Arson actions Flashcards
What to ask the Fire Incident Controller (FA MASSIVE)
The state of the fire when Fire Service arrived
What appliances attended
Time and date of the call and the manner it was received
Alterations they have made to the scene i.e. forced open doors/windows
What info they have about the building’s security
Whether they think the fire is suspicious, and why
Their opinions of the informant
Details of people or vehicles acting suspiciously in the vicinity
What action they have taken, particularly in entering the building and ventilating it after the fire
EVIDENCE OF WILFUL CAUSES OF FIRE (MOVIE MASTER)
Multiple seats of fire
Opened windows or skylights were to create a draught
valuable property removed
Interference i.e. tampering with alarm/sprinkler system
Evidence of explosives
Misdirecting fire fighters
Accelerants i.e. containers
Smell
Traces in debris
Electrical appliance, heater, soldering iron or other has been left on
Rapid spread or intensity of fire
POWERS UNDER S.28 FIRE SERVICE ACT 1975
Enter private property when it is on fire or endangered, or when entry is essential to performing a necessary duty (s.28(4)(b)) Close roads (s.28(4)(h)) Remove vehicles impeding the Fire Service. If necessary they can break into the vehicles for that purpose (s.28(4)(i)) Remove people who are a danger or interfering with operations, using reasonable force if necessary (s.28(4)(j)) Do anything else that is necessary for the protection of life and property (s.28(4)(n))
CONFERENCES (I REAP)
CONFERENCES are held to assist with:
Identifying suspects Reconstructing Establishing possible motives Assessing the info obtained Planning further enquiries
AFTER THE 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(WOOD PILE)
Watch for suspects Onlookers and passersby may be witnesses O/C Investigation and/or scene coordinator to get all information Damage to be prevented Property owners, onlookers, and other interested parties to be excluded/controlled Interfering with the scene to be avoided Looting prevented Evidence preserved
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GAS EXPLOSION AND A EXPLOSIVE 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
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION (B CAP)
The surrounding area of the involved premises may also reveal:
Business appears to be struggling
Contents of outbuildings missing
Accelerant containers
Property run-down
PRELIMINARY INTERNAL EXAMINATION (FOOL SURF)
During the preliminary examination take note of indicators such as:
Forced entry into an empty till
Open filing cabinets or missing files
Owner/occupier attitude during walkthrough (if access is permitted)
Low stock
Signs of hardship
Unrelated seperate seats of fire
Repairs required to building areas
Family photos, furniture and personal items missing
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE EXAMINATION(APT)
At the conclusion of the examination the NZFS Fire Safety Officer or specialised fire investigator will be able to determine:
Area of origin
Point of origin
The seat of the fire
IDENTIFYING THE BEST METHOD OF PROTECTION
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
CHARACTERISTIC DAMAGE CAUSED BY EXPLOSIVES
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: 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
INITIAL ACTION WITH FIRES NOT INVOLVING EXPLOSIVES(IS FISH PC?)
REMEMBER: Your aim is to coordinate the investigation and investigators using the NZFS to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
STEP 1 – Briefly interview your informant
STEP 2 – Secure and control the scene
STEP 3 – Initial interview of the Fire Safety Officer/ O/C of the first fire appliance to attend the scene
STEP 4 – Interview the incident controller at the scene
STEP 5 – If fire is extinguished, ensure safety of the scene before an initial conference
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 the comms room and supply a SITREP. Ask for assistance if necessary, and the attendance of specialists i.e. photographer, fingerprint techinician
DETAILED INTERNAL EXAMINATION (SSSDDDFoSURE)
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 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
DETERMINING THE SEAT OF THE FIRE
What Would Danny Do Cause She Paid Rob
Witness reports, When they first noticed the fire, and where they were at the time and state of the fire at that time
Wind direction and speed, and the weather
Direction of spread
Depth of charring
Colour of the flames and smoke
Severity of the damage
Presence of ‘starting devices’
Reports and opinions of other specialists
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
SPECIALIST FIRE INVESTIGATORS
FFSSF
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 can not 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
POLICE RESPONSIBILITY
THE POLICE MUST:
CONDUCT THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OR CORONIAL ENQUIRY
UNDERTAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROTECTION, COLLECTION AND RECORDING OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE.
Collection and removal of material from a fire crime scene will only be done by police or other agencies with authority to remove evidence.
The preservation, analysis and disposition of any such material is the responsibility of police or other agency.
INSURANCE COMPANIES(V.I.C.O.R)
Contact the insurance company promptly to obtain the services of an assessor to:
-Value the building and the damage
particulars of the insurance on the premises
- Information on former claims
- Contents copies of their proposals
- Over-insurance
- Recent increase in the cover
EXHIBITS(P.U.T)
STEP 1 – Photo and label the exhibits, and preserve them in containers.
STEP 2 – Use approved arson kits if these are available; if not, use any suitable containers such as unused four litre paint tins.
STEP 3 – Take these control samples:
Charred timber and 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
INITIAL ACTION: FIRES INVOLVING EXPLOSIVES
STEP 1 – Remember that there could be a secondary device anywhere at the scene, including in a nearby building or vehicle. Do not handle or interfere with anything unfamiliar.
STEP 2 – Do not use cellphones, portables or the like.
STEP 3 – Evacuate the scene to a distance of at least 100 metres.
STEP 4 – If the IED is located, immediately obtain the assistance of an IED operator from the Dept of Labour.
STEP 5 – Inform the Narional Bomb Data Centre at PNHQ, using the ‘Bomb/Explosive/IED Report’ form.
