Generalities
Forensic Engineering is the application of engineering knowledge to the crime investigation police technique, supporting the administration of justice. The different branches and subdivisions of this applied science are of great importance for Criminalistics. K9 Unit fire & explosion investigations makes possible the realization of many skills and tests of a technical nature.

Given the importance of industrial activities and the incidence of crimes related to the elaboration, adulteration and forgery of diverse products, the value of Chemical Engineering for criminal reports is evident.

Expertise
The expert work developed by the Forensic Engineering Section K9 Unit fire & explosion investigations covers a wide range of aspects, among which the following can be highlighted:

•    Exams of textile fibers and clothing.
•    Determination of adulteration of serial numbers, printed on metals.
•    Fire investigation to establish the place of origin and origin of the fire, the spread, and the causes.
•    Identification and comparative study of vehicle paints especially related to traffic accidents.
•    Analysis of waste from explosive and incendiary devices, and explosion sites.
•    Determination of firearm firing remains.
•    Expert reports on machines or mechanical parts, household appliances that have caused accidents or were subject to sabotage.
•    Surveys in boilers, autoclaves, ovens, gas balls, which have caused explosions or fires.
•    Examination of locks, locks, security doors, to verify signs of violence.
•    Quality control of liquors, soft drinks, food and industrial products.
•    Research of antiquity, eradication and cross-out of writings.
•    Factory inspections and sample analysis in relation to environmental pollution.
•    Crime scene inspection.
•    Physical and / or chemical tests on various samples.
•    Examination of fuels and lubricating oils.
•    Fingerprint development by chemical methods.

Fire Investigation
The criminal investigation of the fires, has reached enormous importance for its different causes and for the material and personal damages that they have produced.

The investigation may take just a few minutes, when the fire was small and all the facts are easy to verify, or several days if the fire was large and the details of its beginning and development are difficult to verify. The amount of time spent should be necessary to fully understand the facts.
The K9 Unit fire & explosion investigations must include at least one visit to the site of the incident and a survey among eyewitnesses or victims about what they saw and heard. Sometimes it will be necessary to perform physical and chemical analysis of debris or debris in the laboratory.

Purposes of the Investigation
•    Determine what happened.
•    Determine the starting place and the origin of the fire.
•    Establish the possibility that there was malicious intent.
•    Obtain the most accurate information possible for writing the report.

Aspects in the Research
In fire investigation, it is useful to apply the method consisting in establishing the following basic factors:

•    Place of fire initiation or point of origin
•    Material initially burned
•    The source of ignition
•    Temperature factors exposure time

In many fires, not all circumstances of the origin of the fire can be determined. However, some of the factors can be deduced and have value as partial information. Even when only one factor is determined, such as the point of origin, such information can be combined with other easily verifiable data, such as type of activity, time, place and date, to help determine the origin and guide further investigation.

Some of the elements found in the fire scene will have more value than others; these are generally found at or near the point of origin and will provide information on the burning time and temperatures, the first materials to burn, and the source of ignition.