire Origin | |
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| The Role of Animals in Igniting Fires | |
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| Miscellaneous Sources of Ignition | |
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| Lightning | |
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| Spontaneous Combustion (Self-Heating) | |
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| Ignition by Electric Lighting | |
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| Ignition from Discarded Batteries | |
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| Summary | |
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| Structure Fires and Their Investigation | |
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| Beginning the Investigation | |
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| Investigative Information During Suppression | |
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| Responsibility of the Firefighters | |
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| Minimizing Post-Fire Damage | |
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| Documentation | |
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| Elements of Building Construction | |
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| Structural Shell | |
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| Fire-Resistance Ratings | |
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| Internal Structure | |
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| General Principles of Fire Behavior | |
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| Reconstructing the Starting Conditions | |
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| Fire Patterns | |
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| Tracing the Course of the Fire | |
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| Implications | |
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| Examination of a Structure Fire Scene | |
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| Survey and Assessment | |
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| Interviews with Firefighters | |
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| Interviews with Witnesses | |
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| Search Patterns | |
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| Fire Behavior Indicators | |
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| Other Investigative Considerations | |
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| Testing of Hands | |
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| Testing of Clothing | |
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| Protected Areas | |
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| Elimination of Ignition Sources | |
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| Detection Systems | |
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| Arc Mapping | |
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| Appliance Condition | |
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| Interior Fires from Exterior Sources | |
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| Roof and Attic Fires | |
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| Myths and Misconceptions | |
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| Documenting the Fire Scene | |
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| Photography | |
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| Sketching | |
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| Collection of Evidence | |
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| Debris Containing Suspected Volatiles | |
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| Other Solid Evidence | |
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| Liquids | |
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| Chain of Evidence | |
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| Time Lines | |
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| Conclusions About the Fire | |
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| Summary | |
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| Grass and Wildland Fires and Their Investigation | |
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| Fuels | |
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| Fire Behavior | |
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| Determination of Origin | |
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| Investigation Methodology | |
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| First Evaluation | |
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| Other Sources of Information | |
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| The Scene Search | |
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| Burn Indicators | |
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| Documentation | |
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| Sources of Ignition | |
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| Power Lines | |
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| Lightning | |
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| Burning or Hot Fragments | |
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| Campfires | |
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| Cigarettes | |
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| Incendiary Fires | |
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| Modeling | |
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| Collection and Preservation of Physical Evidence | |
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| Summary | |
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| Automobile, Motor Vehicle, and Ship Fires | |
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| Automobiles and Motor Vehicles | |
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| Fuel Systems | |
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| Electrical Systems | |
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| Miscellaneous Causes | |
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| Combustible Materials | |
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| Vehicle Arson | |
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| Vehicle Examination | |
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| Motorhomes and Recreational Vehicles | |
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| Mobile Homes (Manufactured Housing) | |
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| Boats and Ships | |
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| Motives for Vehicle Arson | |
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| Summary | |
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| Electrical Causes of Fire | |
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| Basic Electricity | |
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| Static Electricity | |
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| Current Electricity | |
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| Direct and Alternating Current (DC and AC) | |
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| Electrical Units | |
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| Electrical Calculations | |
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| Wiring Systems | |
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| Conductors and Insulators | |
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| Current-Carrying Capability (Ampacity) | |
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| Protection-Overcurrent and Short Circuit | |
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| Fuses | |
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| Breakers | |
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| Solid-State Protectors | |
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| Overcurrent Devices and Fire Investigation | |
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| Ground Fault Interrupters | |
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| Service Entrance | |
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| Ignition by Electrical Means | |
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| Conduction Heating | |
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| Overheating by Excessive Current | |
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| Overheating by Poor Connection | |
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| Insulation Breakdown (Degradation)-Carbon Tracking | |
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| Arcs and Sparks | |
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| Aluminum Wiring | |
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| Electric Motors and Transformers | |
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| Fixed Heaters | |
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| Appliances | |
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| Extension Cords | |
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| Heat Tapes | |
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| Investigation of Electricity-Related Fires | |
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| Post-fire Indicators | |
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| Mapping of Arc Faults | |
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| Arcing Through Char | |
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| Laboratory Examination | |
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| Summary | |
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| Clothing and Fabric Fires | |
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| Types of Cloth | |
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| Natural Fibers | |
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| Synthetic Fibers | |
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| Fire Hazards | |
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| Regulation on Flammable Fabrics | |
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| Flammability of Mattresses and Upholstered Furniture | |
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| Furniture Testing | |
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| Flammability Testing | |
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| General Observations | |
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| Summary | |
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| Explosions and Explosive Combustion | |
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| Explosive Combustion | |
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| Diffuse-Phase Explosions | |
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| Gases | |
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| Vapors | |
