Fire Investigation - Case Study Example

Fire Investigation Name Instructor’s Name Course Name and Code Date Fire Investigation Introduction Fire refers to an exothermic oxidation reaction which proceeds at a rate that makes it to generate detectable light and heat. There are normally 2 types of combustion namely smouldering and flaming. The differences between smouldering and flaming are due to the condition and nature of the fuel and also because of the oxygen availability all that influence the level or rate that the heat is produced. It has been asserted that most of the destructive fires actually start as “small smouldering fires” which either start in combination with other flames or just alone. The aim of this research paper is to discuss why there has been widespread prevalence of smoking and also the general opinion regarding its propensity of causing fire in different situations which has led to it being labelled as the most probable cause of fire in some situations where it is totally irrelevant. According to research conducted, it was ascertained that a smouldering cigarette had a total of 5W unlike other causes (DeHaan, et, al: 612) How Discarded Cigarettes can or cannot Ignite Combustible materials in a residential Setting For any discarded cigarettes to ignite combustible materials in a residential setting, then various basic combustion conditions must be fulfilled or must exist like for instance, there must be the presence of combustible fuel, there must be sufficient availability of an Oxidizer like for instance Oxygen in the air, there must be application of some form of energy as a way of ignition like for instance heat and lastly, the oxidizer and the fuel must interact in a chain reaction that is self sustaining. As a result, the discarded cigarettes are therefore able to cause fires in the presence of the above mentioned factors. For most of the American people, smoking has remained a past time that most people enjoy despite the fact that the increase in intolerance regarding second hand smoking has made many societies across the world to adopt “NO SMOKING” bans in most of the public places. As a result, the extension of this principle has also been made by home owners thus forcing the family members and the guests to smoke outside. As a result, this has made the smokers to dispose off their smoking materials or discard them in places where the availability of factors that can cause fires is present. Indeed, it has been ascertained that discarded smoking materials have been the cause of most of the fires which have led to significant damages to various structures (Gorbett: 50). The circumstances in which a discarded cigarette can cause combustion are so complex. For instance, the distribution of temperature in the burning tobacco is normally so complex and therefore hard to predict. This is attributed to the fact that the surface temperatures that is normally at the edges of the cigarettes glowing mass is about 800 to 900 degrees centigrade when it is being drawn. Once the hottest part of mass has been drawn, this mass then shifts towards the centre at approximately 775 degrees centigrade. The burning rate of the cigarettes and the developed temperature is normally dependant on the variations in the cut and the type of the tobacco that has been used. This statement is definitely true especially for the hand rolled cigarettes. As a result, the rate at which such cigarettes burn will normally be dependent on their draft and duration which is normally between 6 millimetres and 8 mm per each given minute and a total time of approximately 13 and 15 minutes. The average release of heat which is asserted to be at a level of 5W is the one that emphasises the need for the fuel to be actually in direct contact with a particular tip of the cigarette before any kind of ignition can occur (Chuvieco: 48). The near unconscious acts that are carried out by thousands and thousands of smokers all over the world of flicking the burned out cigarette butts either to the floor or in the ashtrays after having the last pull have been ascertained to have deadly consequences. For instance, in the wake of the 2 recent fire outbreaks which left 4 people dead in an “Edison Elementary School” and in an “Ocean County Motel” that reduced them to ashes, it was ascertained that in each of the buildings, a cigarette had been left burning. Further, it was also ascertained by the State Division of Fire Safety that approximately 17% of all the fire deaths that occurred in New Jersey as from the year 200t to the year 2012 were related to smoking. This is therefore clear evidence that a discarded cigarette had the capacity of igniting combustible material in any given residential building. The ability of a discarded cigarette to ignite combustible materials was known to be higher in cases where such cigarette butts were in close proximity with Oxygen tanks. For instance, it was asserted by the State Division of Fire Safety that during the six years depicted above, 449 individuals perished in deadly fires that occurred in New Jersey and that out of that, 77 of the people were known to have died in blazes that were ignited soon after somebody lit a cigarette or disposed it off improperly near an oxygen tank. In each of the 6 years, careless smoking was ascertained as the leading cause of the fire deaths. However, given the fact that the cause of approximately 1777 fire related deaths remain undetermined or unknown, this implies that the discarded cigarettes cannot be entirely be blamed for igniting combustible materials. It can also imply that the number of smoke related fire deaths could even be higher (Cote: 60). According to research, it has been ascertained that fires related to cigarettes are very hard to classify without actually locating the real cigarette or using video surveillance. This is a clear indication that indeed, many of the undetermined or unknown fires could easily have been linked or associated to careless smoking. One particular circumstance in which a discarded cigarette ignited combustible materials is in a case that happened “Mariner’s Cove Motor Inn” at the Point Pleasant which whereby a lit cigarette that was tossed in one of the stuffed chairs not only led to the consumption of the wood frame building but also led to the deaths of 4 people and left other 8 people injured. Just in less than forty eight hours, a janitor was held responsible for the tossing of a lit cigarette in a trash can which eventually led to the ignition of a blaze that led to the destruction of the “James Monroe Elementary School” located in Edison. In most of the fire cases, it has been ascertained that discarded cigarettes ignited combustible