Arson 2.0 Flashcards

Question

How can insurance help?

Answer 1

* Assist with investigation once their qualifications and authority have been confirmed * They have private investigators that are experienced and assist with resources

Answer 2

P - Prevent looting P - Preserve evidence P- Prevent further fire/damage B – Be vigilant and watch suspects L – Locate witnesses among passerby and onlookers A – Avoid inference with scene R – Report all matters of significance to the OC investigations or OC coordinator E – Exclude and control onlookers, property owners and other interested parties

Answer 3

W – Witness reports W – When they first notice the fire and where they were at the time W – Wind direction and speed, weather T – The state of the fire at the time T – The direction of the spread T – The colour of the flames and smoke T – The severity of the damage T – The depth of charring T – The presence of “starting devices” T – The reports and opinions of specialists

Answer 4

1. Photograph in situ, label the exhibits and preserve them in containers 2. Use approved arson kits if available, if not use suitable containers 3. Take control samples such as: * Charred timber and ashes or debris from the seat of fire * Any accelerants found near the scene * Soil from surrounding area

Answer 5

* Component failed * Accidental fire originated * Fire was maliciously lit

Answer 6

P – Point of origin A – Area of origin T – The seat of fire

Answer 7

S/A * Sketches * Photos * Plans * Video Recordings

Answer 8

1. Low stock 2. Building areas in need of repair 3. Signs of hardship 4. Missing family photos, furniture and personal items 5. Opening filing cabinets or missing file 6. Forced entry onto an empty till 7. Separate unrelated seats of fire 8. Owner/occupier attitude after walkthrough, access permitted 9. Burn patterns or unusual odours

Answer 9

* Under floor inspection * Damage to wall studs * Damage to roofing timbers * Damage to window stills and door edges * Elimination of false low burns * Removal of fire debris * Smoke deposits and burn patterns * Spalling * Soot deposits on window glass and craze patterns * Skirting board damage

Answer 10

1. External Examination: *What distances debris was scattered *Adjoining premises which often reveal, accelerants, attempts forced entry, broken windows, forced doors *Nearby alleyways/streets/driveways *The periphery of the structure itself *The yards and outbuildings of the fire effected property 2. Surrounding area of the involved premises may also reveal: *Accelerant containers *Contents of outbuildings missing *Property run-down *Business appears to be struggling. 3. The damaged structure may reveal: *Jemmy marks or other signs of forced entry *Burn patterns above doors and windows *Window glass broken before fire was ignited

Answer 11

Step 1 – Send staff to interview people who work at other warehouses to see if any other attempted arsons Step 2 – Conduct a preliminary interview with the owner. Find out: * When the premises were last secured and by whom * Where he or she knows the cause of fire * Details of any suspects and insurance * Type of business * Actions leading up to the fire Step 3 – Note owner’s demeanour during preliminary interview Step 4 – Complete interview and obtain formal statements from informant, witnesses and owner Step 5 – SITREP to supervisor. Be prepared to speak at scene conference

Answer 12

What to look for: * Spread debris * Shredding of materials * Smell peculiar to the exploded material * Shrapnel marks * Overlay of dust * Catering

Answer 13

* Remember there may be a secondary device anywhere at the scene, including in a nearby building or vehicle. Do not handle or interfere with anything unfamiliar * Don’t use cell phones, portable radios or transmitting devices * Evacuate scene for at least 100m away, People to take belongings. This will limit items to be cleared. Consider using explosives detector dog * If IED (Improvised Explosive Device) is located, immediately get the assistance of an IED operator from Department of Labour * Give regular SITREPS to Police COMMS

Answer 14

1. Once scene cleared safe, Conduct scene examination. Use video and photographs as they are useful in court. 2. Remember to continually reconstruct 3. Request ESR analyst, ask to bring suitable swabbing material for hands and clothes of any suspects It may also be necessary to remove body parts promptly, before they decompose and animal and insect activity contaminates the scene. The same clean path method should be used – * Create a path to the centre of the explosion laying clean unused roll of plastic or by using approved stepping plates * Have ESR analyst swabbing the area immediately (work outwards from seat of explosion) * Vertical sheets of iron adjacent to the blast. All are carefully cleaned before use. Discuss the avoidance of cross contamination with the ESR analyst.

