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| Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation (Protocols in Forensic Science) | 
 enlarge | Author: John J. Lentini
Publisher: CRC
Category: Book
List Price: $139.95
Buy New: $121.97
You Save: $17.98 (13%)
Buy New/Used from $93.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  (7 reviews)
Sales Rank: 144946
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 608
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.1
Dimensions (in): 10.1 x 6.9 x 1.1
ISBN: 0849320828
Dewey Decimal Number: 363.3765
EAN: 9780849320828
ASIN: 0849320828
Publication Date: January 26, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation provides comprehensive coverage from historical, developmental, current, and practical perspectives. The author, uniquely qualified with years of experience in both on-site investigations and lab analyses, provides a resource that is unparalleled in depth and focus. The book is distinctive in that it not only discusses the appropriate techniques for fire scene investigation and the chemical analysis of fire debris, but it also focuses on the history of fire investigation and how the profession has evolved. Specific topics of interest include: An interpretation of GC-MS data from ignitable liquid residues An explanation of fire analysis as it relates to chemistry, physics, and fluid dynamics A critical assessment of common fire investigation errors with a discussion of how these errors affect real cases A systematic examination of fire investigation mythology - how the myths originated and how they continue to be promulgated The presentation of landmark legal cases that affect the protocol of fire investigations The development of new tools used in investigations Professional interaction - how to deal with clients, expert witnesses, lawyers, and the courts A thorough and accessible book, Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation provides not only the practical information necessary to conduct an effective inquiry but also with insight into the science, history, and theory behind what makes fire investigation a multi-faceted profession.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
It's about time.... January 16, 2007
It's about time that a textbook like this was introduced into the world of fire investigation.
buy this book! it is great August 19, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent book. John has done the fire investigation community an outstanding service by writing this book.
The sections debunking "arson indicators" are noteworthy, as are the excellent fire cause examples and the great pictures. If you don't have this book go out and buy one.
John Morse, PE
Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation August 17, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Book Review:
Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation
by John J. Lentini
Mr. Lentini has produced a book on fire investigations. So, why purchase and read another book on this subject, it has been covered in several texts before. The book should be read to educate the reader [presumably a fire investigator] on the significance of their work. Fire investigations impact people's lives. Aside from the lofty goal of making accurate determinations of causes of fires thereby helping to prevent a repeat of the fire, determinations of the fire cause can impact a person's financial wellbeing for the remainder of their life, affect a person's personal freedom, and in the extreme instance, determine if a person lives or dies. Yet, as Mr. Lentini so notes, a fire investigator is one of the few forensic professions where no scientific education or training is required to offer opinions on complex scientific phenomena. To this reviewer, Mr. Lentini is the first published author to stress the need for improvement in the professional standards for fire investigators.
Mr. Lentini starts out with the basics in the first six chapters. He includes discussions on fire science, chemistry and physics of combustion, fire dynamics and investigative procedures. Given Mr. Lentini's expertise in chemistry, he spends an entire chapter on chemical analyses and ignitable liquid residue aspects of fire investigation. Recognizing the audience for that chapter is limited, he encourages the unrelated reader to "skip over" all but the introduction to this chapter. He also devotes a chapter to ignition sources, possibly the most significant factor in any fire cause determination. Without the investigator being able to adequately address how devices work and fail, the tendency becomes to dismiss the energy sources in residences as not having caused the fire. This lack of consideration of devices that can become ignition sources is the most likely explanation for why fire investigators rely on the "Negative Corpus" determination.
Mr. Lentini devotes the remainder of his book to developing his arguments for recognizing the significance of the fire investigator's work. He gives thirty examples of how or how not to investigate a fire. From that foundation, he moves into the mythology of arson investigation and an excellent discussion on sources of error in fire investigations. The sources of error chapter [my personal favorite] may possibly be the reader's first realization that there truly is an error factor in fire investigations that must be addressed. He finishes up with a chapter on the professional-practice aspect of the profession, including quality assurance programs, consistency in one's work, and expert witness testimony. Although quality assurance programs may never get implemented in many fire investigation offices [both public and private], his discussion sets out for the reader a typical plan that is clear and not overly burdened with jargon.
Throughout the book, Mr. Lentini adds superb artwork including full color photographs, clear and in some cases color charts, graphs and illustrations. He also inserts his "Sidebar" discussions, examples and opportunities to discuss aspects of the chapter that illustrate or explain a concept in a little different light. His choice to push his publisher to make all photographs be in color was unusual, but by doing so he has made his text stand out from the crowd with its artwork.
If someone is just starting out as a fire investigator, other texts may do a better job of discussing the basic aspects of the profession. But, Mr. Lentini's philosophical approach on the responsibility of the fire investigator to conduct a thorough, scientific investigation is an excellent primer for a fire investigator to begin his career. Likewise, those career investigators that have been around a long time can benefit by the much needed reminder of the importance of their work.
A great book to add to our library July 14, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I purchased Mr. Lentini's book as soon as it was released.
The color photographs and diagrams are excellent. The book is laid out in an easy to understand straight to the point format.
The book guides you through a proper investigation while using a scientific method.
I include this book in my suggested reading list for the classes that I teach.
If you would like to add another great text book to your library then this would be the one.
Steve Riggs, PATC
Scientific Protocols for FIRE INVESTIGATION July 6, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Book Review
Scientific Protocols for FIRE INVESTIGATION
By John J. Lentini, CFEI
Published by CRC Press, 2006
604 pages, full-color photographs, illustrations, and diagrams, $139.95.
This publication is a MUST HAVE and MUST READ for all memebers of the fire investigation community. The document clearly outlines all aspects of the craft in simplistic terms.
I recommend that you buy it and study it. The publication is such that both the rookie and the seasoned fire investigation will learn and learn and learn.
Dennis J. Merkley CFEI, CFII, CVFI
Senior Consultant - Fire and Explosion Analyst
Fire Facts Incorporated
Toronto, Canada
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