In fire protection, an accelerant is any substance or mixture that accelerates or speeds the development and escalation of fire. Accelerants are often used to commit arson, and some accelerants may cause an explosion. Some fire investigators use the term "accelerant" to mean any substance that initiates and promotes a fire without implying intent or malice. The accelerant works by burning rapidly. As such, the accelerant itself is consumed in the process, and should not be considered as a catalyst. In Arson investigation, the significance of accelerant is to detect the presence of a such substance in order to proved that the fire is classified as an arson.[1]
A fire is a self-sustaining, exothermic oxidation reaction that emits heat and light. When a fire is accelerated, it can produce more heat, consume the reactants more quickly, burn at a higher temperature, and increase the spread of the fire. An accelerated fire is said to have a higher "heat release rate," meaning it burns more quickly.
See main article: Detection of fire accelerants. Indicators of an incendiary fire or arson can lead fire investigators to look for the presence of accelerants in fire debris. Accelerants can leave behind evidence of their presence and use. Accelerants present in areas they should not be can indicate an incendiary fire or arson. Investigators often use special dogs known as accelerant detection canines trained to smell ignitable liquids. The dog can pinpoint areas for the investigator to collect samples. Fire debris are submitted to forensic laboratories employ sensitive analytical instruments with GC-MS capabilities for forensic chemical analysis.[2] Gaseous accelerants like Butane gas, propane and natural gas doesn't leave any chemical residue at a fire scene.
Many accelerants are hydrocarbon-based fuels, sometimes referred to as petroleum distillates: gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, turpentine, butane, isopropyl alcohol, Lacquer, Methyl alcohol, and various other flammable solvents.[3] These accelerants are also known as ignitable liquids. Ignitable liquids can leave behind tell-tale marks in the fire debris. These irregular burn patterns can indicate the presence of an ignitable liquid in a fire.
The properties of some ignitable liquids make them dangerous accelerants. Many ignitable liquids have high vapor pressures, low flash points and a relatively wide range between their upper and lower explosive limit. This allows ignitable liquids to ignite easily, and when mixed in a proper air-fuel ratio, readily explode. Many arsonists who use generous amounts of gasoline have been seriously burned or killed igniting their fire.
Common household items and objects can accelerate a fire. Wicker and foam have high surface to mass ratios and favorable chemical compositions and thus burn easily and readily. Arsonists who use large amounts of available combustible material rather than ignitable liquids try to avoid detection. Using large fuel loads can increase the rate of fire growth as well as spread the fire over a larger area, thus increasing the amount of fire damage. Inappropriate amounts and types of fuel in a particular area can indicate arson. Whether available combustible materials constitute an accelerant depends on the intent of the person responsible for their use.
Sales of certain accelerants are limited to the particular group allowed to purchase them for trainings and fire demolitions (to train new firefighters).
List of commonly used fire accelerants[4]
1. Dimethyl ketone, also known as 2-propanone or Acetone, with a chemical formula of C3H6O, boasts a flash point of -4 degrees F (-20 degrees C) and an ignition temperature of 869 degrees F (465.4 degrees C). Its explosive limits range from 2.6% to 13.0%, with a vapor density of 2.0 and a specific gravity of 0.792. Characterized by its volatile, flammable nature, this colorless liquid ketone carries a pleasant odor and is readily miscible with water, alcohol, and most oils. Its primary applications encompass serving as a solvent in lacquers, varnishes, cosmetics, nail polish removers, and various solvent blends.
2. Carbon Disulfide, represented by the chemical formula CS2, possesses a flash point of -22 degrees F (-30 degrees C) and an ignition temperature of 212 degrees F (100 degrees C). Its explosive limits span from 1.3% to 50%, with a vapor density of 2.6 and a specific gravity of 1.26. This volatile liquid, which ranges from colorless to yellow and emits a sulfurous odor reminiscent of rotten eggs, deviates from the norm by sinking in water due to its higher density.
