Arson - Fire Scene Examination

Question 1

Initial actions when dealing with a fire not involving explosives

Answer 1

1. Briefly interview your informant (do not overlook that the informant may be the offender)
2. Secure and control the scene
3. Initial Interview of the:
   - Specialist Fire Investigator (if present)
   - O/C of the first fire appliance to attend the scene
4. Interview the incident controller at the scene and find out:
   - time/date of the call and the manner in which it was received
   - What appliances attended
   - the state of the fire when the fire service arrived
   - what action the service has taken, particulary in entering the building and ventilating it after the fire
   - what information the fire service has about the building’s security
   - what alterations they have made to the scene (i.e they may have had to force windows)
   - whether they think the fire is suspicious and why
   - their opinions of the informant (i.e a person who regularly attends or reports fires may have lit them)
   - details of people or vehicles acting suspiciously in the vicinity
5. If the fire is extinguished, ensure the safety of the scene before an initial conference is held with the Specialist Fire Investigator and Police, and conduct a preliminary examination of the scene
6. If deemed suspicious, then re-group and hold a briefing conference
7. Confer with other staff and determine a plan of action. Brief and deploy them to:
   - guard and control the scene
   - identify and interview witnesses at the scene
   - conduct local enquiries
8. Contact communications and supply a SITREP. Ask for assistance if neccesary and the attendance of specialist (i.e FILO, photogrpaher, Fingerprint technician)

Question 2

What is considered by the speicialist fire investigator in determining the seat of the fire?

Answer 2

• witness reports
• when they first noticed the fire and where they were at the time
• the state of the fire at the time
• wind direction and speed, and the weather
• the direction of the spread
• the colour of the flames and smoke (may determine cause i.e black smoke may indicate a petroleum product based fire)
• the severity of the damage (fire and heat usually rise, thus the area at the lowest level of burning with the most severe damage is often the place where the fire started)
• the depth of charring
• the presence of ‘starting devices’
• the reports and opinions of specialists

Question 3

Possible witnesses at scenes are..

Answer 3

• the persons who found the fire, raised the alarm and informed Police or Fire Service
• FIre fighters
• occupants and their visitors
• owners
  employees including cleaners and casual staff
• neighbours
• spectators
• passers-by
• local Police
• patrols
• other police and security staff
• vendors and delivery people
• reporters and photographers

Question 4

Interviewing witnesses at the scene

Answer 4

It is the purpose of these initial interviews to gain knowledge about the sequence of events before, during and after the fire that may have a bearing on the investigation

Ask about suspects and/Or other people’s movements and people who have left the scene. Also consider sourcing media photos to identify people at the scene

Question 5

What are the scene secuity considerations for Police?

Answer 5

• ensuring the scene is not interfered with
• exclusion and control of on-lookers, property owners and other interested parties
• preserving evidence
• preventing looting

Question 6

In relation to scene guarding a fire scene, what should attending Police be breifed on?

Answer 6

• be aware of re-ignition from hotspots after the fire is extinguished
• be vigilant and watch for possible suspects
• identify any witnesses amongst onlookers and passers-by
• report all matters of significance to the O/C investigation and/or fire scene coordinator

Question 6

Preserving a fire scene

Answer 6

– To assist in preserving the scene as much as possible whilst fire fighting operations are in progress, the investigator should liaise with the fire incident commander to limit unnecessary operations within the area of origin, including a number of personnel inside a structure.

– Stop fire crews from removing fire debris from the structure to assist the owner/occupier after the fire.

– Scope - decide how much of the area needs to be preserved (Single room, entire building, a larger that includes a building or buildings or outside areas)

– Cordon the scene. Identify the centre of the scene, tape off outside (what is considered to be the most obvious item of evidence that is furthest away from the centre of the scene). In large scenes the natural boundaries could be used to dictate your zones

Question 7

Common approach path

Answer 7

All traffic through the scene should be limited to corridors, i.e. the path which keeps disturbance of the scene to a minimum.

Ideally, the investigator should search the area to be used as corridors prior to them receiving any other traffic. This will reduce the possibility of evidence been introduced to the scene after the event. It will also reduce the possibility of evidence being damaged during subsequent fire inspections and investigations

Question 8

Actions when scene preservation is difficult

Answer 8

In certain circumstances, such as demolition of specific areas due to safety, it maybe difficult to preserve the scene. In such cases the investigator must record the scene, prior to doing demolition by:

– Sketches

– Photos

– Plans

– Video recordings

This will assist in recalling the layout of the premises prior to the demolition works being carried out.

