Op 018 - Fire Investigation

Front 1

The basic aims of fire investigation are:

Back 1

1. To establish the most likely cause of a fire, identifying any trends, defects, acts or omissions causing fire

2. To establish the reasons for the development and spread of fire and smoke

3. To assess the performance of a building or contents in a fire situation, for future reference

4. To check the effectiveness of fire safety provisions in a building. Did they work? Do they need to be improved?

5. To provide other information for use by the LFB and other agencies in the future.

Front 2

At smaller incidents, the incident commander (IC) is responsible for carrying out the fire investigation where they can determine the cause. Fire Investigation Teams will attend on the request of the IC to assist if the IC:

Back 2

• Cannot determine the cause of the fire

• Suspects a possible re-kindling of a fire

• Is refused entry to an incident for the purpose of fire investigation

• Needs to take samples as part of the investigation

• Requires support and advice at the scene.

Front 3

One FIU will be ordered to:

Back 3

• 4 pump fires and above (except rubbish, crops and field fires unless requested)

• Persons reported, fire survival calls, and fatal fires (2 units will attend a fatal fire)

• Firefighter emergency

Front 4

Fire Investigation Team (FIT) will be informed of:

Back 4

• Explosions

• A request for an ambulance from an incident where a fire related injury has occurred to a member of the public

Front 5

Define Evidence

Back 5

Evidence can be defined as ‘a means of proving an unknown or disputed fact’

Front 6

The types of evidence a firefighter can identify include:

Back 6

• physical evidence

• visual evidence

• audible evidence

• smell

Front 7

During and after firefighting operations the following actions should be taken to preserve evidence:

Back 7

• If conditions permit, minimise firefighting personnel inside the affected area

• Limit water damage, a fine spray will help preserve the scene

• If a body is found and is apparently dead then leave in-situ

• Record the locations and movements of all other persons involved

• Do not disturb the room contents or debris, as you will destroy forensic evidence

• If the use of an accelerant is suspected, restrict the movement of personnel in and around the affected area

• Do not start cutting away or turning over until directed to do so by the IC or FIO

• Clearly and accuratley record any important information / evidence as contemporaneous notes (notes made as soon as reasonably practical) or on a Form 10 as soon as possible

• Turn fuse-board off rather than remove fuses, if not possible number fuses. Record position of circuit breakers prior to switching off or isolate via main switch

• Eyewitnesses or occupiers with relevant information should be directed to the IC or police. It is important that members of the public who have information pass this on before they leave the incident

Front 8

The removal of bodies in a fire incident is the responsibility of the police and coroner’s officer, and a person can only be certified dead by a doctor or a paramedic trained to recognise that life is extinct. However, when a person is found and it is obvious that life is extinct, the following points apply:

Back 8

1. All information about the body may be presented at an inquest and must be passed to police and / or FIO

2. The body/bodies must, if possible, be left in place

3. If a body must be moved due to a worsening fire situation, the place where the body was found, the position of the body and any other information available must be noted.

4. Anything such as buttons, clothing, dentures or jewellery which has fallen from the body or falls from the body when it is moved, must be collected and handed to the IC or police.

5. The command units carry a fatality identification system, which will be initiated by the IC when they consider it necessary. This involves tagging bodies and removing bodies in body bags.

6. Information about bodies must not be given to unauthorised people.Great care must be taken when removing bodies in the presence of the public. The dignity of the deceased must be maintained. Bodies which have been removed from an incident must be kept out of the public’s view.