Arson Flashcards
Initial Action
What to ask the Incident controller (FA MASSIVE – fat football manager)
F Fire State – What was the state of the fire when the fire service arrived
A Appliances - What appliances attended
M Manner – Time, date and manner of the call received
A Alterations - What alterations have they made to the scene eg forced doors/windows
S Security - What information do the fire service have on the security of the building
S Suspicious - is the fire suspicious and why?
I Informant – What is the fire service opinion of the informant?
V Vehicle or people - Details of people or vehicles acting suspiciously in the vicinity
Entered – What actions have the fire service taken, particularly in entering and ventilating the building after the fire?
Evidence of Wilful Causes of Fire –
MOVIE MASTER – Lethal Weapon movie starts with a wilful fire
M Multiple – Multiple seats of fire
O Opened – Signs that windows or skylights were opened to create a draft
V Valuables – Intentional removal of valuable property
I Intentional Interference - Evidence of intentional interference eg tampering with sprinkler or alarm systems
E Explosives – Evidence of explosives
M Misdirecting - Misdirecting fire fighters
A Accelerants – Evidence of accelerants eg containers
S Smell
T Traces – Traces in Debris
E Electrical Appliances – signs that electrical appliance has been left on eg heater, soldering iron
R Rapid Spread – Unusual rapid spread or intensity of fire.
Powers Under Section 28, Fire Service Act 197
Enter Close Remove Remove Do
Enter Close Remove Remove Do
Enter private property when it is on fire or endangered or when entry is essential to performing a necessary duty 28(4)(b)
Close roads 28(4)(h)
Remove Vehicles impeding the Fire service. If necessary they can break into vehicles for the purpose 28(4)(i)
Remove people who are in a danger or interfering with operations, using reasonable force if necessary 28(4)(j)
Do anything else that is necessary for the protection of life and property 28(4)(n)
Conferences
Conferences are held to assist with
I REAP
I Identifying suspects
R Reconstructing
E Establishing possible motives
A Assessing the information obtained
P Planning further enquiries
After the conference
Appoint appoint advise appoint appoint
Appoint appoint advise appoint appoint
Appoint an exhibits officer
Appoint a crime scene coordinator (if required)
Advise the Fire Investigator co-ordinator
Appoint a scribe
Appoint a scene examiner
Guarding and controlling the scene
WOOD PILE (think scene guard sitting on a pile of fire wood)
WOOD PILE (think scene guard sitting on a pile of fire wood)
Watch – Be vigilant and watch for suspects
Onlookers – Locate witnesses among onlookers and passersby
O/C Investigation – Report all matters of significance to the O/C Investigation and/or scene coordinator
Damage – Prevent further fire or damage
Preserve – Preserve evidence
Interfering – Avoid interfering with the scene
Looting – Prevent Looting
Exclude – Exclude and control onlookers, property owners and other interested parties
Preliminary Internal Examination
During the preliminary Examination take note of indicators such as:
FOOL SURF RUB (Think of the lyal bay surf shop burnt down and the foolish owner still in the building, rubbing down his surf board)
FOOL SURF RUB (Think of the lyal bay surf shop burnt down and the foolish owner still in the building, rubbing down his surf board)
During the preliminary Examination take note of indicators such as:
F Forced - Forced entry into an empty till
O Open – Open filing cabinets or missing files
O Owner Occupier – Owner Occupier attitude during walk through (if access permitted)
L Low – Low Stock
S Signs – Signs of hardship
U Unrelated – Separate unrelated sets of fire
R Repair – Building areas in need of repair
F Family photos – Missing family photos, furniture and personal items
R Rifled – Rifled premises
U Unusual - Unusual odours
B Burn – Burn patterns
External Examination
ANY PD S
ANY PD S
The external examination takes 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 the fire effected property
Periphery of the structure itself
Distance debris were scattered, particularly if drums or containers have exploded
