ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 5 May 2004
Page Count: 5

The Evaluation of the Extent of Transporting or "Tracking" an Identifiable Ignitable Liquid (Gasoline) Throughout Fire Scenes During the Investigative Process
Armstrong, A
Armstrong Forensic Laboratory, Inc., TX

Martin, C
Scentech Detection Canines, TX

Holmes, DL
Introspect, TX

Young, LD
Scentech Detection Canines, TX

Powell, R
The Public Agency Training Council, IN

Riggs, S
The Public Agency Training Council, IN

Babrauskas, V
Fire Science and Technology Inc., WA

(Received 11 May 2003; accepted 14 February 2004)

Abstract

Tests have determined that boots or shoes of individuals at a fire scene do not transport sufficient contaminants (“tracking”) through the fire scene to produce a positive laboratory result for the presence of gasoline in a fire scene that was not present at the time of the fire. Questions about the validity of forensic laboratory results have been raised on the basis that low-level gasoline residues detected in the laboratory samples could have been the result of transporting the residue by footwear contaminated from the fire scene (“tracking”). The data collected in this study establish that "tracking" does not lead to false-positive laboratory results. Canines trained and experienced in the detection of trace ignitable liquid residues were also utilized in this study. The canine results confirmed that properly trained canines show a higher sensitivity than do standard ASTM laboratory techniques for fire debris analysis. In a few cases, canines responded to contamination, but laboratory testing (which is the definitive indicator) did not produce positive results.

Keywords:
forensic science, arson, contaminants, fire accelerants, footwear, gasoline, GC-MS analysis, ignitable liquids, tracking

Paper ID: JFS2003155
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003155
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