The person in charge of the Fire Service at a fire confers the right to:
- Enter private property when on fire
- Close roads
- Remove vehicles impeding fire service
- Remove people in danger or interfering
- Do anything else necessary for the protection of life and property
*NOT police powers. They can exercise if called upon to do so
Memorandum of understanding MOU
Sharing of information to ensure that in determining the origin and cause of fires that:
- Investigations of fire scenes are efficiently coordinated
- Any relevant evidence is protected and collated
When will the fire service notify Police
- A fire results in serious injury or death
- A fire is considered suspicious
Fire investigation liasion officer (FILO) responsibilities:
- Attending every fire that results in serious injury or death
- Co-coordinating fire investigations in their district
- Arranging Police attendance
- Maintaining effective working relationships with the relevant Fire Service Investigation Liaison Officer (FSILO)
- Ensure communication
- Coordinating fire investigation training and advice
When are ‘Specialist Fire Investigators’ called to attend and investigate?
- Fires where fatalities or serious injury occurs
- Suspicious fires
- Significant fire spread across property boundary
- Building fires where built in fire safety has failed
- Any fire upon Police request
How many Specialist Fire Investigators must attend if death or serious injury has occurred?
A minimum of 2
Fire Service Investigation Liaison Officers (FSILO) responsibilities: - Fire
- Arranging for FSILO attendance
- Establish and maintain effective working relationship with relevant groups
6 stages of fire scene control, notification and handover
- The fire service has authority over the scene until threat to life or property no longer exists
- Fire will notify Police if needed.
- Police investigating will confer with incident controller
- Fire will not hand over until scene is safe
- For any fire scene involving multiple agencies, all will consult and develop plan
- Plan will include outline of how to proceed
Particular matters the Specialist Fire Investigator will liaise and pass onto FILO
- Handover of scene
- Access to scene
- Process for examination and investigation
- Identification and collection of evidence at the fire scene
Police responsibility at Arson:
- Conduct the criminal investigation or coronial enquiry
- Undertake responsibility for the protection, collection and recording of forensic evidence
How are most injuries caused to staff at Arson scenes?
- Inhaling toxic substances
- Cuts/wounds
- Tripping on debris
- Ingestion of particles
How to identify the best method of protection from arson scene injuries
- Assess each possible injury
- Form a strategy to mitigate, isolate and prevent impact
What clothing items are required by on-scene investigator?
- A suitable helmet
- Overalls
- Nose and mouth filter, a full face respirator or BA (if required and qualified)
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
- Heavy duty footwear with steel soles and toe caps
What are the four main building materials and how do they react to fire?
Timber - Will normally burn and char but in most cases maintain sufficient integrity
Steel - Initial stages will expand. If enough fuel will lose strength and collapse
Concrete - Unpredictable and affected by extremely low temps. May topple like a deck of cards.
Masonry - Can be weakened by deterioration of the mortar
Common methods of starting fires
- Candles
- Chemical igniters
- Electrical apparatus
- Matches and cigarettes
Example of a trailer
A rag soaked in kerosene, laid from an ignition source to the site of intended fire
Examples of how carelessness may cause a fire
- Misusing electricity
- Child playing with matches
- Leaving clothes near heating
- Ironing
- Fireworks
- Burning rubbish
Examples of how fires can be started naturally
- Chemical reactions
- Sun ray’s
- Lightening
- Rodents eating through wires
Initial action when dealing with fire NOT involving explosives (8 Steps)
- Briefly interview informant
- Secure and control scene
- Initial interview of the Specialist Fire Investigator (if present) and O/C
- Interview incident controller at scene
- Conduct a preliminary examination
- If deemed suspicious, regroup and hold briefing conference
- Confer with other staff and determine plan of action. Scene guard, statements, enquiries
- SITREP to comms and get specialists
Scene security considerations at Arson scene:
- Ensuring scene is not interfered with
- Exclusion and control of on-lookers, property owners and other parties
- Preserving evidence
- Preventing looting
What points should be considered to assist in scene preservation?
- Scope (How much of area needs to be preserved)
- Cordon
- Common approach path
- Where it is difficult to preserve the scene (sketch,photograph)
- Personnel
Explain what examinations need to happen at an Arson
- Preparation for examination
- External examination
- Preliminary internal examination
- Detailed internal examination
What must a fire report NOT involving explosives include?
- Introduction
- Information about property
- Details of fire and events leading up to it
- Value of damage
- Result of investigation
- Information on the insurance
- Result of general enquiries
Investigation steps:
- Info gathering
- Scene exam
- Debris exam
- Product exam
- Analysis and testing
- Opinion formulation
- Reporting data and opinions