When dealing with the suspicious fatal fires, consideration should be given to storage of the removed spoil. This can be done in the cleared warm area of your scene if practical and should be clearly marked where the spoil has come from in your scene. This provides the investigator with a backstop should you need to revisit your search

Question 9

What specialist personnel maybe required at a fire scene?

Answer 9

• A specialist fire investigator should be present at all scenes
• Fire Investigation Liasion Officer
• ESR scientist
• rural fire investigator
• photographer
• fingerprint technician
• explosives inspector
• electrical inspector
• building inspector
• insurane assessor
• accountant
• forensic mapper (or original floor plans)
• pathologist
• vehicle inspector
• civil aviation inspector
• mines inspector
• foresty expert
• agricultural expert
• marine surveyor
• heating engineer
• meteorologist

Question 10

Following the briefing conference, the OC Investigation should..

Answer 10

The OC investigation should:

– appoint scene examiner

– appoint a crime scene Cordinator

– Advise the fire investigation liaison officer

– appoint Exhibits officer

Question 12

What is the point of orgin?

Answer 12

The exact location at which:

• a component failed
• a fire was maliciously lit
• an accidental fire originated

Question 12

What does an external examination take into account?

Answer 12

• Adjoining premises which often reveals accelerant containers, attempts at forced entry, broken windows and forced doors
• nearby alleyways/streets/driveways
• the yards and outbuildings of the fire affected property (these may reveal accelerant containers, missing contents from outbuildings, property run down or signs the business was struggling)
• The periphery of the structure itself
• what distance the debris was scattered

Question 14

What may the damaged structure itself reveal?

Answer 14

• jemmy marks or other signs of forced entry on windows or doors
• window glass broken before the fire was ignited
• burn patterns above doors and windows and “V” shaped burn patterns on external cladding

Question 15

When conducting a preliminary internal examination, what indicators should be taken note of?

Answer 15

• owner/occupier attitude during walk through
• signs of hardship (empty flats, shops to let etc)
• missing family photographs, furniture and personal items
• rifled premise
• burn patterns
• unusual odours
• low stock levels in commercial premises
• lack of clothing in wardrobes or drawer / position of clothes if not in wardrobe or drawers
• seperate unrelated seats of fire
• presence of accelerant containers or trails
• open filing cabinets or missing files
• building areas in need of repair
• forced entry into an empty till

Question 16

What observations are taken note of and into account during a detailed internal examination?

Answer 16

• smoke deposits and burn patterns
• spalling (the cracking or chipping of concrete)
• removal of fire debris
• under floor inspection
• floor area burned through
• elimination of false low burns
• skirting board damage
• damage to wall studs
• damage to window sills and door edges
• soot deposits on window glass and craze patterns
• damage to roofing timbers

Question 17

What are signs/indicators that a fire may have been deliberately lit?

Answer 17

• signs a crime has been committed and the property was burned to destroy evidence
• signs that a heater or other electrical applicance has been left on
• unusual burn patterns or unusual time factors
• evidence of intentional removal of valuable property or substituion of property
• signs that furniture was rearranged to create a fire base
• evidence of accelerants such as burning under or behind boards where liquid has run through the cracks, containers, unusally rapid spread or intensity of fire, multiple seats of fire, containers, uneven burning, traces in debris, smell
• signs that windows and skylights were open to create a draught
• evidence of intentional interference such as misdirecting fire fighters, hindering access, tampering with the alarm or sprinkler systems
• inconsistencies
• foreign material and objects that might be part of a device

Question 18

What actions should be taken when an exhibit is located?

Answer 18

1. Photopraphs in situ, label the exhibit and preserve them in containers
2. Use approved arson kits if there are available. If not use any suitable containers such as unused four litre paint tins
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

Question 19

What are the steps when conducting area enquires?

Answer 19

1. Conduct area enquires by (for example) sending staff to interview people who work at other warehouses to see if there have been any other arson attempts
2. Conduct a preliminary interview of the owner. Specifically find out:
   - when the premises was last secured and by whom
   - whether he or she knows the cause of the fire
   - the detail of any suspects and any insurance
   - type of business
   - actions leading up to the fire
3. Note the owners demeanour during the preliminary interview
4. Complete the interview and obtain, or arrange to obtain, formal statements from the informant, witnesses and owner
5. Give your supervisor a SITREP. Be prepared to speak to this if required at the scene conference

Question 20

Conferences must be held during the scene examination to assist you with what?

