Field detection of ignitable liquid by flammable gas detector and effects of fire debris matrix

Abstract

 In recent years, arson using alternative ignitable liquids such as lighter fluid have been occurring. Detector tubes utilized as on-site detection methods in Japan are specialized for gasoline and kerosene. We investigated the effectiveness of commercially available flammable gas detectors as an alternative to these methods.

 The lower detection limits of the detector and detector tubes for various ignitable liquids were investigated, and the detector showed better results than the detector tubes for those that did not contain aromatic compounds. It also had a better false positive rate than the detector tube for matrix samples that could be found in fire debris. Furthermore, the characteristics of the detector based on the response distance from the ignitable liquid source and the response of the ignitable liquid to the simulated fire debris are discussed, and the optimal use of the detector was proposed.