The Evidence Collection Kit

Appendix D from Kirk's Fire Investigation, 4/E by John D. DeHaan, ©1997.
Reproduced by permission of Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Permission from Prentice-Hall is required for all other uses.

1. Camera (as described elsewhere but preferably a good-quality 35 mm) with standard 50 to 55 mm focal length or wide-angle (35 mm focal length) lens-with suitable flash unit.

2. Film-color transparency or color print for investigative and demonstrative purposes.

3. Notebook, pad, clipboard, pens, pencils. May be supplemented with a portable tape recorder. Square-ruled graph or grid paper is useful for diagramming structures.

4. Portable illumination. Since there will rarely be electricity in a burned building, it is necessary that some form of portable illumination be provided. Portable flood-lights and generators are often carried by fire departments or crime lab personnel. Strong flashlights and battery-powered fluorescent (camping) lamps are indispensable. High-intensity movie lights are useful for lighting large areas, but they have a limited battery life.

5. Tools for clearing debris. Shovels, rakes, brooms, buckets, and the like, are a must.

6. Safety equipment. Hard hat or fire helmet, heavy gloves, denim coveralls, waterproof boots with steel toes and arch protection. Breathing apparatus may be needed for some hazardous scenes, for example, clandestine drug labs or industrial sites, but disposable face masks should be used whenever dust or soot is in the air, disposable chemical exposure suits and shoe covers (e.g., Saranex).

7. Tools for sample collection-hammers, screwdrivers, pry bars, chisels, handsaws (electric circular saw if possible), putty knives, pipe wrench, pliers, and the like. Tweezers, modeling knife, disposable gloves, brushes, and disposable syringes are very useful for trace evidence collection.

8. Measuring equipment-steel tape measure (100 foot), 6 to 12 foot tape measure, 6-inch ruler. An optical tape measure is useful for large exterior scenes.

9.Hydrocarbon detector with supply of filters and spare hose and battery.

10. Packing material for evidence:

Clean metal paint cans with lids--various sizes

Clean glass jars with metal or bakelite lids

Polyester or nylon bags-various sizes

Paper envelopes-various sizes (coin to 10 by 12 inch clasp-type)

Pill boxes, vials, or small jars

Paper grocery bags-various sizes

Clean butcher paper (large sheets or roll)

Plastic cling wrap (roll)

Cotton wool, surgical gauze (pads best), cotton swabs

Cellophane and masking tapes, evidence tape

Evidence stickers or labels

String, rope, scene banner tape

11. Impression casting (optional):

Plastic mixing bowls (large)

Kitchen strainer

Plastic kitchen spatulas

Metal or plastic strips (for edging mold area)

Supply of plaster (in sealed metal can)

Canning paraffin and small pan for melting

Silicon rubber casting medium (for tool impressions)

Kirk's Fire Investigation, 4/E by John D. DeHaan, ©1997. Reproduced by permission of Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. Permission from Prentice-Hall is required for all other uses.