Surrounding area of the involved premises may also reveal:
B CAP (Think of a bumble bee with a cap on flying around the outside of a burnt building)
B Business appears to be struggling
C Contents of out building missing
A Accelerant containers
P Property run down
At the conclusion of the examination
APT (think what is appropriate, apt, to do at the conclusion)
APT (think what is appropriate, apt, to do at the conclusion)
A Area of origin
P Point of origin
T The Seat of the fire
Identifying the best method of protection
Consider:
Consider:
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
A strategy to prevent an occurrence or to mitigate its impact
Characteristics damage caused by explosives
What to look for:
What to look for:
Catering
Spread of debris
Shredding of materials
A smell peculiar to the exploded material i.e. the smell of almonds
An overlay of dust
Shrapnel marks
Initial Action
Fires involving explosives
(SPED IS)
(SPED IS)
Step 1 Secondary device – Remember that there could be a secondary device anywhere at the
scene, including a nearby building or vehicle. Do not handle or interfere with anything unfamiliar
Step 2 Portables – Do not use cell phones, portables or the like
Step 3 Evacuate – Evacuate the scene to a distance of at least 100 metres
Step 4 Department of Labour – If the IED located, immediately obtain assistance of an IED operator
from the Department of Labour
Step 5 Inform – Inform the National Bomb Data Centre at PNHQ, using the ‘Bomb/Explosives/IED
Report’ form.
Step 6 Sitreps – Give the National Data Bomb Data Centre regular sitreps.
Initial Action with fires not involving explosives
IS FISH PC? (Think of eating racist fish and getting called out to a fire)
IS FISH PC? (Think of eating racist fish and getting called out to a fire)
Remember: Your aim is to coordinate the investigation and investigators using the NZFS to determine the origin and cause of the fire
Step 1: Informant – Briefly interview your informant
Step 2: Secure – Secure and control the scene
Step 3: Fire Safety Officer – Initial interview of the Fire Safety officer/OC of the first fire appliance to attend the scene
Step 4: Incident Controller – Interview the Incident Controller at the scene
Step 5: Safety of the scene – If the fire is extinguished, ensure the safety of the scene before an initial conference with Fire Service & Police and conduct an external examination and preliminary internal examination.
Step 6: Hold a briefing conference – Regroup and hold a briefing if deemed suspicious
Step 7: Plan of action – confer with other staff and determine a plan of action
Step 8: Contact comms – Contact comms and supply a sitrep. Ask for assistance if necessary, and the attendance of specialists, e.g. photographer, fingerprints, SOCO
Detailed Internal Examination
SSS DDD F’ SURE
(SSS DDD F’ SURE)
Completed by the Fire Safety Officer (with you accompanying them) take note and observe
Smoke deposits and burn patterns
Soot deposits on window glass and craze patterns
Spalling (the cracking or 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
THE FIRE SERVICE MUST NOTIFY POLICE AND THE RELEVANT FIRE INVESTIGATION COORDINATOR
WHEN:
The fire results in serious injury or death
The fire is considered suspicious
Police Responsibility
The police must:
Conduct the criminal investigation or coronial enquiry
Undertake responsibility for the protection, collection and recording of forensic evidence
Specialist Fire Investigators
Employed by the fire service and called to attend and investigate:
Fires where fatalities occur
Fires where serious (life threatening) injuries have occurred
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
Insurance Companies
VICOR
VICOR
Contact the insurance company promptly to obtain the services of an assessor to provide:
Value the building and the damage particulars of the insurance of the building
Information on former claims
Contents copies of their proposals
Over Insurance (evidence of)
Recent Increase in the cover
Exhibits
PUT
Step 1 – Photograph and label the exhibits, and preserve them in containers.
Step 2 – Use approved arson kits if these are available; if not, use any suitable container such as unused four litre paint tins.
