Computer Causes House Fire

[schmism]

I always keep a fire resistant ceramic plate underneath my Dell

When lithium polymer batteries short out they create absolutely tremendous heat...

that still wont keep the plastic of the dell from catching fire. and unless your ceramic plate is the size of a 4x8 sheet of plywood it will do little to prevent the spred of the fire. (although it will keep you from getting second deg burns on your legs from useing your "laptop")

Slashdot | Dell Issues Laptop Battery Recall

the primary reason for battery failer was overcharging and "materials that were switch by our suplyer without notifing us"

my computers say on virtually 24/7 as they do other things than just surf the web (like act as a Tivo, server my website, etc)

 

[bmac]

Well, I have only a little more information about the investigation that I doubt will be helpful and a correction.

First, a correction. I was under the impression that the fire was caused by the battery over-heating. In fact, the opinion of the investigator was that the fire originated from the AC power supply, not the battery. Sorry for the misinformation.

Now, as to what kind of electronic gizmo the investigator used, I'm still at a loss. I did question the home owner about this indirectly. I was talking to my wife on her cell phone while the homeowner was riding with her in the car. So, I'd ask my wife the question and she passed it along to her friend.

In any event, the homeowner was not actually there when the investigator did his thing. However a friend of the homeowner was. According to the friend, the investigator had something that looked somewhat like a digital camera. From the burn pattern, they could tell where in the house the fire originated. So, the investigator aimed this device at the site of origin and, like an x-ray machine can see the bones in your body, this device could "see" the power supply of the computer, even though it was buried in the rubble. According to the friend who witnessed it, it was "very cool". And, the image was instant - the friend who was there saw the image of the power supply.

As I pried the homeowner for more details (with my wife as a go-between), I think she became a little suspicious about the line of questioning. I explained that I was working undercover for a firm that investigates insurance fraud because her story just didn't seem to hold water. I think that was more believable than telling her that a bunch of guys on a tractor forum were discussing her house fire.

So now you know everything I know (which isn't much). If an TBNer knows what this device might be, I would appreciate hearing from you.

 

[txdon]

bmac, it sounds like he used a thermal imager. Fire fighters use these to locate victims when there is zero visibility because smoke. They also use them to locate hidden fires in walls and ceilings etc. If this is what he used anything with heat still in it after the fire would show up on the screen. Just because it is hot and near the area of origin does not mean it started the fire only that it retained heat longer than anything else in the area. Interesting. Thanks for doing the follow-up investigation.

 

[sendero]

The laptop does NOT have to be on for this problem to occur. Remember, if it is plugged in, the charging circuit is charging the battery if it thinks it needs it.

Folks, most modern appliances that have a microprocessor, ie a TV, VCR, DVD, microwave, computer, etc are NEVER REALLY OFF.

 

[smitesmash]

I was reading this article several years ago about arson investigations. One of the thing that was mentionied, was that typically the source of the fire starts at one point (multipule start points can be a sign of arson) and at that point, where the fire is still starting, is where the fire was coldest, and thus would leave different chemical markers.

For example, wood burning at low tempatures produces a lot more carbon monoxide radicals, and at high tempatrues produces a lot more nitrogen compounds.

[this next part is conjecture]
years ago I heard about a technology (based on windows KS tech) which could incorperate passive spectography with a Heads up display. For example if you determine that CO (carbon monoxide) flouesces at 108A (totally made up numbers) and then you dial your scope or camera to highlight this, and whala, you find an area of the house in which a low tempature fire preceded a high tempature fire.

 

[dmccarty]

There was an article in the WSJ in the past week about arson investigation and it was not pretty. Much of the "rules" in arson investigation, such as fires don't burn down are not based on science. Research started in the Mid/late 90's to prove/disprove the assumptions in arson investigations which too me is a shockingly short time ago.

Hopefully the investigator in this case has been to school recently and the course work was based on the latest research not the "old school" curriculum.

Later,
Dan

 

[txdon]

... and whala, you find an area of the house in which a low tempature fire preceded a high tempature fire.

Ahhh... if it would only be that easy.

In theory it sounds great.....however....

Fire and heat rises and as the fire progresses all low areas will burn at a lower temperature and all high areas will burn at a higher temperature.

If you have total structure involvement and ceiling collapse, the higher hotter areas will mix with the lower cooler areas the readings would be mixed.

Fire will also burn hotter with an oxygen source like a broken or open window or door which would cause a true reading of a false area.

Many products and contents burn and produce heat at different temperatures which could produce other false areas.