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Accidental or Incendiary
by Richard D. Fitch, Edward A. Porter
2nd Edition Hardcover
Published by Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd
Publication date: June 1997

Book News, Inc., 11/01/93: This volume includes the latest developments in the analysis and detection of explosives as presented at the 4th International Symposium on Analysis and Detection of Explosives, held in Jerusalem, September 1992. It covers all aspects of explosives and explosive residue analysis and detection, fundamental studies, applications, developments and evaluation of instrumentation and methods, and improvements of established techniques. The volume is divided into five sections: analysis of explosive residues, analytical methods, energetic materials and mass spectrometry, explosive detection, and vapor generators. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

From the Publisher: Meet Sergeant Timothy Hajj of the Newark, New Jersey, Police Department. He'll show you how bomb squad officers are trained to deal with explosives and how they protect themselves and the public from injury. You'll learn about the various kinds of bombs and how they are identified. After your visit, you'll truly appreciate the work Sergeant Hajj and other officers do. They put their lives on the line to prevent us from being harmed.

Many people in our world face the unique demands of special careers. Some work at jobs that protect us and our families from danger. Others have learned skills needed to provide a special service or perform in a special way. The Risky Business series gives you an up-close-and-personal profile of people who do things most of us would never dream of doing. As you read about them, you'll find out what worries them and what excites them about their jobs. You'll also learn how each person trained to become an expert in his or her field.

Fire Investigation:
Including Fire-Related Phenomena
by Paul L. Kirk
Hardcover, 255 pages
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1969
ISBN: 0471488607

Brent's notes: One of the definitive texts on Fire investigations by one of the founding minds in forensic science. An industry standard.

Modern Methods and Applications in Analysis of Explosives
by Jehuda Yinon, Shmuel Zitrin
Paperback, 316 pages
Published by John Wiley & Sons
Publication date: July 1996
ISBN: 0471965626

Book News, Inc., 11/01/93: For chemists in analytical and forensic laboratories, or graduate students in the field, explains the latest methods of analyzing explosives, and how those methods can be applied in law enforcement, aviation security, and environmental protection. Includes explosive compounds and mixtures, chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods, the analysis of explosives residues, environmental analysis, and the detection of hidden explosives. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Brent's notes: You absolutely must have this text if you are an arson investigator. It is the most current investigative standard for the field. If you are an arson investigator and you ever get on the stand, you will eat this book. I kid you not. Lawyers lay awake nights thinking of this thing and how to use it against you, so know it thoroughly.

At the 1997 Arnold Markle Symposium, the topic being Fatal Fire/Arson Investigation, Joseph Tuscano, Arson and Fraud Director of the American Re-Insurance Company, again re-emphasized the necessity of being thoroughly aware of this text and its contents if you are an arson investigator, as did others. His comments, as always, were timely, and pragmatic. He also mentioned that if you didn't avail yourself to NFPA 921 in an studious fashion, that opposing counsel would likely avail its contents to one of a number of your available orifices. Examples were given and slides were shown.

Brent's notes: This is the CRC book on arson investigation. It is the second arson investigator's bible. Get to know it intimately. The first arson investigator's bible, however, is NFPA 95 (see above). If you don't know the whole of NFPA 95, and you get on the witness stand as an arson investigator, it's a defense attorney's dream come true.

The publisher, CRC Press http://www.crcpress.com, 08/12/96: Revised, updated, and expanded new edition. PRACTICAL FIRE AND ARSON INVESTIGATION, Second Edition presents specific details on the basic principles and advanced applied techniques for conducting a thorough fire and arson investigation.

Features:

• Over 175 pages of new information
• More than 50 new photographs and tables
• Provides an extensive section on how to pack materials properly for analysis by law enforcement agencies
• Contains the latest information and research on identifying and analyzing bloodstain evidence found at fire scenes
• Addresses the National Fire Protection Association Standards 921 and 1033, the recognized standards in the industry
• Discusses important legal aspects of subrogation in negligence and product liability cases -- Who is responsible?