ABSTRACT
The laboratory analysis of re debris is one of the most important hypothesis tests that can be performed in an investigation, especially when the investigator forms a hypothesis that there was set using ignitable liquids. The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in samples from a fire scene can support the field investigator's opinion regarding the origin, fuel load, and incendiary nature of the fire. As the ability of the separation step to isolate smaller and smaller quantities of ignitable liquid residue improved, the sensitivity of the analytical instruments also improved. Standard guides for the examination and interpretation of chemical residues in re debris have been published through the consensus process of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Science. Some of the most comprehensive work to identify the source of ignitable liquid residues from re debris was performed by Dale Mann in 1987.