3. Coleman Fuel, also referred to as Coleman fuel C-2538, white gasoline, or camping stove fuel, lacks a single chemical formula due to its composition of hydrocarbons. Its flash point is recorded at -27 degrees F (-33 degrees C). Despite an unreported ignition temperature and explosive limits, its vapor density stands at 3.7, while its specific gravity is noted as 0.744. This unrefined petroleum distillate, commonly used in camping stoves and lanterns, falls within the carbon range of C5 to C11.
4. Ethyl Alcohol, commonly known as ethanol or grain alcohol and denoted by the chemical formula C2H5OH, exhibits a flash point of 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) and an ignition temperature of 689 degrees F (365 degrees C). Its explosive limits range from 3.5% to 19.0%, with a vapor density of 1.6 and a specific gravity of 0.8. This volatile liquid, distinguished by its pleasant odor and miscibility with water and many organic liquids, finds primary application in alcoholic beverages, pharmaceutical solvents, cleaning solutions, and certain antifreezes.
5. Ethyl Ether, also recognized as ether or diethyl ether (C2H5)2O, showcases a flash point of -49 degrees F (-45 degrees C) and an ignition temperature of 356 degrees F (180 degrees C). Its explosive limits span from 1.9% to 36%, with a vapor density of 2.6 and a specific gravity of 0.7. This highly flammable liquid, characterized by its sweetish odor and propensity to form explosive peroxides upon exposure to air and light, demonstrates slight miscibility in water, methanol, and oils. Its primary applications encompass serving as a solvent in organic synthesis, smokeless powder, and industrial solvents.
6. Fuel oil no. 1, known by various names including kerosene, range oil, coal oil, or Jet-A (aviation) fuel, encompasses a carbon range of C9 to C17. Its flash point ranges between 110 degrees F and 162 degrees F (42 degrees C - 72 degrees C), while its ignition temperature is recorded at 410 degrees F (210 degrees C). With explosive limits from 0.7% to 5%, its vapor density ranges from 0.7 to 5, with a specific gravity of 0.81. This colorless, combustible petroleum distillate, notable for its characteristic odor and solubility in petroleum solvents, finds application across various industries, including lamp oil manufacturing, charcoal starter fluid production, jet engine fuel formulation, and insecticide creation.
7. Fuel oil no. 2, alternatively known as home heating fuel or diesel fuel, encompasses a carbon range of C9 to C23. Its flash point varies between 126 degrees F and 204 degrees F (52 degrees C - 96 degrees C), with an ignition temperature of 494F (257C). While explosive limits remain unreported, its vapor density exceeds 1, with a specific gravity below 1. This light brown, combustible petroleum distillate primarily consists of C9 to C23 hydrocarbons and finds application as heating fuel in domestic or commercial atomizing-type burners and as fuel for diesel engines.8. Gasoline, commonly referred to as gas or motor fuel, is a blended mixture of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. It boasts a flash point of -45 degrees F (-43 degrees C) and an ignition temperature ranging from 536 degrees F (280 degrees C) for 56-60 octane grade. With explosive limits from 1.4% to 7.6%, its vapor density ranges from 3.0 to 4.0, with a specific gravity of 0.8. This highly flammable liquid, comprising over 300 volatile hydrocarbon compounds derived from petroleum fractionation or distillation, serves as the predominant ignitable liquid accelerant in forensic investigations and is primarily utilized as fuel in spark-ignited internal combustion engines.
9. Isopropyl alcohol, known by its abbreviations IPA or isopropanol, and chemically represented as CH3 CHOHCH3, possesses a flash point of 54 degrees F (12 degrees C) and an ignition temperature of 750 degrees F (399 degrees C). With explosive limits ranging from 2.5% to 12.0%, its vapor density is measured at 2.1, with a specific gravity of 0.79. This colorless, flammable liquid, characterized by its pleasant odor and miscibility in water, ether, and alcohol, serves as a key ingredient in lacquers, rubbing alcohol, denaturants, and lotions.
10. Lacquer refers to a category of products whose composition and properties vary among manufacturers. It may include spirit varnishes like shellac or synthetic organic coatings that dry to form a film through solvent evaporation.
11. Lacquer Thinner denotes a blend of highly volatile solvents, miscible in water, whose composition and properties vary depending on the manufacturer.