Step 3 - Take these control samples:
Charred timber, ashes or debris from the seat of the fire for examination and comparison with samples from other points
Any accelerants found near the scene
Soil from the surrounding area
Identifying the suspect
FIRM REC
FIRM REC
Fingerprints
Information from informants and witnesses
Information from Fire crews on people who regularly attend fires
Media response
Police resources eg Intel, Youth Aid
Enquiries at penal institutions, psychiatric hospitals, rehab centres and schools
The circumstances of the fire
Possible Suspects
PEPA COMB
PEPA COMB
Pyromaniac suffering from mental illness
Employee to cover theft, forgery or false pretences
Pupil or ex-pupil
Aggrieved person suffering from jealousy, hatred, rage etc
Criminal to cover the traces of an offence or to intimidate other victims
Owner or occupier for insurance fraud
Member of the fire service for excitement or personal recognition
Business competitor to disadvantage a rival
Suspect enquiries in respect of fires no involving explosives
ITS SEER IS ACE
ITS SEER IS ACE
1 Identifying – identifying suspects (as per ‘possible suspects’)
2 Thoroughly – Investigate the suspects thoroughly and according to priority (QHA, vehicles,
associates, photo)
3 Suspects – Possible suspects (as per ‘identifying suspects list)
4 Surveillance – Consider surveillance
5 Establish – Complete enquiries to establish the suspect’s opportunity, motive, mens rea,
connection with the scene and offence, character etc
6 Execute a search warrant in the presence of the suspect
7 Record statement – Interview the suspect and obtain a recorded statement covering the
ingredients of the offence
8 ID parade – consider a photo montage or ID parade
9 Supervisor – Advise your supervisor
10 Arrest – Consider arresting the suspect
11 Correspondence – Complete the correspondence and prosecution file
12 Explanation – Complete enquiries to corroborate or negate the suspect’s explanation
Questions to ask the owner
SCATS
SCATS
Secured – when the premises was last secured and by whom
Cause – whether he or she knows the cause of the fire
Actions – actions leading up to the fire
Type – Type of business
Suspects – the details of any suspects and any insurance
Definition of reckless:
Can’t remember exact wording or order but I put a) answer is b) but i have appealed because i think they are wrong
a) Foresight of dangerous consequences and continues regardless
b) Foresight of dangerous consequences and continues regardless without REASONBLE care
Who is in charge at the fire when you arrive
Answer: senior fire officer at the scene
R v Hallam
On a charge of knowing having possession of an explosive substance, it must be proved that the offender knowingly had the substance in his possession and also that he knew it to be an explosive substance.
10 ways to set a fire
Rubbish Candle Chemical igniters Electrical apparatus - iron, toaster, bar heater Electric matches Matches Cigarette Molotov Cocktail Timing device Trailer
Difference between a gas explosion and an explosive that is set
ACME
ACME – (Wiley coyote by an ACME explosive kit and makes a big crater
Explosions caused by gas generally cover a wider area than those caused by explosives
Explosives cause cratering
Medical evidence – one or more the suspects or victims may have inhaled gas prior to the explosion
Other tell tale signs like the implosion of cabinets which will be obvious to experts.
In determining the seat of the fire the specialist fire investigator will consider:
When - Witness reports
First - When they first noticed the fire
Stating - State of fire at that time
Which - Wind direction and speed, and the weather
Direction- Direction of spread
Smoke - Colour of the flames and smoke (may point to cause, eg black smoke may indicate petroleum based fire
Damaged - Severity of damage(heat fire raise/lowest area with most damage often place where is started – though lateral/downwards burning can occur in presence of some materials/accelerants/draughts
Charing - Depth of charing (probing may indicate where fire has been burning or smouldering the longest
Devices - Presence of starting devices
Report - Reports/opinions of other specialists
Suspect Enquiries (10 Things)
- You may identify suspects by means of;
Police resources such as intel, youth aid, information from informants or witnesses,
Enquiries at prison, rehab centres, schools, psych hospitals, media response, information from fire crews, circumstances of the fire, fingerprints.
