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Intro to Ignitable Liquids and Fire Debris

Class Code: 
C151

Subject Area:

  • C - Chemistry Program
Class Location: 
Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, California State University Los Angeles
Class Description: 
This is a 4-day class. It is a class for beginners. This class will demonstrate how to handle a case involving ignitable liquids and/or fire debris from start to finish. It will address how to get started, how to recover analyte from fire-related debris samples, how to identify common ignitable liquids using GCMS, how to process and interpret analytical data, how to form and evaluate conclusions, and how to generate a report. Practical laboratory exercises will be emphasized. Evidence storage and safety considerations will also be addressed. This course is intended for criminalists and forensic scientists employed by law enforcement or public safety agencies who currently perform or will be performing analysis of ignitable liquids and debris from fire scenes. This course is POST reimbursable, Plan IV.
Instructor: 
Lynn Melgoza, M.S., CA DOJ Riverside; Eric Wahoske, M.S., LASD; Josh Spatola, B.S., CA DOJ, Sac
Teaching Methods: 
Classroom lectures, group discussions, and practical laboratory exercises.
Objectives: 
Students will be required to isolate known and unknown flammable liquids from fire debris, characterize and classify those products, and present and defend the results in a symposium format.
Prerequisites: 
Students must have a working knowledge of gas chromatography and GCMS.
Preparation: 
Review of organic nomenclature relevant to petroleum products and ignitable liquids commonly associated with fire debris. Pre-class reading material and assignments.
Materials Fee: 
$0
Tuition: 
No cost to POST supported or State of California based Law Enforcement agencies. A $480.00 tuition fee will be required of all other public agency, private sector, or out-of-state applicants.

Program Manager:

  • FAX (916) 464-5818

Schedule of Classes:


No classes are scheduled at this time.

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