Arson Flashcards
What do you ask the Fire Incident Controller?
- The state of the fire when the fire service arrived
- What appliances attended
- Time, date of the call to fire comms and the manner it was received
- Alterations they have made to the scene i.e forced open doors or windows
- What information they have about the buildings security
- Whether they think the fire is suspicious and why
- Their opinions of the informant
- Details of people or vehicles acting suspicious in the area
- What actions they have taken in entering the building and ventilating it.
Evidence of wilful causes of fire?
- Multiple seats of fire
- Signs that windows or skylights were opened to create draft
- Intentional removal of valuable property
- Evidence of intentional interference i.e tampering with alarms/sprinklers
- Evidence of explosives
- Misdirecting fire fighters
- Evidence of accelerants
- Smell
- Traces in debris
- Signs that heater or other electrical appliances have been left on
- Unusual rapid spread or intensity of fire
What are the powers under Section 28 Fire Service Act 1975?
- Enter private property when it is on fire or endangered or when entry is essential to perform a necessary duty (4)(b)
- Close roads (4)(h)
- Remove vehicles impeding fire service and if necessary they can break into vehicles for that purpose (4)(i)
- Remove people who are a danger or interfering with operations, using reasonable force if necessary (4)(j)
- Do anything else that is necessary for the protection of life and property (4)(n)p
Why are conferences held?
Held to assist with:
- Identifying suspects
- Reconstructing events
- Establishing possible motives
- Assessing the info obtained
- Planning further enquiries
What is done after a conference?
- Appoint an exhibits officer
- Appoint a crime scene coordinator (if required)
- Advise the fire investigator
- Appoint a scribe
- Appoint a scene examiner
Guarding and controlling the scene?
- Ensure the scene is not interfered with
- Exclusion and control of onlookers, property owners and other interested parties
- Preserving evidence
- Be aware of re-ignition from hotspots after the fire is extinguished
- Be vigilant and watch for possible suspects
- Identify any witnesses among onlookers and passers-by
- Report all matters of significance to the O/C investigation and/or scene co-ordinator
R v MOHAN
Intent involves a decision to bring about, in so far as it lies within the accused’s power, the commission of the offence.
R v ARCHER
Property may be damaged if it suffers permanent of temporary physical harm, or permanent of temporary impairment to its use or value.
What is the difference between a gas explosion and an explosion that is set?
- Explosions caused by gas generally cover a wider area than those caused by explosives
- Explosives cause cratering
- Medical evidence, One or more of the suspects or victims may have inhaled gas prior to the explosion
- Other telltale signs like the implosion of cabinets, which will be obvious to experts
What will the external examination take into account?
- Adjoining premises which often reveal: \+Accelerant containers \+Attempts at forced entry \+Broken windows \+Forced doors -Nearby alleyways/streets/driveways -Yards and outbuildings of effected property - The periphery of the structure itself -What distance debris was scattered
What will the surrounding area of the involved premises reveal?
- Accelerant containers
- Contents of building missing
- Property run down
- Business appears to be struggeling
What will the preliminary internal examination involve?
Take note of:
- Low stock levels in commercial premises
- Building areas in need of repair
- Signs of hardship (empty flats etc)
- Missing family photographs, furniture and personal items
- Lack of clothing in wardrobes and drawers
- Rifled premises
- Position of clothes if not in wardrobe or drawers
- Open filing cabinets or missing files
- Forced entry into an empty till
- Presence of accelerant containers or trails
- Separate unrelated seats of fire
- Owner/occupier attitude during walk through (if access permitted)
- Unusual odours
- Burn patters
R v HARPUR
An attempt includes an act or omission constituting a substantial step in a course of conduct planned to culminate in his commission of the crime.
What will the specialist fire investigator be able to determine at the conclusion of their investigation?
- Area of origin
- Point of Origin
- The seat of the fire
What should you consider when identifying the best method of protection?
Make an assessment of:
- Inhalation of toxic substances
- Ingestion of particles etc
- Injection from sharp objects
- Airborne dusts, particles etc
- Tripping on fire debris
- Items from above falling onto you
Come up with a strategy to prevent an occurrence or to mitigate its impact
What are the characteristics to look for when examining a scene caused by explosives?
- Cratering
- Spread of debris
- Shredding of materials
- A smell peculiar to the exploded material i.e Smell of almonds
- An overlay of dust
- Shrapnel marks
List the steps involved in the initial action at scenes not involving explosives.
Step 1 - Briefly interview your informant
Step 2 Secure and control the scene
Step 3 - Initial interview of the Fire Safety Officer or O/C of the first fire appliance to attend the scene
Step 5 - If fire is extinguished, ensure safety of the scene before initial conference with Fire Service and Police. Then conduct an external examination and preliminary internal examination
Step 6 - Regroup and hold a briefing conference if deemed suspicious
Step 7 - Confer with other staff and determine a plan of action
Step 8 - Contact COMMS and supply sitrep. Ask for specialists if needed i.e Photography or crime prints
What is noted when conducting the detailed internal examination with the Fire Safety Officer?
- Smoke deposits and burn patterns
- Soot deposits on window glass and craze patterns
- Spalling (the cracking of chipping of concrete as a result of being heated and cooled)
- Damage to wall studs
- Damage to roofing timbers
- Damage to window sills and door edges
- Floor areas burned through
- Skirting board damage
- Under floor inspection
- Removal of fire debris
- Elimination of false low burns
What will you consider when determining the seat of the fire?
- The state of the fire at the time
- The direction of spread
- The severity of the damage
- The presence of ‘starting devices’
- The depth of charring
- The reports and opinions of other specialists
- Witness reports
- When they first noticed the fire, and where they were at the time
- The colour of the flames and smoke
- Wind direction and speed, and the weather at the time
When must the Fire Service notify Police and relevant fire investigator of a fire?
The Police and relevant fire investigator must be notified of a fire when:
- The fire results in serious injury or death
- The fire is considered suspicious
What is the role of a specialist fire investigator?
They are employed by the fire service and called to attend and investigate fires where:
- Fatalities occur
- Serious life threatening injury occurs
- Structure fires where the cause is suspicious or cannot be determined
- Significant fire spread across a property boundary
- Fires in buildings where built-in fire safety features have failed, or not performed to known or expected standards