- Investigate suspects thoroughly and to priority. Obtain;
Full particulars
QHA
Motor vehicles they have access to
Details of Associates
- Possible suspects may include;
Owner (Fraud)
Employee (To cover theft)
A criminal (destroying evidence)
An aggrieved person
Pyromaniac
Fire Employee (Recognition)
Business Competitor
- Consider Surveillance
- Complete Enquiries to establish suspects opportunity, motive, Mens Rea, connection with scene and/or evidence, Character, movements and mental background.
- Execute Search Warrant in presence of suspect;
Look for accelerants, igniters, wick fabric, debris from scene
Photograph in Situ
Ask for explanation from suspect
268 Exhibits
Seized, examined, labelled, stored by exhibits officer
- Interview the suspect
- Consider Photo board
- Advise supervisor, consider ingredients of offence, have ingredients been proved?
- Consider arresting suspect. Obtain photo and fingerprints and DNA or details.
What is the process for control, investigation, and handover of fire scenes?
- The fire service has authority over a fire scene while a fire is in progress. Once the fire is extinguished and any threat to life of property no longer exists, the fire service must hand the scene of the fire over to the appropriate person or agency. In certain circumstances this
will be Police. - The Fire service will notify police if it considers that a fire may have been deliberately lit, or if it considers the cause of a fire suspicious. The fire service will also notify the police of all incidents where fatalities or serious (life threatening) injuries occur.
- Where Police attend a fire scene and seek authority over that fire scene, the designated Police Investigating officer will confer with the Incident Controller to confirm the hand over process.
- The Fire service will not normally hand over a fire scene until the danger of fire, structural collapse, exposure to dangerous products of combustion or other fire related hazards have been identified and eliminated, isolated or minimised.
- For any Fire scene involving multiple agencies, all agencies will consult with each other prior to any investigation or scene examination to develop an investigation plan.
- The investigation plan will include an outline of how the investigation will proceed and the role of each agency.
What does the external examination take into account?
Adjoining premises which can reveal accelerant containers, attempts at forced entry, broken windows, forced doors
Nearby alleyways / streets / driveways
The yards and outbuildings of the fire effected property
The periphery of the structure itself
What distance debris were scattered, particularly if drums or cylinders have exploded
During external examination the surrounding area of the involved premises may also reveal;
Accelerant containers
Contents of outbuildings missing
Property run down
Business appears to be struggling
The damage structure itself may reveal;
Jemmy marks or other signs of forced entry on windows or doors
Window glass broken before the fire was ignited
Burn patterns above windows and doors and “V” shaped burn patterns on external cladding
What will the specialist fire investigator consider when determining the seat of the fire?
(What will Danny do cause she paid Rob?)
(What will Danny do cause she paid Rob?)
Witness reports; when they noticed the fire, where they were at that time, the state of the fire at that time
Wind direction and speed and the weather
Direction of the spread
Depth of charring (Where it has been smouldering the longest)
Colour of the flames and the smoke (May point to the cause)
Severity of the damage (because heat and fire rise the area at the lowest level of burning with most damage is often the place the fire started)
Presence of starting devices
Reports and opinions of other specialists
Conferences must be held during the scene examination to assist you with;
Assessing information obtained
Reconstructing
Identifying Suspects
Planning further enquiries
Establishing possible motives
At conference…you should then
…Appoint and crime scene co-ordinator (if required), exhibits officer, scribe, scene examiner and advise the fire investigation coordinator.
Is Tenancy an interest in land? Can a tenant be convicted of recklessly damaging by fire? What is
the related case law?
Yes tenancy is an interest
Tenant cannot be charged with recklessly damaging by fire
Case Law – R v Wilson 2008
Define Benefit
BENEFIT – Any benefit, pecuniary advantage, privilege, property, service or valuable consideration.
Does explosive include fireworks?
No.
What will the NZFS Fire safety officer or specialist fire investigator be able to determine at the conclusion of their internal examination?
Area of origin
Point of origin
The seat of the fire
How can you tell the difference between a gas explosion and other explosions?
Gas explosions generally cover a wider area and they do not leave a crater, and, implosion of cabinets.
