Arson investigation Flashcards
What is the memorandum of understanding?
It is an agreement between Police and Fire Services to share information, and details the roles for both organisations in fire investigations.
In particular both agencies want to ensure that in determining the origin and cause of fires.
-Investigation of fire scenes by the fire service and the Police are efficiently coordinated and expertly and independently conducted.
-Any relevant evidence is protected and collected for potential criminal prosecutions or coronial enquiries.
The Fire Service will notify Police if?
- A fire results in serious injury or death.
- A fire is considered suspicious.
What is a fire investigation liaison officer responsible for (FILO)?
- Attending every fire that results in serious injury or death.
- coordinating fire investigations in their designated area or district.
- Arranging Police attendance at fire scenes where required.
- Maintaining effective working relationships with the relevant fire service investigations liaison officer (FSILO) and fire service specialist fire investigators.
- Assisting ares or districts with fire investigation related queries.
- Ensure communication is maintained with the Police national fire investigation coordinator, police district intel manager and district manager criminal investigations.
- coordinate fire investigations training for and Police employee in your district.
- providing other advice and expertise as required.
When would a fire service specialist fire investigators be called to attend and investigate?
- Fires involving a fatality
- Fire where serious (life threatening) fire related injury has occurred.
- Structure fires where the cause is suspicious.
- 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.
- Structure fires of 3rd alarm equivalent (at least six appliances) or greater, that may have a significant regional or national consequence.
- Any other fire, upon request from Police or another agency.
Fire service investigation liaison officer responsible for?
- Arranging fire service specialist fire investigator attendance at fire scenes where requested by Police.
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with relevant Police FILO in the respective police district/areas.
Fire scene hazards?
- Inhalation of toxic substances.
- Ingestion of particles.
- Cuts wounds from sharp objects.
- Air borne dust, particles etc
- Tripping on fire debris
- Falling down, over, onto or into any obstruction or cavities,
- Items falling onto you or causing a chain reaction.
What protective clothing must be used?
- A suitable helmet.
- A pair of overalls.
- Nose and mouth filter, full face respirator or full BA (if required and qualified).
- Gloves
- Safety glasses.
- Heavy duty footwear with steel soles and toe caps.
Common methods of lighting fires?
- Candles
- Chemical Lighters (Potassium permanganate, sugar and glycerine)
- Electrical apparatus (A bar heater facing a wall)(Iron left on)(chip fat fire)(toaster with lever ties down).
- Electrical matches
- Matches and cigarette
- Molotov cocktails.
- Timing devices (Insense stick etc)
- Trailers (line of petrol, wax fire)
What are the Police responsibilities?
- Conduct the criminal investigation or coronial enquiry.
- Undertake responsibility for the protection, collection and recording of forensic evidence.
What are the four main building materials?
- Timber - Will hold its strength if it is think enough.
- Steel - Can reduce to 10% original strength and cause walls to fall inwards
- Concrete - Most unpredictable and can topple easy.
- Masonry - Cracking leaning or bowing.
What scene security considerations should Police take?
- Ensuring the scene is not interfered with.
- Exclusion and control on on-lookers, property owners and other interested parties.
- Preserving evidence.
- Prevent looking
Attending Police should also be aware of?
- Be aware of re-igintion hotspots after the fire is extinguished.
- Be vigilant and watch for possible suspects.
- Identify and witnesses among onlookers and passers by.
- Report all matters of significance to the o/c investigation and/or scene co-ordinator.
The preliminary examination should involve?
- Low stock levels
- Building areas in need of repair
- signs of hardship (empty flats, shops to let, etc)
- Missing family photos, furniture and personal items
- Rifled premises
- Position of clothing in wardrobe and drawers
- Open filling cabinets or missing files
- Forced entry into an empty till.
- Presence of accelerant containers or trails
- Separate unrelated seats of fire
- Owner/occupier attitude during walk through.
- Unusual odours.
- Burn patterns.
What is a conference?
Conferences must be held during the scene examination to assist you with:
- Assessing information obtained
- Reconstructing
- Establishing possible motives
- Identifying suspects
- Planning further enquiries
Who should attend the conference?
- O/C CIB
- Crime scene co-ordinator
- Fire investigation liaison officer
- O/C investigations
- Investigation officers
- Specialist fire investigator
- Police photographer
- Fingerprint tech/SOCO
- Other specialist were required