Answer 20

• planning further enquires
• reconstructing
• assessing information obtained
• identifying suspects
• establishing possible motives

Question 21

Who could be in attendance at a scene conference?

Answer 21

• O/C CIB
• crime scene co-odinator
• FILO
• O/C Investigation
• investigating officers
• specialist fire investigator
• Police photographer
• fingerprint technician/SOCO

Question 22

What is the purpose of a conference?

Answer 22

The conference forms the basis of your scene examination and risk assessment planning. All considerations must be documented and a detailed plan of action completed and agreed upon. This is also to include specific timings and specific roles for all parties at the scene.

Question 23

Body removal

Answer 23

Where possible A forensic pathologist should be called and attend the scene, prior to body removal. Because of the fragile nature of the human body when burnt, investigators should plan the body removal very carefully. Consider the use of the disaster Victim identification team where applicable.

Question 24

Packaging a body for removal

Answer 24

Best practice is that bubble wrap is used to secure the body parts and then packaged in a clearly marked and protected box of some form. During the search, the scene examiner should keep a look out for medically inserted pins, teeth or any protected finger skin to assist in identification

Question 25

What are the suspect enquires in respect of fires not involving explosives?

Answer 25

1. Identify suspects by:
   - circumstances of the fire

• enquires at prison, psychiatric hospitals, rehabillitation centres and schools
• information from fire crews on people who regulary attend fires
• information from informants or witnesses
• fingerprints
• media responses
• Police resources such as Intelligence, Youth Services section or the FILO
  2. Possible suspects may include:
• a pyromainac suffering from mental illness
• in the case of a school building, a pupil or ex-pupil
• a business competitor to disadvantage a rival
• owner or occupier, for insurance fraud
• an aggrieved person suffering from jealousy, hatred, rage, prejudice or a desire for revenge
• a criminal, to cover the traces of a crime such as burglary or homicide, or to intimidate other victims of a protection racket
• an employee to cover theft, forgery or false pretences
• a member of the fire service for excitement or personal recognition

3. Investigate suspects thoroughly and accoding to priority. Obtain their:
   - full particculars
   - criminal histories
   - details of any motor vehicle to which they may have access
   - details of any associates
   - photographs
4. Consider surveillance
5. Complete enquires to establish the suspects:
   - opportunity
   - motive
   - mens rea (guilty mind)
   - connection with the scene and the crime
   - character, mental background, history, movements and behaviour
6. Consider a search warrant. When executing the seach warrant:
   - search suspect’s clothing, residence, motor vehicle and work-place, and in any other place where evidence may be found. Evidence could include acclerants, containers, lighters, wick fabric or traces of debris from the scene
   - photograph the evidence in situ
   - ask for and note the suspects explanation regarding the evidence. Be alert to for signs that the suspect has been at the scene of a fire (i.e burnt facial hair, smell of smoke, residues of fuel or products of combustion on the skin)
   - issue POL268
   - ensure all exhibits seized are labelled, examined and uplifted by the exhibits officer
7. Interview the suspect
8. Consider an identification parade or montage
9. Complete enquires to corroborate or negate the suspects explanation
10. Advise your supervisor. Consider whether the ingredients of the offence and a prima facie case have been established. Obtain authority to prosecute
11. Arrest the suspect and obtain:
    - fingerprints
    - photograph
    - consider medical examination for injuries
    - offender report details
    - consider getting the suspect to do a reconstruction (if cooperative)
12. Complete the correspondence by preparing the prosecution file and issuing the offender report. Cancel computer references for wanted persons and recovered property, and forward noting to FILO

Question 26

What are the general enquires in respect of fires not involving explosives?

