On August 26, 1977, PD 1185 was signed into

law by the late President Ferdinand E.

Marcos of the Philippines
The implementing rules and regulation
of Fire Code of the Philippines was issued
on March 20, 1978 and was approved on
March 25, 1978.
May 28, 1978 –the publication of PD 1185
June 27, 1978 – PD 1185 took effect
 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE
FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
REPEALING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO.
1185 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

 The Act shall be known as the “Revised Fire

Code of the Philippines of 2008”.
 December 19, 2008 – approved/signed into
law
 January 20, 2009 - took effect
 Fire Triangle Theory – the graphical
representation of the three elements
of fire, namely: OXYGEN, HEAT AND
FUEL.

Each side is just as important as

either of the other two sides. There
cannot be fire without all the three
parts present in equal proportion
1. Removal the fuel
2. Cut-off the oxygen supply
3. Reduce the temperature (cooling)

FIRE - It is chemical reaction known as

combustion. It is frequently defined
as rapid oxidation of a material
accompanied by release of energy in
the form of heat and light.
1. HEAT – a form of energy generated by
the transmission of some other form of
energy, as in combustion or burning.
2. OXYGEN - a colorless, odorless gas
and one of the components of air which
is approximately 21% by volume.
OXYGEN REQUIREMENTS
1. 12% -no fire
2. 14% flash point
3. 21% - fire point
3. FUEL – any substance which
reacts chemically with oxygen
and produces flames.

FUEL SOURCES
1. Solid
2. Liquid
3. Gas
1. Oxygen (Oxidizing Agent)
- are those materials that yield oxygen or
other oxidizing gases during the process of
a chemical reaction. Oxidizers are not
themselves combustible but they support
combustion when they combined with fuel.
2. Fuel (Reducing Agent)
- fuel is a material or substance being
burned in the combustion process. In
scientific terms, the fuel is a combustion
reaction is known as the reducing agent.
3. Heat (Temperature)

- is the energy component of the fire

tetrahedron. When heat comes in contact
with a fuel, the energy supports the
combustion process.
COMBUSTION PROCESS/REACTIONS
 Causes pyrolosis or vaporization of solid
and liquid fuels and the production of
ignitable vapors or gases.
 Provide the energy necessary for ignition
 Causes the continuous production and
ignition of fuel vapors to continue the
combustion process.
 Combustion is a complex reaction that it
requires a fuel (gaseous or vapor state),
an oxidizer, and heat to combine in very
specific way. Once flaming starts, it can
only continue when enough heat or
energy is produced to cause the
continued chain reaction. Chain reaction
is a series of events that occur in
sequence with the results of each
individual reaction being added to the
rest.
 CHEMICAL ENERGY
It is the most common source of
heat in combustion reactions.
When any combustibles is in
contact with oxygen oxidation
occurs.
Ex. Heat generated from a burning
match
ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Electrical energy can generate
temperatures high enough to ignite
any combustible materials near the
heated area.
FACTORS INVOLVING ELECTRICAL HEATING
1. current flow through a resistance
2. Arcing
3. Lighting
4. sparking
- Nuclear heat energy is generated
when atoms either split apart
(fission) or combine (fusion)
Examples:
1. Fission heats water to drive
steam turbines and produce
electricity
2. The solar energy is a product
of a fusion reaction to form a nuclear
 - An energy created by friction

 Heat of friction – is the movement of

two surfaces against each other. This
movement produced sparks being
generated.
 Heat of compression – heat is
generated when a gas is compressed in
a container or cylinder.
 COMBUSTION
- is a self-sustaining chemical reaction
producing energy or products that cause
more reactions.

Products of Combustion
1. FIRE GASES
2. FLAME
3. HEAT
4. SMOKE
1. FIRE GASES – are those that remain when
other products of combustion cool to normal
temperature. Common combustibles contain
carbon, which forms carbon dioxide and
carbon monoxide when burned. Other fire
gases include hydrogen sulfide, sulfur
doixide, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide,
hydrogen chloride
TYPES OF POISONOUS GASES
A. Hydrogen sulfide – a gas formed
during fires involving organic, material
containing sulfur, such as: rubber, hair
wood, and meat. It is colorless, highly
toxic gas with the strong odor of rotten
eggs.
B. Hydrogen Cyanide – a toxic fire gas
found in oxygen starve fires involving
nitrogen materials such as wool, silk,
urethane and acrylics. His gas is also
used as fumigant which can cause
serious danger to firefighters.
C. Hydrogen Chloride – a gas which can be
fatal after only a few breaths is produced in
fires involving chloride-containing plastic.
2. FLAME - It is the luminous body of a
burning which gets hotter and less
luminous when mixed with more oxygen.

