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Statistical studies of collision and non-collision fires abound, founded upon information in publicly available collision and fire incident data bases. Recent efforts to improve the quality and reliability of the data within such databases have included the development of vehicle fire investigator training materials for motor vehicle crash investigators. These materials will be available to investigators both as a computer-based training system for remote learning and as a classroom seminar. When completed, the computer-based training course will be publicly available. The computer-based training course is based on published and unpublished research on vehicle fires, material properties and ignition characteristics. Topics include a discussion of combustible fluids and materials, ignition sources, burn patterns, arson, hybrid vehicles and vehicle design, as well as background information on fire science, automotive systems, and design and investigation standards.

Since Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 301 was first issued in 1967, many studies of collision-fires have been conducted. Most of the studies were analyses of motor vehicle crash databases providing little detailed information as to likely fuels involved in ignition, ignition sources, propagation paths and times, and injury mechanisms. This paper presents the results of case studies and preliminary findings from on-going investigations of motor vehicle collisions involving fire. Twenty one field investigations of incidents involving automobiles, pickup trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles were conducted. Three incidents have been selected for presentation to demonstrate program methodology and characteristic factors of collision-fires. Results showed that the causes and severities of collision-related fires can vary widely and depend on numerous and complex factors. Field investigations can provide a perspective usually unavailable to fire researchers.

Statistical studies of collision and non-collision fires abound, founded upon information in publicly available collision and fire incident data bases. Recent efforts to improve the quality and reliability of the data within such databases have included the development of vehicle fire investigator training materials for motor vehicle crash investigators. These materials will be available to investigators both as a computer-based training system for remote learning and as a classroom seminar. When completed, the computer-based training course will be publicly available. The computer-based training course is based on published and unpublished research on vehicle fires, material properties and ignition characteristics. Topics include a discussion of combustible fluids and materials, ignition sources, burn patterns, arson, hybrid vehicles and vehicle design, as well as background information on fire science, automotive systems, and design and investigation standards.