Answer 26

1. Submit article for ESR analysis as early in the enquiry as possible
2. Issue an offence report and enter details of any stolen property into NIA as a NIA item
3. Obtain written reports, photographs and plans (as applicable) from:
   - the specialist fire investigator
   - a CAD report (this is a time sequenced record of the call-time, the resources that attended and the radio communication
   - a fire investigation report (this reports on the cause of the fire and its point of orgin)
4. To stimulate the flow of information and identification of suspects, consider:
   - making media releases
   - sending bulletin board messages to local and neighbouring Police
   - informing staff at line up
   - using special notices if there is a pattern to the fires
5. Plan enquires and ensure these people are interviewed:
   - the owner and occupier of the premises
   - the person who last secured the building. Find out what position the doors and windows were left in
   - the person who found the fire. Find out whether the premises were secured at the time
   - the person who gave the alarm. Find out why and whether the person was acting under instructions
6. Consider an area canvas of the neighbourhood. Interview witnesses and obtain statements about:
   - the fire
   - the conduct of people at the fire
   - people loitering at the scene before the fire
   - vehicles in the vicinity before the fire
7. Think about:
   - possible motives such as profit, fraud, jealousy, crime concealment, excitement, vandalism and/or pyromania
   - the victims reputation and financial position
8. Contact the insurance company promptly and obtain:
   - the services of the assessor, to value the building and the damage
   - particulars of the insurance on the premises and their contents
   - copies of insurance policies
   - information on prior claims
   - details of any recent increase in cover or over-insurance
9. If previous, similar fire in the locality suggest the work of a pyromaniac or ‘fire-bug’, obtain directions from your supervisor about:
   - special patrols
   - immeidate police attendance at fires to observe the conduct and demeanour of people present
   - saturation patrols in the vicinity of fires in an effort to apprehend the suspect
   - prevention activity
10. Inform your local intelligence section and fire investigation liaison officer about the fire and find out about:
    - suspects
    - similar previous fires
    - other fires involving the informant, owner or occupier
11. Enquires at the Meteorlogical service to officially establish the weather conditions at the time of the fire
12. Maintain contact with the owner of the property (and with the victim, if this is a different person)

Question 27

Initial Action Steps- Fires Involving Explosives

Answer 27

1. Remember that there may be a secondary device anywhere at the scene including in a nearby building or vehicle. Do not handle or interfere with anything unfamiliar.
2. Do not use cellphones, portable radios or other transmitting devices
3. Evacuate the scene to a distance of at least 100m. Ensure that people leaving the scene bring their personal possessions with them (this will limit the number of items to clear). Consider using an explosives detector dog to locate the device
4. If the IED is located, immediately obtain the services of an IED operator from the department of labour or utlising a defence for expert.
5. Give regular SITREPS to Comms

Question 28

Scene Examinations Steps - Fires Involving Explosives

Answer 28

1. Once the scene has been declared safe, conduct a scene examination. Use video and photographs as these will be useful as a briefing tool and court record
2. Remember to continually reconstruct
3. Request the attendance of a suitably experienced ESR analyst. Ask them to bring suitable material for swabbing the scene, and swabbing hands and examining clothes of any suspects

Question 29

What are the characteristics of damaged caused by explosives?

Answer 29

• an overlay of dust
• cratering
• shrapnel marks
• spread of debris
• shreadding of material
• a smell peculiar to the exploded material (i.e smell of almonds is often associated with explosives or exploded material)

Question 30

Identifying the explosive

Answer 30

– The priority is to identify the explosive used as this is crucial evidence to prosecution. Expert may be able to advise the likely type of explosive from examinations of the nature of damage done. In General, the more powerful the explosive the less residue it leaves and the more directed the explosion

– A low powered explosion will explode in a general manner, causing damage and spread over roughly the same distance in all directions. Such explosive needs to be confined (in a pipe etc) to have any real affect. A low powered explosive can become high-powered explosive through such confinement

– Explosives that explode at a rate of 1200–5000 m/s characterise by the fact that damage occurs in the path of least resistance pattern. This means that windows, doors and light walls blow out.

– Explosives that explode at a rate greater than 5000 m/s do so in a directional manner. Sometimes they explode straight up and down in a definable blast pattern, causing great directional damage, and items that miss the directional blast, are a lot less seriously damaged than might be expected. A person who is experienced in explosives can make an IED that will perform in this way

– Because modern explosive residues are often slight and dissipate rapidly, OC Investigation may need to authorise the expert to enter the centre of the scene before has been fully examined. In such cases create a path to the centre of the explosion by laying a clean unused roll of plastic or by using approve stepping plates. Have ESR analysis start swabbing the area immediately working outwards from the seat of the explosion. Vertical sheets of iron adjacent to the blast, such as street signs and fencing, often good sources of residue. Insure that the items used are carefully cleaned before use. Discussed the importance of cross contamination with the ESR analyst.

– Maybe necessary to remove body parts promptly, before they decompose, and animals and insects activity contaminate the same. The same clean path method should be used.

– Record your impressions of any odours you detect