TYPES OF FLAMES
A. According to Color and Completeness
of Combustion
i. Luminous flame - a reddish –orange
in color, it deposits soots because it a
product of incomplete combustion
C. Based of Smoothness
i. Laminar flame – (smooth flame)
flame is laminar when a particles
follow a smooth path through a
gaseous flame
ii. Turbulent flame – (rough flame)
–those having unsteady, irregular
swirls and eddies
PYROLOSIS - It refers to the chemical
process whereby fire consumes the most
solid part of the fuel.
The process of pyrolosis involves the
following:
 The fuel is heated until its temperature
reaches its fire point
 Decomposition takes place
 Decomposition produces combustible
vapors that rise to the surface of the fuel
 Free radical undergo combustion if
proper amount of oxygen present
ii.Non-luminous flame – bluish in
color, it does not deposit soot
because it is a product of complete
combustion, it has a higher
temperature than luminous flame.
B. According to Burning Fuel and
Air Mixture
i. Premixed flame – example of a
Bunsen Burner
ii. Diffusion flame – example of
flame of oxyacetylene
torch
3. HEAT - a form of energy
measured in degree of
temperature, it is the product of
combustion that spread the fire. It
causes burns and other injuries.
4. SMOKE – It is a visible product of
incomplete combustion, usually a
mixture of oxygen, nitrogen,
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,
finely divided particles of soot and
carbon.
 Incipient/Beginning Stage – it is the
initial stage of fire
 Free burning phase - the second phase
of burning in which material or
structures are burning in the presence of
of adequate oxygen
 Smoldering phase – the final phase of
burning wherein flames ceases but
dense smoke and heat completely filled
the confined room
A. BASED ON CAUSE
1. Natural Fire
2. Accidental Fire
3. Intentional Fire
B. BASED ON BURNING FUEL
-Four Classes Of Fire
1. Class A – materials involving
vegetables, fibers, wood, paper, straw,
grain and grasses.
2. Class B – Materials including petroleum
products such as gasoline, fuel oils,
lubricating oils, and greases; animal fats
such as butter, vegetable extracts such as
alcohol; natural gases and compressed
gases such as butane, propane, hydrogen
and acetylene
3. Class C – this type of fire involves
electrical motors, electrical appliances
and apparatus. Class C fire is composed
of Class A and B materials or a
combination of both.
4. Class D – materials involving
combustible metals, alloys, metal
compounds either in a solid, or
liquid state
5. Class K – these are materials
involved in the kitchen fires
Propagation of fire – the spread of
fire.
(As the substance burns fire
propagation will be increased by
the transmission of heat by nearby
materials.
1. Conduction – it is the transmission of
heat through an object/ medium or
conductor
2. Radiation - the transmission through
the discharge and spread of heat from a
heated or burning source.
3. Convection – the transmission of heat
by the moving currents of liquid or gas.
When these gases or liquids are heated,
they start to move within themselves; and
by their free motion, circulation starts.
4. Flame Contact – heat maybe
conducted from one body to
another by direct flame contact.
Fire spreads along or through
burning material by flame contact.
INTENSITY OF FIRE – how hot the
fire is burning
MAGNITUDE OF FIRE - it is the
size of fire, and it is governed by
surface area of fuel exposed to the
air.
1. Cooling – the cooling process uses an
extinguishing agent whose primary
characteristics is heat absorption.
2. Smothering – excludes the oxygen
from the fuel so that the gases or vapors
of the fuel cannot ignite and continue.
3. Separation – the removal of the fuel as
in the example of turning off the valve in
a gas line prevents the fuel and oxygen
from coming together
4. Inhibition of Chemical Chain
Reaction
TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER
1. Water - used on class A fires. Water is
the most effective in cooling the
burning of material below its ignition
2. Carbon dioxide – it is non combustible
and on reactive with most substances
3. Dry Chemical –the dry chemical
extinguishing agents in use today are
mixtures of powders and various
additives that improve the storage the
powders
4. Dry powder – used to extinguish
combustible metal fires.
5. AFFF - Aqueous Film
Forming Foam
6. Halons (Halogenated
Agents) – is very effective in
interrupting the chain
reaction
1. Compressed Gas – matter which is
solely in a gaseous state in its
container.
2. Liquefied Gas – matter which exist
