1
Q
Role of a Fire Investigation Officer (FILO)
A
- Co ordinate fire investigation training for any Police employees within area or district
- Assist area and district with fire investigation related enquiries
- Attend every fire that results in serious injury or death
- Providing other advice and expertise as required
- Arrange Police attendance at fire scenes where required
2
Q
What to ask an incident controller at the scene
A
- the time and date the call was made and the manner it was received
- what appliances attended
- what state the fire was in when fire service arrived
- what actions were taken? Particularly in the entry of the building and ventilating it after the fire
- whether they thought the fire was suspicious and if so why?
3
Q
Evidence of Wilful causes of fire
A
- evidence of explosive
- evidence of accelerants (i.e containers)
- multiple sets of fire
- uneven burning
- misdirecting fire service
4
Q
Common methods of setting fires
A
- candles
- chemical reaction
- molotov cocktail
- matches and cigarettes
- electrical matches
5
Q
Examples where carelessness may cause fire
A
- misusing electricity
- burning rubbish
- ironing
- smoking
- setting fireworks
6
Q
Faults examples
A
- appliances
- broken power lines
- gas pipes and fittings
- dust extractors
- fans and ventilation systems
7
Q
Natural causes
A
- lightning
- static electricity
- sun rays
- chemical reactions
- rodents eating wires
8
Q
Conferences assist with …
A
- identify suspects
- reconstruction of the scene
- assessing the information obtained
- planning further enquiries
- establish possible motives
9
Q
What the FILO and SFI (Specialist Fire Investigators) discuss
A
- handover of the scene
- access to the fire scene
- process for examination and investigation
- identify and collect evidence at the fire scene
10
Q
Powers under the Fire Service Act 1975
A
- enter private property when it is on fire or if entry is necessary to perform one’s duty
- close roads
- remove vehicles impeding, allows entry by breaking into vehicles to effect one’s purpose
- remove people in danger or interfering with operations, use reasonable force necessary to effect one’s purpose
- do all things necessary to protect life and property
11
Q
How to link a suspect to an arson
A
- burned facial skin
- smell of smoke
- residue of fuel
- products of combustion on skin
12
Q
(Fires not Explosives) You identify suspects by means of …
A
- circumstances of the fire
- fingerprints
- media response
- info from witnesses and informants
- info from fire crews on people who regularly attend fires
13
Q
Possible suspects may include
A
- owner/occupier for insurance fraud
- an employee to cover theft, forgery or false pretences
- a criminal to cover their traces of crime such as burglary or homicide
- an angry person suffering from jealousy, hatred, desire to revenge
14
Q
Investigate suspects thoroughly according to priority. Obtain their..
A
- full particulars
- criminal history
- vehicles they may have accessed
details of associates - photographs
15
Q
Complete enquiries to establish the suspects…
A
- motive
- mens rea
- opportunity
- connection with the scene and crime
- character, mental background, history, movements and behaviour
16
Q
Differences between a gas explosion and an explosion set
A
- explosions by gas cover a wider area
- implosions of cabinet
- medical evidence - suspect or victims may have inhaled gas
17
Q
Specialist Fire Investigators (SFI) attend and investigate …..
A
- fires where fatalities occur
- fire where serious life threatening injuries occur
- fire in buildings where built in fire safety features have failed or not performed to an expected standard
- structure fires where cause is suspicious or not determined
- significant fire spread across the property boundary
18
Q
Fire scenes are an unstable environment - injuries caused by …
A
- inhalation of toxic substances
- ingestion of particles
- injection from sharp objects
- airborne dusts, particles
- tripping on fire debris
19
Q
Fire scenes are an unstable environment - Investigators often find themselves
A
- searching through an unstable structure
- excavating the scene to identify the cause of the fire
20
Q
What protective clothing should you use at the scene
A
- suitable helmet
- pair of overalls
- nose and mouth filter, full face respirator or full BA
- gloves
- heavy duty foot wear with steel soles and caps
21
Q
Fire scene risks - 4 main building materials and their weakness
A
- timber - burning and charring
- steel - expand, lose its strength
- concrete - spalling
- masonry - deterioration of the mortar
22
Q
Initial action with fires NOT involving explosives
A
- briefly interview informant and witnesses
- conduct local enquiries
- secure, guard and control scene
- initial interview of Specialist Fire Investigator (SFI) and OC Fire Services appliance who attended the scene
- interview with incident controller at scene
23
Q
Enquiries - area canvas of neighbourhood, interview witnesses and obtain statements about …
A
- the fire
- conduct of people at the fire
- people loitering at the scene before the fire
- any vehicles seen in the vicinity before the fire
24
Q
Enquiries - people are interviewed
A
- owner/occupier of the house
- person who last secured the house, whether they locked up the house?
