Incendiary Fire Analysis and Investigation in a Post-9/11 World - Coursework Example

Incendiary Fire Analysis and Investigation in a Post-9/11 World. Introduction In our age of global terrorism, incendiary fire analysis and investigation is more important than any time in history. As our global economy becomes more and more diverse, complicated by agendas and sociopolitical viewpoints, as well as disagreements in the way the world should be run, our attention to disruptive incidents should be examined more closely. The events and scandal surrounding the 9/11 incident only further reinforces how important it is to collect evidence and determine if these incidents are intentional or accidental; it is the investigators job to determine whether these attacks were started by a gas/chemical leak, electrical mishap, or explosives. Insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, and anti-terrorist organizations all need competent investigators to help apprehend the person responsible for these crimes in a world that has become more dangerous since September 11th, 2001. But, how dangerous is our world? According to Brian Forst (2010) for the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), 11,000 terrorist attacks occurred worldwide in 2009 resulting in 58,000 victims, including 15,000 fatalities. Shootings, fire bombings, suicide bombings, corporate sabotage, malware in automated computer systems, sniper attacks, envelopes with harmful biological contents, all contribute to a world increasingly dominated by fear. Incidents such as the anthrax-tainted letter attacks of 2001, the Mailbox Pipe Bomber of 2002, the Earth Liberation Front’s torching of homes in 2008, as well as almost daily small-scale incidents create a situation where evidence becomes crucial to apprehend these rogue perpetrators. Fire investigation and analysis has become an important aspect in our Post-9/11 world because safety is becoming more and more difficult to ensure. Fire Science Investigation Our investigators have a difficult job ahead of them. Fire science investigation is tricky because the fire often destroys key evidence; automobile tire impressions, foot prints, flammable items laid out in an unusual manner, blast patterns, shattered windows, and placement of debris are all important clues for the investigator. Electrical circuits in buildings, faulty fuel lines in vehicles, and spontaneous combustion that occurs where organic material is stored are just a few of the accidental causes of fires. Arson is also the number one reason for fires in the United States and the second-leading cause of residential fires and residential fire deaths. Since 2001 terrorism has been climbing the list of possible reasons for investigation. Another primary reason to investigate fires is to provide evidence for insurance claims. Motives such as revenge, economic or personal gain, insurance settlements, hatred (including fear-inspiring terrorist attacks), sociopolitical agendas, concealment of other crimes (like theft), pyromania, or even vanity (someone may start a fire to be the one to heroically discover it) can help determine if a fire is a minor issue or an actual threat to national security (Krzeszowski, 1993). Most cases are of a civil nature but occasionally a case may be deemed criminal. In criminal cases a wide variety of investigators become involved in the fire scene; local examiners from the municipality, the attorney general, the forensic department, even the FBI may all be at one crime scene. This can impede an investigator’s access to evidence by causing confusion between departments. Safety is another very important aspect in all fire science investigations. It’s important because it helps identify cases of negligence. This is especially important in cases where insurance companies are looking for a claim; the investigation must be thoroughly conducted in order to identify causes and possible cases of negligence. If the investigation is done accurately, then cases of negligence can be prevented in the future. This is especially important in cases of insurance fraud. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act One of the major problems facing fire investigators, adjusters, and attorneys working for insurance companies is gaining access to preliminary information for each investigation. Each public fire investigator or agency maintains a ‘master investigation file’ for each case. Each fire investigation usually involves a lead fire/arson investigator, the first police officer on the scene, the fire department’s fire ground commander, and—depending on the extent of the fire—State Fire Marshal investigators and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agents who are specially trained in fire and explosion investigation. All of the evidence accumulated by these professionals may be used to determine if a fire is accidental or intentional, and also whether the owner’s of the site (building or property) have a valid insurance claim. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (TRIA) further complicates matters because since 9/11 more and more fire incidents are suspected to be terrorist acts whether foreign or domestic. This complicates the insurance claim because many of these incidents—like 9/11—take years to accumulate all of the forensic data through the clean-up process. And because of the rise in sabotage-related fires or explosions many insurance investigators need a clear picture of what is considered a terrorist attack. Lloyd’s Market Association’s definition of terrorism states that an act of sabotage means “a subversive act or series of such acts committed for political, religious or ideological purposes including the intention to influence any government and/or to put the public in fear for such purposes.” (Carpenter, 2009, pg. 37). 