Arson - Fire Investigation Protocol

Question 1

Fire Service Notify Police if..

Answer 1

• fire results in serious injury or death

- fire considered suspicious

Question 2

Fire Investigation Liaison Officers (FILOs) have responsibility for:

Answer 2

1- attending every fire that results in serious injury or death
2- co-ordinating fire investigation in designated area or district
3- assisting areas or districts in fire related queries
4- co-ordinating fire investigation training for any Police employees within the area or district as needed
5- Maintaining working relationship with Fire Service Investigation liaison officers and specialist fire investigators
6 - ensure communication maintained with Police National Fire Investigation Co-ordinator, Police District Intelligence Manager and District Manager Criminal Investigations, where needed

Question 3

Specialist Fire Investigators called when..

Answer 3

1- fatalities occur
2 - serious (life threatening) injuries occur
3 - structure fires where the cause is suspicious or cannot be determined
4 - fires in buildings where in-build fire safety features have failed, or not performed to known or expected standards
5 - structural fires of “3rd alarm” equivalent (6 + appliances) or greater, that may have significant regional or national consequences
6- any other fire upon request from Police or other agency
minimum of two SFI for death or serious injury attend

Question 4

Injuries through hazards

Answer 4

• Inhalation of toxic substances (i.e car fires emit particularly harmful and toxic gases)
• Ingestion of particles
• cuts/wounds from sharp objects
• air borne dusts, particles
• tripping on fire derby
• falling down/over/onto/into obstructions or cavities
• items from above falling onto you or hitting objects causing a chain reaction

Question 5

Clothing Protection

Answer 5

• suitable helmet
• pair of overalls
• nose and mouth filter
• gloves
• safety glasses
• heavy duty footwear with steel soles and toe caps

Question 6

Risks - Timber

Answer 6

Normally burn and char, but in most instances will, if thick enough, maintain sufficient integrity.
* take note of thickness, load it’s carrying and any sound coming from it

Question 7

Risks - Steel

Answer 7

Initial stages of fire it will expand and can cause damage to external and internal walls (push them out)

• if sufficient fuel available, un protected steel will lose strength and collapse - walls pulled inwardly
• when cooled by hose or time, will contract and may fall off supports or stay intact loosely - could move/fall with little or no warning

Question 8

Risks - Concrete

Answer 8

Most unpredictable as affected by extremely low fire temperatures - can topple like a deck of cards in all directions
- when exposed to heat, concrete can break away at surface and expose steel to heat, therefor causing it to lose its tensile strength

Question 9

Risks - Masonry and Bricks

Answer 9

Can be weakened by deterioration of the mortar

Question 10

Common methods of setting fires

Answer 10

• Candles
• Chemical igniters (chemical mixes)
• Electrical apparatus (i.e iron left on a flat surface)
• Electric Matches
• Cigarette and matches (i.e cigarette left to burn onto a head of matches)
• Molotov cocktails - intense but relatively short flash fire. (not as efficient as candles and other slow burning ones)
• timing devices

Question 11

Non-intentional causes of fire

Answer 11

• Carelessness (smoking, fireworks, kids with matches, leaving stove on)
• Faults (chimneys, appliances, electrical wiring)
• Nature (sun’s rays, lightning, static electricity)