Forensic Chemistry of Accelerants in Arson Cases – TrainingServices

Forensic Chemistry of Accelerants in Arson Cases – Training Services provides focused training on the chemical identification, behavior, and forensic interpretation of accelerants used in fire-setting incidents. The course covers common classes of accelerants (hydrocarbons, solvents, alcohols), their volatility and decomposition during combustion, and principles of fire dynamics that influence residue distribution. Participants will learn safe and effective sampling of fire debris, evidence preservation, and laboratory techniques such as headspace GC–MS, solvent extraction, and chromatographic profiling for accelerant detection. Emphasis is placed on distinguishing background contamination from meaningful residues, pattern recognition in burn scenes, and reconstructing points of origin. Legal considerations, chain-of-custody procedures, and reporting practices for courtroom testimony are integrated throughout. Case studies of arson investigations and hands-on examples provide practical skills for investigators and forensic analysts to identify, interpret, and present accelerant evidence reliably.