12. Methyl alcohol, also known as methanol or wood alcohol (CH3OH), possesses a flash point of 54 degrees F (12 degrees C) and an ignition temperature of 867 degrees F (484 degrees C). Its explosive limits range from 6.7% to 36%, with a vapor density of 1.1 and a specific gravity of 0.79. This colorless, flammable, and poisonous liquid, featuring a slight alcohol odor in its pure form, is miscible in water, ethanol, ketones, and various other organic solvents. Its principal applications include serving as an ingredient in antifreeze, dry gas, windshield washer fluids, and as a denaturant in ethanol.
13. Methyl ethyl ketone, also known as MEK or 2-butanone (CH3COCH2CH3), boasts a flash point of 16 degrees F (-9 degrees C) and an ignition temperature of 759 degrees F (404 degrees C). Its explosive limits range from 1.9% to 10.0%, with a vapor density of 2.5 and a specific gravity of 0.8. This colorless, flammable liquid, bearing an acetone-like odor and miscibility in alcohol and ether, finds primary use as a solvent in nitrocellulose coatings and lacquers, paint removers, adhesives, cements, and in printed circuit board manufacturing.14. Mineral Spirits, often referred to as paint thinner, represent a complex petroleum distillate with a flash point range between 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) and 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). With an ignition temperature of 473 degrees F (245 degrees C) and explosive limits of 0.8% at 212 degrees F (100 degrees C), mineral spirits possess a vapor density of 3.9 and a specific gravity of 0.8. This category of clear, combustible liquid, characterized by its petroleum-type odor, encompasses midrange petroleum distillates ranging from C8 to C12 and finds application in paint thinners, oil-based stains, dry cleaning solvents, and select charcoal starter fluids.
15. Naphtha, also known as V M & P (Varied Marketed Products), is a generic term encompassing combustible products such as mineral spirits or flammable products like petroleum ether. The IAAI Forensic Science Committee recommends avoiding the term due to its broad usage. Products within this class serve primarily as thinners in paints and varnishes and as fuel for pocket lighters, with properties including flash point, explosive limits, and others varying by manufacturer.
16. Toluene, also known as methylbenzene or phenyl methane (C6H5CH3), exhibits a flash point of 40 degrees F (4 degrees C) and an ignition temperature of 896 degrees F (480 degrees C). Its explosive limits range from 1.3% to 7.0%, with a vapor density of 3.1 and a specific gravity of 0.8. This colorless, flammable liquid, featuring a benzene-like odor, demonstrates miscibility in alcohol, ether, acetone, and slight solubility in water. Its primary application lies in serving as a solvent in paints and coatings, paint removers, explosives (TNT), adhesive solvents for model airplanes, and as a base for polyurethane resins.
17 Turpentine, also known as oil of turpentine (C10H16), derived from steam distillation of pine (conifer) tree wood, boasts a flash point between 90 degrees F and 115 degrees F (32 degrees C - 46 degrees C) and an ignition temperature of 488 degrees F (253 degrees C). With explosive limits ranging from 0.8% to unreported, its vapor density is less than 1, with a specific gravity of 0.8. This colorless, combustible liquid finds miscibility in oils, ether, and chloroform, and serves primarily as a drying agent or solvent in paints, lacquers, varnishes, waxes, liniments, and in the manufacture of certain linoleums, soap, ink, artificial camphor, and rubber.
18. Xylenes, known chemically as dimethylbenzene (C6H4(CH3)2), exhibit a flash point of 29 degrees F (-2 degrees C) and an ignition temperature of 867 degrees F (464 degrees C). While their explosive limits are not reported, they pose a moderate fire risk. With a vapor density greater than 1 and a specific gravity of 0.86, xylenes represent a colorless, flammable liquid miscible in alcohol and ether, yet insoluble in water. Isolated from crude wood distillate or obtained through fractional distillation of petroleum or coal tar, commercial xylenes typically comprise a mixture of three isomers, with the m-isomer predominating. Common applications include conversion to polyester fibers and plasticizers, aviation gasoline, rubber cements, automotive enamels, paints and lacquers, and various other commercial uses.