materials thus eventually leading to fatal fires. According to State records, it was also ascertained that most of the smoking related fires occurred in the homes or residential places to the easy availability of combustible materials in such places. Indeed, since the year 2007, it was ascertained that fires caused by discarded cigarettes or smoking in general were known to account for a higher percentage of the fire fatalities that occurred in New Jersey as opposed to any other given factor. As opposed to other causes, fires that are smoke related were frustrating due to the fact that there is nothing that the fire officials can do in order to stop people from smoking. Apart from outlawing smoking in some specific occupancies, there is nothing more that can be done in order to stop people from smoking (Johnson: 80). The lack of sprinkler systems and smoke detectors was one of the major factors that led to the ignition of combustible materials by discarded cigarettes. This is due to the fact that sprinkler systems are a good avenue for the protection of people because if the cigarette smoulders, then the sprinklers will be able to contain the fires in that particular place or room. Falling asleep while one is smoking and also smoking while having medical oxygen are some of the factors or circumstances which a discarded cigarette will ignite some of the combustible materials in residential settings. This is due to the fact that most of such cigarette fires were caused due to discarding of smoking materials which have been improperly discarded. In addition to that discarded cigarettes are capable of igniting fire or some other combustible materials in circumstances where such materials are spontaneously ignited, carelessly thrown away, through radiant transmission of heat and in circumstances where such smoking materials are rubbed together (Schottke: 30). Circumstances in which a discarded Cigarette cannot ignite combustible materials There are some circumstances in which a discarded cigarette cannot ignite combustible materials in residential settings. For instance, cigarettes manufactured in EU have been mandated to ensure they meet new safety standards so that once lit, such cigarettes can automatically do out in case they are left idle after a specific amount of time if they are not smoked actively. The new cigarettes have been designed in a special way in that they have bands placed at specific intervals down their lengths so that they are capable of extinguishing themselves whenever they are not actively puffed on. The legislation of such smoking standards, according to research could ultimately lead to the prevention of approximately 67, fire deaths, 1800 fires and 600 causalities in a country like the UK alone. Discarded cigarettes will not ignite combustible materials in most residential settings if there was a reduction in the ignition propensity of the cigarettes through legislation which calls for fire safety standards (Odpm: 24). Despite the fact that fires which are cigarette ignited have been ascertained to be the leading cause of both injury and deaths as well and it still remains a global safety and public health problem, several nations now require that cigarette manufacturers must have Reduced Ignition Propensity or RIP. This can genuinely be ascertained through an experiment in which the Full Length Burn percentage (FLB %) for some 3 popular brands. In the experiment, the “ASTM E2187-04” test method was used in measuring the 3 popular brands from each of the seven nations which did not have the RIP legislation during the time of being purchased. The results were then compared with the percentage of the FLB measurements from 4 popular United States brands that were purchased in Vermont or in jurisdiction with the RIP law. In addition to that, the “SRM 1082” reference was also subjected to further tests in order to assure the laboratory quality control (Show:47). In the results obtained in the above experiment, it was ascertained that the entire cigarette brands which were purchased in nations that did not require fire safety standards for the cigarettes were more than 75 percent FLB. However, in contrast, no cigarettes brands emerging from the United States actually exceeded 10 per cent FLB. On the other hand, a 5% of FLB was demonstrated by the “SRM 1082” reference cigarette. It can therefore be correctly concluded that the ability of discarded cigarette in causing ignition can be significantly reduced through some form of legislation which calls for cigarette “fire safety standards”. As a result, it can correctly be ascertained that the RIP cigarettes have the ability of significantly reducing the number of injuries, deaths and even the destruction of property that result due to fires that are fire ignited (Rasbash:47). From the above information, it can be genuinely asserted that there are various conditions that have to be met before a discarded cigarette ignites any combustible material in any residential setting. As a result, the absence of the above mentioned factors clearly indicates that a discarded cigarette cannot ultimately lead to the ignition of the combustible materials and thus cannot lead to fires. It is therefore necessary for the fire fighters to conduct conclusive investigations before claiming that all the causes of fires in the world are as a result of discarded cigarettes. All in all, people all over the world should actually place priority on the prevention of fires through knowing their causes rather than seek to ascertain the causes of such fires after massive destructions. Works Cited DeHaan, John et, al. 2013. Kirk’s Fire Investigation. Seventh Edition. New York: CamScanner. Gorbett, Gregory. 2008. Computer Fire Models for Fire Investigation and Reconstruction. New York: International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology. Chuvieco, E. 2009. Earth Observation of Wildland Fires in Mediterranean Ecosystems. New York: Springer. Cote, A. 2003. Organizing For Fire and Rescue Services. New York: New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Cote, Arthur, et al. 1988. Principles of Fire Protection. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Johnson, E. 2001. Forest Fires: Behaviour and Ecological Effects. New York: Academic Press. Odpm. 2006. Fire Safety Risk Assessment. New York: The Stationery Office. Rasbash, D, et al. 2004. Evaluation of Fire Safety. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Schottke, D. 2012. Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Show, S. 1953. Forest Fire Control. New York: Food and Agriculture Org, 1953. US Fire Administration. 1998. Behavioural Mitigation of Smoking Fires. New York: FEMA. Read More