ABSTRACT
When a fire investigator suspects that the cause of a fire is incendiary and that accelerants may have been involved, the forensic laboratory often becomes a valuable tool to the investigation. Samples collected in the course of an investigation and subsequently analyzed by the laboratory can provide important information to the investigator regarding the presence and/or absence of ignitable liquids or ignitable liquid residues and the chemical nature of such. Ignitable liquid detection can be used to: support the hypothesis of accelerated fire; provide investigative information regarding potential sources or uses of ignitable liquid; reinforce linkages between the fire scene and other ignitable liquids found in conjunction with the investigation; and reinforce linkages between fire scene and potential suspects.