partly as a gas and partly as a liquid at
normal temperature inside the container
and remain under pressure as along as
any liquid is in the container.
2. Cryogenic Gases – gas which remains as
liquefied gas in its container at
temperature far below normal
temperature.
1. Fuel gas –gases which burn with air
to produce heat, power, or light.
2. Industrial gases – gases used in
industrial processes such as water
treatment, welding, and cutting, and
refrigeration.
3. Medical gas – gases used for
medical purposes such as therapy
and anesthesia
1. Flammable Liquids – refers to any liquid
having a flash point below 37.8 C (100 F) and
having a vapor pressure not exceeding 40
psi at 37.8 C
2. Combustible Liquids – liquid with a flash
point of at or above 37.8 C (100 F)
Flammable and Combustible liquids strictly
speaking will not cause fire. It is then the
vapors from the evaporation of these liquids
when exposed to air and under the influence
of heat, which will burn or explode.
The following are the strategy used in fire
fighting.
1. Locate the fire
2. Confine the fire
3. Extinguish the fire
4. Exposure
In addition to the basic tactics the following
are also added:
1. Rescue 3. Ventilation
2. Overhaul 4. Salvage
 Location - locating the fire is sound like a
simple matter. Finding or locating the fire in a
room or cellar of a three storey dormitory or a
building which is filed with dense smoke is not
an easy task
 Confinement – confining the fire is the next
step in the strategy. Confining the fire simply
means to restrict it spread to its point of origin
or at least to the area involved.
 Extinguishment - extinguishing the fire may
take as little water or it may take thousands of
gallons played through heavy appliance. The
decision rest upon the judgment, skill training,
and experience of the officer in-charge
1. Time of day
2. Weather (temperature, humidity, wind)
3. The fire
 extent of fire
 Location of building
 The type of contents
 Life hazards
 Fire conditions
 Type of construction
4. Occupancy
5. Ventilation
1. Vertical Ventilation – the method to
establish vertical ventilation is it must
be worked from the top and down
heated gases and smoke rise to the
highest point and, if confined, will tend
to “mushroom” or rise to the highest
point of the building.
2. Cross or Horizontal ventilation – if the
smoke and gases have not reached the
higher levels cross ventilation can clear
the building.
3. Mechanical or forced ventilation
- a method of ventilation whereby a
device such as smoke ejector is utilized to
remove faster excessive heat and dense
smoke in a confined building
4. Exposure – it is an action taken by the
firefighters to cover or secure other
building people from exposing
themselves near the affected area or
danger from fire.
5. RESCUE – Any Actions Taken By The
firefighter to remove occupants/persons
from A burning/hazards to a safety place
6.Overhaul – a complete and detailed
check of the structures and materials
involved in the fire to make sure that
every spark and ember has been
extinguished and to have an assurance
against re-ignition.
7. Salvage - an action taken by the
firefighter in preventing excessive
damage by fire, soke and water with the
use of salvage cover or by removing out
materials out from the burning
building.
Fire investigation is by nature the basis for the
prevention program. Only an in-depth analysis of
what sequences of events enable a fire to start,
enable it to spread, and how and where it was
controlled (ex. Firefighting structural design, lack
of fuel can help prevent future fire.
One of the most difficult problems to solve
is to determine the cause of the fire, since the
flames generally consume any evidence of what
occurred. This is the reason that the cause of most
fire cannot be determined without a long and
careful investigation.
 No matter how small, fire must be investigated.
As far as fire investigation is concerned,
they must be defined as:
CAUSE – that which made the fire start; and
REASON – that which led to the cause of a fire
(motive leading to the action)
Both cause and reason must be established to
satisfactorily complete the investigation.
FOUR GENERAL CLASSES OF FIRE
1. Natural Fire Causes – fire caused naturally
without human intervention or aid, such as
lighting, spontaneous ignition
2. Accidental Fire Causes – fire causes
where human action is involved directly
or indirectly. Ex. Careless disposal of
smoking materials; workers using
welding-cutting equipment.
3. Incendiary Fire Causes or Arson –
fire cause as a result of the willful and
criminal action of some persons.