Answer 15

* Photograph and label exhibits and preserve in containers. * With each item identify which should be considered as an exhibit

Answer 16

* Fingerprints/Handwriting * IED operator may identify signature of offender * Items from suspects home that could be used to manufacture a device * Seek advice from explosive expert before searching

Answer 17

1. Prepare and organise staff and equipment, clear areas and set clear areas of responsibilities 2. Prepare examination and arrange for site to be examined systematically 3. Examine the exterior of the fire site 4. Conduct detailed internal examination 5. Identify cause of fire 6. Interview witness at scene 7. Photograph and label and preserve exhibits 8. Conduct area enquiries

Answer 18

* SCOPE * CORDON * COMMON APPROACH PATH

Answer 19

* Arrange scene to be examined when circumstances allow * Scene to be examined systematically * Establish clear area for material removed during search * Set a coordinated approach * Step by step approach from area least damaged to the point of origin * Noting items of interest throughout examination * Once preliminary internal examination is complete, hold another conference * Log and document decisions made * Conduct risk assessment * Detailed internal examination, Police accompanies SFI

Answer 20

A deliberate act to achieve a specific result.

Answer 21

R v Harney A conscious and deliberate taking of an unjustifiable risk. Proof that the consequence complained of could well happen, together with an intention to continue the course of conduct regardless of risk.

Answer 22

It is not necessary that the property is actually set alight, melting, blistering of paint, or significant smoke damage may be sufficient.

Answer 23

Explosive - Sec. 2 Arms Act 1983 Any substance or mixture or combination of substances which in its normal state is capable either of decomposition at such a rapid rate as to result in an explosion or of producing a pyrotechnic effect, Includes: gun powder, gelignite, detonators Does not include: Firearms, or fireworks.

Answer 24

Property may be damaged if it suffers permanent or temporary physical harm or permanent or temporary impairment of its use or value.

Answer 25

Property - Section 2, Crimes Act 1961 Property includes any real or personal property and any estate or interest in any real or personal property, money, electricity and any debt, and anything in action, and any other right or interest.

Answer 26

danger must be to the life of someone other than the defendant.

Answer 27

Knowing” means “knowing, or correctly believing” ... the belief must be a correct one, where the belief is wrong a person cannot know something.

Answer 28

In relation to any act, means a belief at the time of the act in a proprietary or possessory right in property in relation to which the offence is alleged to have been committed, although that belief may be based on ignorance or mistake of fact or of any matter of law other than the enactment against which the offence is alleged to have been committed

Answer 29

Immovable Property will be considered immovable if it is currently fixed in place and unable to be moved, even though it may be possible to make it movable.

Answer 30

Means a contrivance equipped with wheels, tracks, or revolving runners on which it moves or is moved;

Answer 31

means every description of vessel used in navigation, however propelled; and includes any barge, lighter, dinghy, raft, or like vessel; and also includes any ship belonging to or used as a ship of the armed forces of any country

Answer 32

means any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air otherwise than by the reactions of the air against the surface of the earth

Answer 33

Not defined not defined by legislation, however the courts have held that tenancy of a property constitutes an interest in it.

Answer 34

Gender neutral. Proven by judicial notice or circumstantial evidence. Legislation provides a wide definition of the term “person” that incorporates not only real people, but also companies and other organisations.

Answer 35

Means obtain or retain for himself or herself or any other person.

Answer 36

Any benefit, pecuniary advantage, privilege, property, service or valuable consideration.

Answer 37

“Loss … is assessed by the extent to which the complainant's position prior to the [offence] has been diminished or impaired”.

Answer 38

M/C Only if called upon to do so by the member of the fire service in charge of the fire. Police officers have no right to exercise these powers simply because they are present at a fire.

Answer 39

S/A *Carelessness *Faults *Nature

Answer 40

*Traces of debris from the scene *Wick fabric *Issue a Police 268 for any property seized. *Containers *Ensure all exhibits seized are labelled, examined and uplifted by the exhibit officer. - *Photograph evidence in situ before it is seized. *Accelerants *Suspects explanation *Igniters

Answer 41

*Toasters with nearby curtains *Electrical lamp and petrol igniters *Ceiling exhaust fans *Heaters and clothing *Ignition of the main switchboard wiring by use of a gas torch applied to the each pr neutral bars. *Electrical urns, bread makers, water heaters, deep fryers and rice cookers. - *Fallen table or standard lamp in conjunction with combustible materials *Leaving a pot of stew on a stove element

Answer 42

*Do not forward liquid samples in anything other than the bottles provided. *Ensure top are tightly fastened. *Clean the outside surface of the bottles *Place the bottles in the polystyrene box If possible, *Hand deliver the samples *NZ Post "Handibag" *Alternatively, place it in a tin, secure the tin, and send the entire kit as a unit.

Arson 2.0 Flashcards

(66 cards)