When interviewing witnesses at the scene, ask them;
Suspects
Other peoples movements
People who have left the scene
Consider using media footage to ID people at scene
EXHIBITS – FIRE SCENE – Follow these steps;
- Photograph and label the exhibits and preserve them in containers
- Use approved arson kits if available or use suitable containers
- Take these control samples; Charred timber, ash, debris from the seat of the fire for examination and comparison with samples from other points; any accelerants found near
the scene; soil from the surrounding area.
What is the procedure on arrival at a fire scene? (8 Steps)
- Briefly interview the informant
- Secure and control the scene
- Initial interview of the fire safety officer and the O/C of the first fire appliance to attend the scene.
- Interview the incident controller at the scene and find out;
The time and date, manner of the call
What appliances attended
The state of the fire when the Fire Service arrived
What action the fire service has taken? I.e. entering and ventilating
Information the Fire Service has about the buildings security
What alterations they have made to the scene, e.g. forced doors
Whether they think the fire is suspicious and why
Their opinions of the informant
Details of people or vehicles acting suspiciously in the vicinity
- If the fire is extinguished, ensure safety of the scene before an initial conference is held with the Fire Safety officer. Conduct an external examination initial preliminary examination of the scene
- If deemed suspicious then re-group and hold a briefing conference
- Determine a plan of action. Deploy staff to guard and control the scene, identify and interview witnesses at the scene and conduct local enquiries
- Contact COMMS and supply a SITREP. Arrange specialists/photographer/fingerprints
What should you look out for during a preliminary internal examination? (8 Things)
(Preliminary examination is a slow walk through from the least damaged area to most damaged)
S – Signs of hardship (empty flats, shops to let)
M – Missing family photos, furniture, and personal items
A – Areas in need of repair
L – Low stock
L – Lack of clothing in wardrobes or drawers
P – Presence of accelerant containers
U – Unusual odours
B – Burn patterns
Following preliminary examinations you will accompany the fire safety officer while they complete a detailed examination. What will they observe and take note of?
Smoke deposits and burn patterns
Spalling (The cracking or chipping or concrete as a result of being heated and cooled)
Damage to wall studs
Damage to roofing timbers
Damage to windows wills and door edges
Soot deposits on window glass and craze patterns
Floor areas burnt through
Skirting board damage
Elimination of false low burns
Under floor inspection
Things to look for in relation to the cause of the fire: (10 Things)
Signs of window and skylights were opened to create a draught
Evidence of explosives
Evidence of accelerants;
Burning under or behind boards where liquid has run
Uneven burning
Multiple seats of fire
Containers
Unusual rapid spread or intensity of fire
Traces in debris
Smell
Intentional removal of valuable property or substituting
Evidence of intentional interference
Tampering with alarm/sprinkler system
Hindering access
Misdirecting the firefighters
Signs furniture was rearranged to create a fire base
Foreign material/objects such as screws or batteries that might be part of a device
Inconsistencies, unusual burn patterns, unusual time factors
Signs of an offence committed. May have been burnt to destroy evidence
Signs a heater, soldering iron, electrical appliance left on
Preliminary Interview of the Owner – Points to address?
When the premises was last secured and by whom
Whether he or she knows the cause of the fire
Actions leading up to the fire
Type of business
The details of any suspects and any insurance
What to look for at an explosive fire. Characteristic damage caused by explosives includes;
Cratering
Overlay of dust
Shrapnel marks
Smell particular to the exploded material, e.g. the smell of almonds is often associated with
explosive or exploded material
Shredding or materials
Spread of debris
Guarding or controlling the scene – Police guarding the scene must;
A – Avoid interfering with the scene
P – Preserve evidence
P – Prevent further fire or damage
L – Prevent looting
E – Exclude – and control on-lookers, property owners and other interested parties
V – Be vigilant and watch for suspects
L – Locate witnesses among on-lookers
R – Report all matters of interest and significance to the O/C investigation and/or scene coordinator
Initial Action when fire involving explosives – 6 Steps
- Remember there could be a secondary device anywhere at the scene. Do not handle anything unfamiliar.
