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