Arson Science Rewritten

An anonymous reader handed us a link to an AP story about advances in the science of arson investigation. Many assumptions about fire, long held by investigators, have been overturned in recent years as scientists have come to understand concepts like 'flashover'. The repercussions of these findings is having an effect not unlike the use of DNA in crime-solving; people are being set free, and old cases are being re-examined. From the article: "Significantly, flashover can create very hot and very fast-moving fires. And it can occur within just a few minutes, dashing the concept that only arson fires fueled by accelerants can quickly rage out of control. The studies began to chip away at the old beliefs -- critics call them myths -- but it took years. Through the 1980s, texts at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md., still taught the traditional techniques. It wasn't until 1992, when a guide to fire investigations by the National Fire Protection Association -- 'NFPA921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations' -- clearly laid out, in a document relied upon by authorities nationwide, that the earlier beliefs were wrong."

Comments

Re:If you've ever seen how fast a fire moves...

[Swimport]

I know there was a case a few years ago where an "arsonist" in TX was executed for having killed his family, and within less than a year it was established that he was innocent.

What? An innocent man was executed in Texas? I highly doubt that.

Dammit

[quokkapox]

It took 18 years to get that freakin song out of my head.

Now, I unleash my revenge:

Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn's got a winning team
Davy Crockett, "Peter Pan", Elvis Presley, Disneyland

Bwahahahahaha...

Wooden houses?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why the heck should all houses in this country be made of wood? Haven't you guys heard of concrete? Or good old bricks? Seriously, this is crazy.

Re:Wooden houses?

[ArsenneLupin]

Where the most striking case is the appartment block where they used aluminium panelling to cover the outer walls.

Hey, a tinfoil house!

I can already tell

[Somatic]

that this thread will turn into a flame war.

It's all relative...

[__aaclcg7560]

Tried reading the article but my Sony laptop caught on fire.

Re:Hmmm, Not in my training and experience

[Breakfast Pants]

But *YOU* lit the match. Therefore it was arson, and of course it burnt down. Can you even read?

Re:If you've ever seen how fast a fire moves...

[EugeneK]

My sarcasm detector just crashed with an overflow error.

Re:Hmmm, Not in my training and experience

[JustOK]

I'm betting they were Australian matches. They burn down in this hemisphere, but up down under.

Re:lots of junk science in police work

[Fred_A]

Come on - these guy use polygraphs - junk science took them over decades ago.

Not to mention that according to the US TV shows sold over here, about 1/4th of their agents appear to be psychics of a kind or another too. Is there a budget line for dribbling candles, pendulums and pentagram chalks ? ;)