When all accidental and natural?

Providential cause have been
eliminated, the investigator begins to
look for an incendiary cause.
4. Unknown Fire Cause – fires which are not
classified as to cause.
AREAS TO CONDUCT FIRE INVESTIGATION
1. Exterior - determine where the fire vested
first by comparing burn char, smoke, and
heat patterns around windows, doors and
roofs.
Look for the following:
a. Exterior points of origin
b. Unusual burnt patterns of flammable liquid
c. Tools and flammable liquid containers
d. Footprints and scuff marks at suspected
point of entry.
2.Interior –Conduct a cursory examination or
general survey of the entire structure
of interior for the extent of fire damage.
Establish the class of fire duration (brief or
long) and the approximate burn time by
checking the following:
a. Window glass condition
b. Depth of wood char, at or in close
proximity to the point of origin
c. Penetration of fire
d. Electric clock that has stopped by fire
damage
1. Examine the entire building and
determine which room has received the
most severe damage.
2. Determine the level or origin within the
room by examining and comparing the
bottom side of the tables, shelves.
3. Examine the ceiling and look for the ff.
patterns: a) fire penetration and
b) heaviest fire exposure
4. Examine the light bulbs within the room.
The side of the bulbs which is initially
exposed to heat begin to swell or bulge
and lose shape at about 90 F when
exposed to heat for 10 minutes or more
actually point of origin.
5. . Examine walls within the room and look
for fire patterns or fire cones
TWO GENERAL TYPE OF BURN
PATTERNS
1. Burn patterns that involves a surface
burning of the item
2. Burn patterns involving deep penetration
of one portion with corresponding
collapse of strings and frame discussion.
Purposes :
1. To determine what property was damage
2. What the causes and reasons were;
3. The number and extent of injuries or
fatalities; and
4. The recommended corrective actions to
prevent recurrence.
Arson Investigation
-the direct result of the basic or
technical investigation or it may be brought
about from outside knowledge.
1. He should possess knowledge of
investigative technique
2. He should have an insight of human
behavior
3. He should have a first hand
knowledge of the chemistry of fire
and fire behavior
4. He should be resourceful
 PHOGRAPHING THE FIRE SCENE
 The use of photographs to
document much of the evidence and
to support the observations,
opinions and conclusions the
investigators wish to make as the
cause of the fire will support the
investigator’s findings.
 photographs also provide
evidence which would counteract
arguments of alternative causes of
the fire which might be suggested
at a later date. Photographs are
also useful for jogging the
investigator’s memory at the time
of writing the report or before
appearing in court.
 Photographing the Exterior

Where to photograph and what photograph

 1. From all sides or at least to opposite

corners of the building to show the overall
degree of fire damage and the locations of
the various entrances and windows.

 2. The location of the building to

neighboring buildings or fire access areas.
 3. Any object which may be
material to the circumstances of the
fire.

 4. Type of tracks, footprints and the

location of explosion debris are
photographed in close details, as
well as from a distance.
 Photographing the Interior

Photographs of the interior of a

building arte generally more difficult for
the viewer to interpret than the exterior
photographs as the interior surfaces are
usually burnt and covered with a layer of
soot. A good quality flash unit is essential as
the photographs need top to provide as
much detail as possible to allow the
investigations top familiarized themselves
with the nature of the damage and possibly
the identity And purpose of the room
before the fire.
 Where to photograph and what to
photograph:

