Arson - Lesson Notes

Question 1

Circumstantial evidence to prove intent

Answer 1

The offenders action and words before during and after the event
The surrounding circumstances
The nature of the act itself

Question 2

Recklessness

Answer 2

Acting recklessly involves consciously and deliberately taking an unjustifiable risk.

Question 3

Powers and duties: While the fire is being fought

Answer 3

The person in charge of the fire service is in charge while the fire is still being fought of there is still a risk of danger

Question 4

What powers are there while the fire is being fought

Answer 4

Enter private property when it is on fire or endangered or when entry is essential to perform necessary duties
Close roads
Remove vehicles impeding the fire service - if necessary break into the vehicle
remove people who are in danger or interfering with operations (reasonable force may be used)
Do anything that is reasonably necessary for the protection of life and property

Question 5

Objectives of FILO

Answer 5

Attending every fire that results in serious injury or death
coordinating fire investigations in their area or district
arranging police attendance at fire scenes where required
maintain working relationship between FILO and Fire service specialist fire investigators

Question 6

Can Police use the Fire Service Powers

Answer 6

Yes, but have to be called upon to do so by the Fire Service, Police have no right to exercise these powers simply because they are present at a fire.

Question 7

Fire scene control notification and handover

Answer 7

Fire service has authority over a fire scene while a fire is in progress - once extinguished and any threat to life or property no longer exists the fire must had the scene over to the appropriate person or agency

Question 8

What duties do Specialist Fire Investigators have

Answer 8

fires where fatalities occur
fires where serious life threatening fire related injury has occurred
significant fire spread across a property boundary
fires where built in fire safety features have failed or not preformed to known or expected standards
any other fire upon the request from police or another agency

Question 9

FSILO (stands for)

Answer 9

Fire Service Investigation Liaison Officers

Question 10

Common Methods of setting fires

Answer 10

Candles
Chemical igniters
Electrical apparatus
Electric matches
Matches and cigarette
Molotov cocktails
Timing devices
Trailers

Question 11

Procedure on arrival - Who should be interviewed on initial attendance of the arson scene

Answer 11

Initial interview of the:
• Specialist Fire Investigator, if present
• O/C of the first fire appliance to attend the scene.

Question 12

Procedure on arrival - When interviewing the incident controller at the scene what should you find out

Answer 12

• the time and 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, particularly 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, for example, they may have
had to force doors or windows
• whether they think the fire is suspicious, and why
• their opinions of the informant (for example, a person who regularly
attends or reports fires may have lit them)
• details of people or vehicles acting suspiciously in the vicinity.

Question 13

Procedure on arrival - Confer with other staff and determine a plan of action. Brief and deploy them
to:

Answer 13

guard and control the scene
• identify and interview witnesses at the scene
• conduct local enquiries.

Question 14

What witnesses should be interviewed

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What does an external examination take into account

Answer 15

The external examination takes into account:
• Adjoining premises which often reveal:
- accelerant containers
- attempts at forced entry
- broken windows
- forced doors
• Nearby alleyways/streets/driveways
• The yards and outbuildings of the fire effected property
• The periphery of the structure itself
• What distance debris was scattered, particularly if drums or cylinders have exploded.
The surrounding area of the involved premises may also reveal:
• accelerant containers
• contents of outbuildings missing
• business appears to be struggling.
property run-down

Question 16

What may the damaged structure itself may reveal

Answer 16

• 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 17

Preliminary internal examination
The preliminary internal examination should involve a slow walk through the premises,
from the area of least damage to that of most damage, taking note of indicators such as:

Answer 17

• low stock levels in commercial premises
• building areas in need of repair
• signs of hardship (empty flats, shops to let, etc.)
• missing family photographs, furniture and personal items
• lack of clothing in wardrobes and drawers
• rifled premises
• position of clothes if not in wardrobe or drawer
• open filing 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 (if access is permitted)
• unusual odours
• burn patterns.

Question 18

Detailed internal examination
Following the preliminary examinations, you will accompany the Specialist Fire
Investigator while they complete a detailed examination of the scene.
In this examination they will observe, note and take into account a number of
observations including:

Answer 18

• smoke deposits and burn patterns
• spalling (the cracking or chipping of concrete as a result of being heated and cooled)
• damage to wall studs
• damage to roofing timbers
• damage to windows sills and door edges
• soot deposits on window glass and craze patterns
• floor areas burned through
• skirting board damage
• elimination of false low burns
• removal of fire debris, and
• under floor inspection.

Question 19

It is at the conclusion of this examination by the Specialist Fire Investigator the Specialist Fire Investigator will be able
to determine:

Answer 19

• area of origin
• point of origin
• the seat of the fire.

