Using fire dynamic simulation (FDS) to reconstruct an arson fire scene

Fire scene reconstruction helps investigators identify the fire behavior in a specific space. Fire scene simulation by using computation fluid dynamic (CFD) software may provide evidences for fire investigation. Such simulation method may reproduce the fire scene, reconstruct fire processes, explain fire development and demonstrate smoke movement through describing the configuration of fuel, effects of ventilation, design of the building, the impact of manual or automatic systems and fire source. Comparing simulation results with investigation collections, we can get more evidences toward the fire and smoke development. This paper used FDS (Version 4.0.5), especially using parallel processing [McGrattan and Forney. Fire dynamics simulator (version 4.05)—user's guide. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Maryland, 2005. p. 7.] approach, to simulate a hotel arson fire in Taiwan. Its results demonstrated good prediction of fire development and smoke movement by comparing the combustion evidence of the scene and evacuees’ description. This article also provides application of fire simulation into actual fire scene investigation.