9/11 Scandal Detailed fire investigation is important considering the mystery surrounding the 9/11 incident; a mere six months prior to the attack the property was purchased by the Silverstein Group for $3.2 billion, who acquired the building only weeks before the incident. The outdated building was supposed to be renovated; instead Silverstein is rebuilding the structure, which will be funded by the insurance policy which covered acts of terrorism. Silverstein filed two different insurance claims for the maximum amount of the policy, based on the two “separate” attacks. The total for the double insurance claim is $7.1 billion. There is plenty to build a new complex, as well as leaving a large profit for Silverstein. In fact a federal jury ruled that the attack on the World Trade Center was two separate occurrences for insurance purposes. According to reports, Silverstein collected up to $4.6 billion (Levine, 2004). To complicate matters further—and to prove how important thorough fire investigation is—there is a growing faction of investigators that consider the 9/11 incident to be much more complex than two separate aircraft crashing into a couple of buildings. There has been much forensic evidence including the presence of molten metal with trace elements of thermite (a substance used to cut through steel), the tell-tale signs of a controlled demolition (including eye-witness testimony), a massive debris field consistent with an internal explosion, 90,000 tons of concrete and metal pulverized in free-fall creating a distinct controlled demolition dust cloud, and also eye-witness testimony of a free-fall acceleration (which occurs as a result of pre-set demolition explosives). Investigators also found nano-thermitic composite material in dust samples taken from the ruins. These crucial pieces of evidence lead one to believe that there was a “controlled implosion” instead of the common belief that the two airplanes were solely responsible for taking down the buildings (Architects and Engineers…, 2010). If this is accurate information then there is much more to the Silverstein case and there should be an appeal. Bomb Arson Tracking System and NFPA 921 Since the World Trade Center incident in 2001 the federal government has created several new systems to help investigators determine if a fire is accidental or a terrorist attack. The Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS 2.0) was established in 2004 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It is the first, web-based intelligence database that will allow federal, state, and local law enforcement and bomb scene commanders to share crucial information about arson and explosives incidents around the nation (Bureau of…, 2010). The National Fire Protection Association Council created A Guide for Fire Explosion Investigation (NFPA 921) first published in 1992. The 2001 edition has been revised considerably to include several new chapters, addressing the issues of spoliation of evidence, building systems, vehicle fires, wild fires, fire-related human behavior, failure analysis/analytical tools, fire and explosion deaths and injuries, a methodology of developing a case by process of elimination, and further defining the scientific method. This guide has become an industry standard (NFPA, 2010). Organizations like the U.S. Fire Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technologies, the ATF, U.S. Bomb Data Center, and the NFPA are updating their systems to document potential terrorist indicators. The National Fire Incident Reporting System is another database for investigators to determine fire causes. By using the NFIRS first responders can investigate and report their findings on the fire, area or origin, and its cause. Conclusion In closing, the investigation surrounding the 9/11 incident, and the subsequent changes in fire investigation and analysis since the attack, only further reinforces how important it is to collect concrete evidence and determine if these incidents are intentional or accidental. All in all, fire investigation and analysis is important to the public-at-large and the civil authorities trying to protect us in a dangerous world. References   Forst, B. (2010, August 5). National Counterterrorism Center: Annex of Statistical Information. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2009/140902.htm Krzeszowski, Frank E. (1993, January 1). What sets off an arsonist The Free Library. (1993). Retrieved from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/What sets off an arsonist-a013857235 Carpenter, G. (2009) Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC. Global Terror Update 2009. Pg. 37. Retrieved from http://www.guycarp.com/portal/extranet/insights/reportsPDF/2009/Global_terror_2009.pdf;jsessionid=NGnQ1DJch1H1JtTt Levine, G. (2004, December 6) Silverstein: WTC Leaseholder May Collect Up To $4.6B. Forbes.com. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/2004/12/06/1206autofacescan06_print.html Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth. (2010) Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth Announces: Hard Evidence of Explosive Demolition of World Trade Center High-rises on 9/11. PR Newswire.com. Retrieved from http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/architects--engineers-for-911-truth-announces-hard-evidence-of-explosive-demolition-of-world-trade-center-high-rises-on-911-102519299.html Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. (2010, March 8). ATF's Bomb Arson Tracking System Endorsed by IAAI and IABTI. PR Newswire. Retrieved from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ATF's Bomb Arson Tracking System Endorsed by IAAI and IABTI.-a0220561505http://www.interfire.org/features/fatalities.asp National Fire Protection Agency (2008) NFPA: Guide for fire and Explosive Investigations. Retrieved from http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=921 Read More