Question 20

In determining the seat of the fire the Specialist Fire Investigator will consider:

Answer 20

witness’ reports
• when they first noticed the fire, and where they were at the time
• the state of the fire at that time
• wind direction and speed, and the weather
• the direction of spread
• the colour of the flames and smoke
• the severity of the damage
• the depth of charring
• the presence of ‘starting devices’
• the reports and opinions of other specialists.

Question 21

For evidence of wilful causes, look

for:

Answer 21

• evidence of accelerants, such as:
• evidence of intentional interference, such as:
- tampering with the alarm or sprinkler system
- hindering access
- misdirecting fire fighters
• evidence of intentional removal of valuable property,
• signs that furniture was rearranged to create a fire base
• signs that windows and skylights were opened to create a draught
• foreign material and objects, such as screws/batteries, that might be part of a device
• signs a crime had been committed.
• signs that a heater, soldering iron or other electrical appliance has been left on
• inconsistencies (for example, that the fire is rapid burning but there is no obvious
cause)
• unusual burn patterns or unusual time factors (for example that the fire started after
the building was secured).

Question 22

When conducting a preliminary interview of the owner. Specifically, find out:

Answer 22

• when the premises were last secured, and by whom
• whether he or she knows the cause of the fire
• the details of any suspects and any insurance
• type of business
• actions leading up to the fire.
Note the owner’s demeanour during the prelim interview

Question 23

Possible ways of identifying offenders

Answer 23

• the circumstances of the fire
• fingerprints
• information from informants and witnesses
• media response
• Police resources such as Intelligence and Youth Services sections or the
Fire Investigation Liaison Officer
• enquiries at prisons, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation centres and
schools
• information from fire crews on people who regularly attend fires.

Question 24

Investigate suspects thoroughly and according to priority. Obtain their:

Answer 24

• full particulars
• criminal histories
• details of any motor vehicle to which they may have access
• details of any associates
• photograph.

Question 25

Fires involving explosives - Initial action

Answer 25

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 cell phones, 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 be cleared. Consider using an explosives detector dog to
locate the device.
4 If the IED is located, immediately obtain the assistance of an IED operator
from the Department of Labour. If no Department of Labour operators are
available, consider utilising a Defence Force expert. Bear in mind that the
expertise of Armed Services operators relates primarily to military ordnance.
5 Give regular SITREPs to Police Comms.

Question 26

Because modern explosive residues are often slight and dissipate rapidly, the
O/C scene may need to authorise the expert to enter the centre of the scene
before it has been fully examined. In this case:

Answer 26

• create a path to the centre of the explosion, by laying a clean unused roll
of plastic or by using approved stepping plates (this may involve some
exhibits being trampled underfoot)
• have the ESR analyst start swabbing the area immediately (work outwards
from the seat of the explosion)
• vertical sheets of iron adjacent to the blast, such as street signs and
fencing, are often good sources of residue.
Ensure that the items used (including tools and so on) are all carefully cleaned
before use. Discuss the avoidance of cross-contamination with the ESR
analyst.

Question 27

Explosions - What to look for

Answer 27

Explosions caused by gas generally cover a wider area than those caused by explosives,
and they do not leave a crater.

cratering
• spread of debris
• shredding of materials
• a smell peculiar to the exploded material; for example, the smell of almonds is often
associated with explosive or exploded material
• an overlay of dust
• shrapnel marks.

Question 28

What is the Fire Investigation Protocol

Answer 28

Is a memorandum of understanding between, ambulance , NZ fire and Police to share information and details the roles for both organisations in the investigation

Question 29

What is the Police responsibility under the Fire Investigation Protocol

Answer 29

conduct the criminal investigation or colonial enquiry

undertake responsibility for the protection, collection and recording of forensic evidence

Question 30

Fire scene safety - clothing protection

Answer 30

a suitable helmet
a pair of overalls
nose or mouth filter
gloves
safety glasses
heavy duty footwear

Question 31

What are some of the natural causes of fire

Answer 31

chemical reactions
the suns rays
lightening
static electricity
rodents eating through wiring
spontaneous combustion

Question 32

How to preserve a crime scene

Answer 32

Guarding and controlling the scene
Preventing contamination
Common approach path
Cordon

Question 33

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

Answer 33

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

Question 34

People attending a conference should include

Answer 34

O/C CIB
crime scene co-ordinator
Fire investigation Liasion Officer
O/C Investigation
Investigating officers
Specialist fire investigator
Police photographer
fingerprint technician / SOCO
other specialists as required