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| Dust Suspensions | |
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| Ignition | |
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| Dense-Phase Explosions | |
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| Chemical and Physical Properties | |
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| Explosive Types | |
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| High Order/Low Order | |
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| Investigation of Explosions | |
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| The Scene Search | |
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| Mechanical Explosions | |
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| Speed and Force of Reaction | |
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| Explosion Debris | |
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| Scene Examination | |
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| Evidence Recovery | |
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| Laboratory Analysis | |
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| Incident Analysis | |
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| Summary | |
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| Chemical Fires and Hazardous Materials | |
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| Gases | |
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| Hydrocarbons | |
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| Others | |
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| Liquids | |
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| Solvents | |
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| Others | |
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| Solids | |
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| Incendiary Mixtures | |
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| Oxidizing Salts | |
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| Reactive Metals | |
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| Clandestine Drug Laboratories | |
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| Marijuana Cultivation | |
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| Warnings | |
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| Summary | |
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| Laboratory Services | |
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| Availability of Laboratory Services | |
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| Fire Testing Laboratories | |
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| General Fire Evidence | |
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| Identification of Charred or Burned Materials | |
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| Burned Documents | |
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| Failure Analysis-Forensic Engineers | |
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| Evaluation of Appliances and Wiring | |
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| Miscellaneous Laboratory Tests | |
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| Spoliation | |
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| Identification of Volatile Accelerants | |
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| Gas Chromatography | |
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| Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) | |
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| Sample Handling and Isolation of Volatile Residues | |
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| Identification of Volatile Residues | |
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| Interpretation of GC Results | |
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| Chemical Incendiaries | |
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| Non-Fire-Related Criminal Evidence | |
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| Fingerprints | |
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| Blood | |
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| Impression Evidence | |
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| Physical Matches | |
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| Trace Evidence | |
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| Summary | |
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| Fire-Related Deaths and Injuries | |
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| The Team Effort | |
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| Pathological and Toxicological Examination | |
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| Destruction of the Body | |
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| Effects of Fire | |
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| Other Pathological Findings | |
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| Carbon Monoxide Asphyxiation | |
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| Sources of Carbon Monoxide | |
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| Investigation of Carbon Monoxide Asphyxiations | |
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| Other Toxic Gases | |
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| Other Mechanism | |
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| Injuries | |
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| Manner of Death | |
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| Summary | |
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| Arson as a Crime | |
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| The Crime of Arson | |
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| Motive | |
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| Profit | |
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| Vandalism | |
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| Excitement and Thrill Seeking | |
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| Revenge, Retaliation, or Spite | |
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| Concealment of Another Crime | |
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| Extremism (Social Protest and Terrorism) | |
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| Juvenile Fire Setting ("Curiosity" or "Fire Play" Fire Setting) | |
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| Mixed Motives | |
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| Irrational Fire Setting | |
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| The Arson Set | |
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| Arranging the Fire-Location | |
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| Fuels | |
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| Ignitable Liquids | |
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| Type of Accelerant | |
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| Method of Initiation | |
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| Deductions from the Interpretation of Evidence | |
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| Criminal Analysis or Profiling | |
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| Analytical Reasoning | |
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| Elimination of Accidental and Natural Causes | |
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| Summary | |
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| Other Investigative Topics | |
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| Safety | |
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| Fire Modeling | |
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| What Should We Ask About Any Model We Use? | |
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| Assessment | |
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| Testing Complex Computer Models | |
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| Arson Law | |
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| Elements of Proof | |
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| Direct and Circumstantial Evidence | |
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| Search and Seizure | |
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| Search and Seizure Court Decisions | |
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| Sources of Information | |
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| Spoliation | |
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| Chain of Evidence | |
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| Report Writing | |
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| Summary | |
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| The Scene | |
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| The Investigation | |
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| Conclusions | |
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| Courtroom Testimony | |
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| The Expert Witness | |
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| Scientific Method | |
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| Pretrial Preparation | |
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| Testimony | |
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| Epilogue | |
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| Summary | |
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| Natural Elements | |
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| Nomenclature | |
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| Melting Points and Thermal Conductivities of Common Materials | |
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| The Evidence Collection Kit | |
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| The Model Arson Law | |
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| Sketching Fire Scenes | |
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| List of Explosive Materials, 2004 | |
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| Field Interview and Incident Report Forms | |
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| Log Sheets | |
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| Data for Fire Modeling and Reconstruction | |
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| Critical Incident Radiant Heat Fluxes for Some Common Fuels | |
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| Sample Task Force Agreement | |
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| Web Sites | |
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| Conversions of Units | |
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| Suggested Reading List | |
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| Glossary | |
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| Index | |