- Do not use cell phones, portable radios or the like
- Evacuate scene to at least 100 metres. Ensure people leaving the scene bring their personal
items with them. This limits the number of items to be cleared. Consider using explosives detector dogs.
- If the IED is located, immediately obtain the assistance of an IED operator from the department of labour or armed forces
- Inform the NBDC using the ‘Bomb/Explosive IED’ report form
- Give the National Bomb Data Centre regular SITREPS
Identifying the Explosive
Identifying the Explosive – Because modern explosive residues are often slight and dissipate rapidly, the O/C scene may need to authorise the expert to enter the centre of the scene before it has been fully examined. In this case;
Create a path to the centre of the explosion, by laying a clean unused roll of plastic or by using approved stepping plates (this may involves some exhibits being trampled under foot)
Have the ESR analyst start swabbing the area immediately (Work outwards from the seat of
the explosion)
Vertical sheets of iron adjacent to the blast, such as street signs and fencing, are often good sources of residue
Fire Scene Safety – “Best Method of Protection”
Fire scenes are undoubtedly one of the most unstable environments in which to work. The fire scene may be safe initially, however, due to the effects of the fire, may become unsafe during the post fire incident investigation.
Investigators often find themselves searching through an unstable structure and excavating the scene to identify the cause of a fire.
Injuries through hazards - At a fire scene most injuries are received from these hazards;
Inhalation of toxic substances
Ingestion of particles etc.
Injection of sharp objects
Air borne dusts, particles etc.
Tripping on fire debris
Falling down, over, onto or into any of the above
Items from above falling onto you of hitting objects and causing a chain reaction
To identify the best method of protection, you must consider an assessment of each of the above and a strategy to prevent an occurrence or to mitigate its impact.
Clothing Protection – To complete the protective clothing used by the on scene investigator, these
items are required;
A suitable helmet (that complies with the safety standard)
A pair of overalls
Nose and mouth filter, a full face respirator or full BA (if required and qualified)
Gloves
Safety Glasses
Shovels, rakes, sieves, pegs, twine
Heavy duty footwear with steel soles and toe caps
Fire Scene Preservation
SCOPE – How much area needs to be preserved?
SCOPE – How much area needs to be preserved?
Single room
Entire building
A large area that includes a building or buildings; and
Large outside area
Apply the investigation process and make an informed decision as to where most of the information you require is located, and what needs to be preserved.
CORDON – Make cordons as wide as practical
Identify the centre of the scene
Tape of outside, what is considered to be the most obvious item of evidence that is furthest away from the centre of the scene
COMMON APPROACH PATH
All traffic through the scene should be limited to corridors i.e. the same paths which will keep disturbance of the scene to a minimum. The investigator should search the areas to be used as corridors prior to them receiving any traffic to avoid the possibility of
evidence being introduced after the event and reduce the possibility of evidence being destroyed or
To assist in preserving the scene whilst firefighting operations are in progress, the investigator
should liaise with the incident controller to limit unnecessary operations within the area of origin.
WHERE IT IS DIFFICULT TO PRESERVE THE SCENE
WHERE IT IS DIFFICULT TO PRESERVE THE SCENE – In certain circumstances, such as demolition of specific areas due to safety, it may be difficult to preserve the scene. In such cases as this the investigator must record the scene, prior to demolition, by;
Sketches
Photographs
Plans
Video recordings
Scene Costing and Assistance – Advantages of having external Fire Investigator
Insurance companies will either employ or use their own internal qualified fire investigators to investigate the origin and cause of the fire after the NZFS and Police have completed their enquiry.
It is to your advantage to speak to those persons early in your investigation, once their qualifications have been confirmed.
Including these persons where possible can lead to a more complete investigation and they can assist with their skill base and possibly resourcing to assist in the investigation, i.e. hire or lease of equipment, electrical engineers, etc.
These persons come under the Police/NZFS scene management and must be managed as such.
