Arson Flashcards
What are the two categories of arson?
Intentional and unintentional
“arson can result from act or omission”
Duties at all fires;
If first members assigned or on scene; with reguard to their safety members should be:
Watching for suspicious persons leaving the scene
Determine if the burning structure is a commercial building or storage facility
take note of any dangerous or explosive substances that may be stored on the premises
immediately check all doors and windows for signs of forcible entry
determine if anyone is inside the premises
secure the scene and take direction from fire investigators, maintaining constant contact with them until FI complete invest or no longer need assistance
Perform Traffic duty, crowd control, and widen the perimeter to protect WFPS firefighters and their equipement and esure public safety,
watch for suspicious activity from onlookers who become overly helpful, interested, talkative or excited about the fire
observe the fire and record some characteristics in notebook (eg location within building color of smoke color of flame)
tape of scene when instructed to by FI
Provide FI with inci #
if the premises requires boarding up, the FI will arrage that ; obtain names of the people boarding up the house
not leave the scene until the building is secure and we have the keys
notify supervisor if there is substantial money loss, serious injury or fatality
What should a fire Statement include?
the person who discovered the fire
the first person to alert 911 services of the fire
The last person on the premise, and dertermine when they left and how they secured the premise
the owner/ tenant/ resident of the buisness/ residence to gather additional information about the fire scene itself to assist Fire Investigators.
What are the roles associated to Electrical Fires:
Protect the scene
call hydro asap
Be alert; watch for falling/ jumping wires
What are the roles associated to a fatal fire:
If the cause of the fire is not determined, contact the Duty Office to determine if the Homicide Unit will attend
Notify IDENT to attend
Determine from where bodies have been removed (how and when and why the bodies were moved)
When requested by the street supervisor, note the name of the fire fighter(s) who removed bodies and identify exactly where they were removed from. Obtain a written statement from the fire fighter(s)
Ensure firefighters do not wrap more than one body in the same tarp or blanket
what are safety precautions with vehicle fires:
use extreme caution when you suspect the vehicle has unblown air bags
avoind inhaling any smoke, vapors or particles of fire ash originating from the burning or burnt vehicle
avoid unprotected contact with any debris, vapors or fluids from a burnt vehicle by wearing gloves
Avoid standing IFO or behind a burning vehicle to prevent injury from expelling hydraulic bumpers and rods
What are out duties at a vehicle fire?
Determine if the vehicle was stolen
determine if stolen items have been left inside vehicle
visibly examine the inside of ther vehicle including the trunk, if needed, ask firefighters for assistance
advise the owner that he is responsible for removing the vehicle if the vehicle is not registered and on private property
Tow all other vehicles to the MPI Compound at 1981 Plessis Rd
Canvass the area for video surveillance and obtain when practicable
what do we do with a container suspected of containing flammable substances or any exhibit that may be associated to the fire and the FI is not in attendance?
Contact on duty WFPS FI and make arrangements to have a FI attend to conduct and investigation
If a FI is unable to attend, contact the Supervisor (MCU) prior to seizing any flammable containers and contents
when finding non-flammible exhibits ( give some examples of exhibits) or exhibits indirectly linked to the fire and a FI is unable to attend:
(examples: clothing containing vaporous substances or break-in instruments such as hammers and crowbars)
a police officer should;
a) Immediately place into an approved collection container and evidence bag
b) contact the supervisor, Arson Unit so evidence can be turned over to an Arson Unit member
if a fire investigator attends the scene and takes evidence samples, what do we do with the rest of the flammable substances?
take the remaining flammable substance for proper disposal.
during regular buisness hours:
contact the supervisor in the Vehicle Services unit to arrange for disposal of gasoline and small amounts of solvents
what do we do after regular buisness hours if we need to dispose of flammable substances?
call division 11 shift supervisor and get him to unlock the flammable substance storage locker.
following the exhibits topic, label the exhibit with a property tag and note if substance can be dispoed or not
enter exhibit info into Evidence control log
When should reports for arson calls be done?
before the end of your shift
what is the definition of arson?
any intentional or recklace conduct that causes
a fire or explosion
and
results in damage to property
Arson Disreguard for human life section 433 of the criminal code:
Every person who intentionally or recklessly causes damage by fire or explosion to property. whether or not that person owns the property, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment where:
- the person knows that or is reckless with respect to whether the property is inhibited or occupied
- the fire or explosion causes bodily harm to another person
Intentionally:
a set of circumstances a person knows exisits, or will exist and the person’s actions brings about their purpose
Recklessly:
Consciously disreguards a substantial and justifiable risk and engages in the contact notwithstanding the appreciation or knowledge of the risk
Arson Damage to Property :
every person who intentionally or recklessly causes damage by fire or explosion to property that is not wholly owned by that person is guilty of an indictable offence….
and is liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 14 years
Arson own property:
every person who intentionally or recklessly causes damage by fire or explosion to property that is owned in whole or in part by that person is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 14 years
Arson for fraudulent purposes:
where a person is charged with 435(1) the fact the person was a holder of an insurance policy in relation to the property burned
this is a fact from which intent to defraud may be inferred by the court
Arson by negligence:
Person who owns or controls property
is negligent
to prevent or control the spread of fires or prevent an explosion
fire/explosion causes damage or bodily harm
is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years
possession of incendiary material:
“every person who possesses any incendiary material, device or explosive substance
for the purpose of committing an offence under sections 433 to 436 is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to 5 years in prison
name a few types of incendiary devices:
timing device
sources of ignition
chemical mixtures
Molotov cocktails
Combustible materials for trailers
Flammable liquids
