Microbiological Self-Ignition as a Cause of Fire: Guidelines for Investigators and Forensic Examiners
https://doi.org/10.30764/1819-2785-2016-4-73-85
Abstract
The paper presents a list of plant products prone to microbiological self-heating and spontaneous combustion. It examines the conditions and indicators of the emergence and development of these processes in hay and peat. An example from forensic casework describes fire in a haystack resulting from its microbiological spontaneous combustion. It is demonstrated that the “hay clinker” effect may arise both from spontaneous combustion and from an act of arson; therefore, it cannot be used as a differentiating feature of arson. Equations are proposed for the prediction of conditions leading to thermal self-ignition of hay and peat, with examples of calculations. The paper includes previously published data on the emission of heat by various materials at 20 °С, and their aeration, as well as data needed for the analysis of the causes of hay or peat fire resulting from their microbiological self-ignition.
Keywords
hay,
peat,
microorganisms,
temperature,
self-heating,
spontaneous combustion,
smoldering,
flame,
fire
About the Author
I. S. Taubkin
the Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Moscow
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
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Review
For citations:
Taubkin I.S. Microbiological Self-Ignition as a Cause of Fire: Guidelines for Investigators and Forensic Examiners. Theory and Practice of Forensic Science. 2016;(4(44)):73-85. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30764/1819-2785-2016-4-73-85
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