The major focus of forensic chemists is to answer the question “What is this unknown material?” In fire debris and explosive analysis, the forensic chemist is typically attempting to identify an ignitable liquid or explosive material. Modern analytical instruments are the primary tools used to answer this question. Representations of forensic science in popular culture tend to significantly understate the work and expertise associated with obtaining usable data from instrumentation and overstate the ease of interpreting the subsequent data. Forensic instrumentation requires significant training to operate properly and to understand the data the instruments can produce. Forensic chemists train in standard operating procedures (SOPs) for using instrumental methods when they are initially hired, building from their academic science education. While whole books are written for each of the techniques that will be discussed, this chapter will provide a brief overview of instrumentation commonly used in fire debris and explosive analysis. Subsequent chapters will provide more detail about sample preparation methods specific to each type of fire debris and explosive evidence discussed.