 1. All rooms and areas inside the

building affected by the fire, the
photograph should be sequentially
presented in a report from the areas of
least damage to the areas of greatest
damage, or to the area of fire origin, if
this is not the area of greatest damage.
 2. The peripheral areas where the fire
had not originated.
 3 . At areas where an accelerant is suspected,
the areas of localized damage to the floor
as well as the overhead damage should be
photograph.
 4. The burn patterns at doorways should be
photograph to show the spread of the fire
between rooms. The burn patterns on the
walls in hallways normally show the room
from which the fire originated and the
direction of spread of the fire.
 5. Appliance suspected of causing the fire
should be photographed from a distance
and in close up in the location where they
were found.
 Arson is the crime of intentionally and
maliciously setting fire structure or wild
land areas. It may be distinguished from
other causes such as spontaneous
combustion and natural.
 1. Burning - there must be burning or
changing,i.e., the fiber of the wood
must be destroyed or decomposed, its
identity or physical state changed.
 2. Willfulness - the act was done purposely
and with intention.
 3. Motive - the moving cause that
induces the commission of the
crime.
 4. Malice - it denotes hatred or a
desire for revenge.
 5. Intent - the purpose or design
with which the act I done and
involves the will to do the act.
 Most of the physical evidence in
arson is often destroyed. To prove arson
was committed, Corpus delicti (the
Body of the Crime) must be shown and
the identity of the arsonist must be
established.
 - It is the fact of that crime was committed.
 Factors involved:
1. Burning - that there was fire
that may be shown by direct
testimony of complainant,
firemen responding to the crime,
and other witnesses of the fire
incident. Burned parts of the
building may also indicated
location.
2.Criminal design - a willful and intent
action done must be shown. The
presence of incendiary devices,
flammable substances/materials 8such
as gasoline and kerosene may indicate
that the fire is not accident.
3.Evidence of Intent - when valuable were
removed from the fire, the ill-feeling
between the accused and the occupants
of the building involved or burned
absence of effort to put off the fire and
such other indications.
Points of Origin of fire
 Initially the important point to be
established the point of origin of the fire,
or what particular place in the building
the fire started. This may be obtained or
established by an examination of the
debris at the arson investigation, by
inspection of the debris at the fire scene,
and by studying the fingerprint of fire.
The fingerprint of fire
 This occurs during the free burning
stage of the fire, or when it undergoes
pyrolytic decomposition or heated gases
move upward on the walls leaving a
burnt pattern.
Motive
Fire are set by:
. Person with motives
. those with desire to defraud the insurer
. employees or such other person who has
grievance
. those with desire to conceal evidence of
crime
. those who set for purposes of intimidation
In determining motive, the arson investigator
must concentrate on the

(3) Major Factors namely:

1. Point of Origin
2. Modus Operandi
3. Beneficiaries
1. Economic Gain
. Insurance fraud – benefits
. Desire to dispose merchandise – loss of
market value of being out of reason, lack
of raw of material, over supply of
merchandise.
2. Profit by the perpetrator other than the
Insured person
. Insurance agent wishing business with the
insured person
• Business competitors plan to drive others
• Person seeking job as personnel protection
• Salvagers and contractors wishing to
contract another building
3. Concealment of crime – when the
purpose of hiding a crime or committing a
crime, arson was used as a mean
4. Pyromania – the uncontrollable impulse of a
person to burn anything without any motivation.

Abnormal youth – epileptics, imbeciles and

morons
Hero type – a person responsible setting a
building on fire and pretends to discover it,
turn the alarm or make some rescue works
to appear as “hero”.
Drug addict and Alcoholic
Sexual deviates and pervert
 These signs maybe obvious that
the first fireman at the fire scene will
suspect arson:
 1. Burned Building – the type of
building may indicate a set of fire under
certain circumstances. A fire of
considerable size at the time the first
apparatus arrives at the scene I
suspicious if a modern concrete or semi-
concrete building is involved
 2. Separate fires - when two or more
fire breaks out within a building is
certainly suspicious.
 3.Color of smoke - some fire burn with
little or no smoke but there are
exceptions for this. The observation of
the smoke must be made at the start of
the fire since once the fire has consumed
major proportion; the value of the
smoke is lost, because the smoke will
not indicate the material used by the
arsonist.
 Indication of color of smoke and fire
Color of smoke Material\Substances
Black smoke with deep Petroleum products such as
red flame Tar, rubber, plastic, etc.
Heavy brown with bright
red flame Nitrogen Products
White smoke with bright
flame Magnesium products
Black smoke with red
and blue green flame Asphalt
Purple- violet flame Potassium products
Choride or Manganese
Greenish-yellow flame products
Bright reddish - yellow
flame Calcium products
ARSON – It is the intentional or malicious
destruction of property by fire
The legal aspect s of Arson Investigation
 It is the concern of the fire investigator to
prove the malicious intent of the offender.
 The law presumes that a fire is accidental,
hence criminal designs must be shown.
 Fire caused by accident or criminal design
must be shown
 Fire caused by accident or negligence
does not constitute arson.
 Prima Facie Evidence of Arson
a. If the fire started simultaneously in more
than one part of the building.
b. If substantial amount of flammable
substances or materials are stored within the
building not necessary in the business.
c. If there materials soaked in gasoline,
kerosene, or other flammable substances or
container of gasoline
d. If the building or property is insured for
substantially more than its actual value at the
time of the issuance of the policy.
e. If during the lifetime of the corresponding
fire insurance policy more than two fire
have occurred in the same or other
premises owned or under the control of
the offender
f. If shortly before the fire, a substantial
portion of the effects insured and stored in
a building or property had been
withdrawn from the premises.
g. If a demand for money or other valuable
consideration was made before the fire for
the resistance of the offended or for the
safety of the person or property of victim