R v Mohan
A fleeting or passing thought is not sufficient; there must be a firm intent or firm purpose to effect an act.
R v Harney
Recklessness involves a foresight of dangerous consequences that could well happen together with
an intention to continue with the course of conduct regardless of the risk.
R v Archer
Property may be damaged if it suffers permanent or temporary physical harm or temporary or permanent or temporary impairment of its value.
R v Harpur
The court may have regard to the conduct viewed cumulatively up to the point when the conduct in
questions stops. The defendant’s conduct may be considered in its entirety. Considering how much
remains to be done is always relevant though not determinative.
R v Hallam
On a charge of knowingly having possession of an explosive substance, it must be proved that the
offender knowingly had the substance in his possession and also that he knew it to be an explosive
substance.
R v Morley
Loss is assessed by the extent to which the complainant’s position prior to the offence has been
diminished or impaired.
List the ingredients of arson in s267 (1) (a)
The ingredients of arson in s267 (1) (a) are;
Intentionally or recklessly
Damages by fire or by means of explosive
Any property
If he or she knows or ought to know
That danger to life is likely to ensue
Explain what recklessly means citing the relevant case law.
Acting recklessly involves consciously and deliberately taking an unjustified risk.
Case Law (R v Harney): Recklessness involves a foresight of dangerous consequences that could well
happen together with an intention to continue with the course of action regardless of the risk.
Legally you are allowed to set fire to or damage your own property. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. What are these exceptions?
Legally you are allowed to set fire to your own property, unless you;
Intend to cause loss to someone else as a result of the fire
Know or ought to know that the fire will endanger life
Know that the fire is likely to destroy or damage someone else’s property as a consequence
There are nine stages in your systematic examination of the scene of a fire. What are these stages?
- Prepare by organising appropriate staff and equipment. Clear areas and set clear areas of
responsibility. - Preparing the examination and arrange for the site to be examined systematically.
- Examine the exterior of the fire site.
- Conduct a preliminary internal examination of the site.
- Conduct a detailed internal examination to identify the area of origin, point of origin and seat of the fire.
- Identify the case of the fire.
- Interview witnesses at the scene.
- Photograph, label and preserve exhibits.
- Conduct area enquiries
In determining the seat of the fire, list some of the matters the specialist fire investigator should consider.
Witness reports
When they first noticed the sire and where they were at the time
The state of the fire at that time
Wind direction and speed, weather
The direction of the spread
The colour of the flames and smoke
Severity of the damage
Depth of the charring
The presence of starting devices
Reports and opinions from other specialists
List five examples where carelessness may case fire.
Misusing electricity
Children playing with matches, cigarette lighters and so on
Burning off paint
Vagrants lighting fires
Welding and other industrial processes
Leaving clothes near heating
Wrapping up lives ashes in paper
Ironing
Setting off fireworks
Using or storing flammable materials
Burning rubbish
Using domestic or camp fires
Leaving a stove or heater on
Leaving fat unattended while cooking
Smoking
List five examples of material used to start fire.
Readily available combustible material – rubbish
Molotov Cocktails
Candles
Chemical igniters
Timing devices
Electric Matches
Electrical apparatus
Matches and cigarettes
Trailers
Detail the Police responsibilities at a fire scene examination and investigation.
The Police must;
Conduct the criminal investigation or coronial enquiry
Undertake responsibility for the protection, collection and recording or forensic evidence
The collection and removal of material from a fire crime scene will only be done by Police or
other agencies with the authority to remove evidence
The preservation, analysis and subsequent disposition of any such material is the responsibility of Police or other agency
Describe the powers conferred by s28 of the Fire Service Act 1975 on the person in charge of the Fire Service at the fire site.
Enter private property when it is one fire or endangered, or when entry is essential to performing a necessary duty
Close roads
Remove vehicles impeding the Fire Service. If necessary they can break into vehicles for that purpose
Remove people who are in danger or interfering with operations, using reasonable force if necessary
Do anything else that is reasonably necessary for the protection of life and property