STEP 6 – Give the National Bomb Data Centre regular SITREPS.
IDENTIFYING THE SUSPECT(FIRM REC)
Fingerprints
Information from informants and witnesses
Info from fire crews on people who regularly attend fires
Media response
Police resources i.e. Intel, Youth Aid
Enquiries at penal institutions, psychiatric hospitals, rehab centers and schools
The circumstances of the fire
POSSIBLE SUSPECTS
The owner or occupier, for insurance fraud
An employee, to cover theft, forgery or false pretences
A criminal, to cover the traces of an offence or to intimidate other victims
An aggrieved person suffering from jealousy, hatred, rage etc.
A pyromaniac suffering from mental illness
A pupil or ex-pupil (schools)
A member of the Fire Service, for excitement or personal recognition
A business competitor, to disadvantage a rival.
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE OWNER(S.C.A.T.S)
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
Investigate suspects
Obtain their:
- full particulars
- criminal history
- details of any motor vehicle which they have access
- details of any associates
- photographs
Suspect enquires
OMMCC
Complete enquires to establish the suspects:
- opportunity
- motive
- mens rea
- connection with the scene and the crime
- character, mental background, history
Suspect warrant
Consider a search warrant. When executing the warrant:
Search the suspects clothing, residence, motor vehicle and work-place,and any other place where evidence may be found. Evidence could include:
- accelerants
- containers
- igniters
- wick fabric
- traces of debris from the scene.
- photograph evidence in situ before its is seized(careful not to destroy fingerprints)
- ask for and note the suspects explanation regarding evidence.
- issue 268
- ensure all exhibits labeled, examined and uplifted by exhibits officer
Electrical causes of fire - investigation
The investigation of an electrical fire will follow the normal investigation steps which are:
- information gathering
- scene exam
- debris exam
- product exam
- analysis and testing
- opinion formulation
- reporting data and opinions
Electrical causes of fire - first questions
- was the power to the building live
- was the power to the area of the building where the fire started live?
- electrical continuity to the suspected electrical heat source.
Electrical indicators at a fire scene
In checking for electrical indicators at a fire scene, follow these general steps:
- flexible leads are very vulnerable and are easily damaged. Take care.
- where possible, locate the plug, top connectors. Try to maintain the total integrity of the lead from appliance to socket
- note whether and where conduit or ductwork has been used. Check conduits for arc melts. Site diagrams may assist
- locate and plot in-line connections. All junctions are not made at fixtures.
- locate and plot all power outlets, light switches, and light sockets. Check for tightness of connections and got localised heating and high resistance joints
- check connections for tightness and signs of localised overheating. Recover any evidence of loose and overheated
Connections - locate and plot all appliances. Recover suspect appliances or apparatus near the origin of the fire.
- wherever possible identify appliances and apparatus by name, manufacturer, serial number and model number. Much of this information is stamped in place or may only appear as a shadow in burnt paintwork or printing.
Common electrical ignition sources and techniques
- heaters and clothing
- electric lamp and petrol lighters
- ignition of main switch board wiring by use of gas torch to the earth or neutral bars
- “fallen” table or standard lamp in conjunction with combustible materials
- toaster with nearby curtains
- leaving a pot of stew on an stove element.
- ceiling exhaust fans
- electric urns, bread makers, water heaters, deep fryers and rice cookers
Equipment - suspicious fire kit (ESR)
- 1x4 litre tin
- 1x2 litre tin
- 1 x 500ml tin
- 2 x 18”x30” nylon bags
- DragonSP Seals
- 1x tissues
- 1x 3ml pipette
- 2x latex gloves
- 5x exhibits labels
- 2x address labels
- 1x instruction sheet
Other equipment you may need
- string
- excavation tools
- tweezers
- permanent markers
- a saw
- tape
When using a kit ensure that:
- the samples have not been, and cannot be, cross-contaminated
- all containers are sealed and clearly labeled
- liquid samples are secure and isolated from other exhibits
- the kit is forwarded as a unit, even if only one container has been used
- the octave is correctly addressed
What does the external exam take into account?
- adjoining premises which can reveal accelerant containers , attempts forced entry, broken windows, forced doors.
- nearby alleyways/ streets/ driveways
- the yards and outbuildings at the fire effected property
- the periphery of the structure itself
- what distance debris were scattered particularly if drums or cylinders have exploded
Stages of systematic examination of the scene of a fire
- Prepare by organising appropriate staff and equipment. Clear areas and set clear area 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 origin, point of origin and seat of the fire
- Identify the case if the fire
- Interview witnesses at the scene
- Photograph, label and preserve exhibits
- Conduct area enquires
The fire service specialist fire investigator with liaise with the designated police fire investigation officer or other member of police in relation to four specific matters.
what are they?
- Hand over of fire scene
- access to the fire scene
- process for exam and investigation
- identification and collection of evidence at the fire scene
Section 42 - Fire and emergency NZ ACT 2017 - person in charge of the Fire Service at the fire scene powers.
a) Enter any land, building, or structure
b) break into any building or structure that may be on fire or otherwise in danger or that is near the emergency.
c) take or send any equip or machine required to be used into, through, or upon any land, building, structure.
d) remove from any land, building, structure that is on fire or other wise endangered it that is near the emergency, any flammable, combustible, explosive, or dangerous material found in the building or structure
e) cause any building or structure that is on fire or otherwise endangered, or is is adjacent to or in the vicinity of any building or structure that is on fire or other waist endangered, to be pulled down or shored up
f) cause any building or structure to be pulled down or shored up at the time of the emergency or within a reasonable time afterwards
