ABSTRACT
This chapter provides some basic information that may help in preparing the crime scene technician for the rigors and requirements of special scenes. No matter what level of skill a crime scene technician possesses, there are always scenes — fire scenes, scattered or buried remains, landfill body recoveries — that present special difficulties. Fire scenes are one of the most complex and difficult scenes to work. The specific methodology for dealing with a fire scene is not that much different from any other crime scene, with the noted exceptions of the dangers involved and the concentration on fire signs. Fire patterns show the progress of the fire, demonstrate the nature of the fuels involved, and help to locate and isolate the actual origin of the fire. The primary problem associated with searching for fire patterns is the level of damage present in the fire scene.