- person who found the fire, whether house was secure
- person who gave alarm, suspicious person
25
How can insurance help
- assist with investigation once their qualifications and authority have been confirmed
- they have private investigators that are experienced and assist with resources
26
Guarding and Controlling a scene
- prevent looting
- preserve evidence
- prevent further fire/damage
- be vigilant and watch suspects
- avoid interference with scene
27
Determining the seat of the fire
- witness reports
- wind direction and speed, weather
- the state of the fire at the time
- the direction of the spread
- the colour of the flames and smoke
28
3 steps you should follow with an exhibit at the fire scene
1. photograph in situ, label 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 scene
- soil from surrounding area
29
The point of origin is the exact location ...
- the component failed
- fire was maliciously lit
- accidental fire originated
30
At the conclusion of the examination you will be able to determine
- point of origin
- area of origin
- the seat of the fire
31
Where it is difficult to preserve the scene, the investigator must record the scene prior to demolition by
- sketches
- photos
- plans
- video recording
32
Preliminary Internal Examination
- low stock levels in commercial premises
- building areas in need of repair
- signs of hardship
- missing family photos, furniture and personal items
- open filing cabinets or missing files
33
Detailed internal examination - completed by SFI accompanied by Police
- damage to wall studs
- damage to roofing timbers
- damage to window stills
- spalling
- skirting board damage
34
External examination takes into account ...
- what distances debris was scattered
- adjoining premises which often reveal accelerants, attempts of forced entry, broken windows, forced doors
- nearby alleyways/street/driveway
- the periphery of the structure itself
- the yards and outbuildings of the fire effected property
35
The surrounding of the involved premises may also reveal
- business appears to be struggling
- contents of outbuildings missing
- accelerant containers
- property run down
36
External examination - 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
37
List 5 steps when conducting area enquiries with fire scene
Step 1 .. Send staff to interview people who work at other warehouses to see if any attempted arsons
step 2 .. Conduct preliminary interview with the owner:
- when the premises were last secured and by whom
- whether he/she knows the cause of the fire
- details of insurance and any suspects
- type of business
step 3 .. Note owners demeanour during interview
step 4 .. Complete the interview and obtain formal statements from informant, witnesses and owner
step 5 .. SITREP to supervisor, be prepared to speak at scene conference
38
Characteristic caused by explosives
- catering
- spread debris
- shredding of materials
- overlay of dust
- shrapnel marks
39
Initial action of fire involving explosives
- give regular SITREPS to Police COMMS
- If IED located immediately get the assistance of IED operator from Department of Labour
- evaluate scene for at least 100m away, people to take belongings. This will limit items to be cleared. Consider using explosives detector dogs
- dont use cell phones, portable radios or transmitting devices
40
Exhibits involving explosives
- photograph and label exhibits and preserve in containers
| - with each item identify which should be considered as an exhibit
41
Linking suspect to scene of explosive
- 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
42
Stages of systematic examination of scene of fire
- prepare and organise staff and equipment, clear areas and set clear areas of responsibility
- prepare examination and arrange for site to be examined systematically
- examine the exterior of the fire site
- conduct detailed internal examination
- identify cause of fire
43
Fire Scene contamination
- scope
- cordon
- common approach path
44
Preparing examination
- arrange scene to be examined when circumstances allow
- scene to be examined systematically
- set a co-ordinated approach
- log and document decisions made
- conduct risk assessment
45
Examining scene of fire involving explosives
1. once fire is 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 or hands and clothes of any suspects
46
It may be necessary to remove any body parts promptly before they decompose and animal or insect activity contaminates scene
- create a path to the centre of the explosion laying clean used roll or plastic or using approved stepping plates
- have ESR analyst swabbing area immediately (work outwards of seat)
- vertical sheets of iron adjacent to the blast
Arson Offences Liabilities
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