Arson Questions Flashcards
The person in charge of the fire service at a fire, has the right to:
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- Enter private property.
- Close roads
- Remove vehicles impeding the fire service
- Remove people who are in danger or interfering with operations
- Do anything else which is reasonably necessary for the protection of life and property.
Fire and Police agencies sharing information to determine the origin or causes of fire:
- Investigations of fire scenes by the fire service and Police are efficiently coordinated and expertly and independently conducted.
- Any relevant evidence is protected and collected for potential criminal prosecution or coronial enquiries.
The fire service will notify Police if:
- A fire results on serious injury or death.
- A fire is considered suspicious.
Fire Investigation Liaison Officers (FILO’s) have responsibility for:
- 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.
- Maintaining effective working relationships with FILO and fire investigators.
- Assisting areas or districts with fire investigation enquiries.
- Coordinating fire investigation training for any police employees
Fire investigators will be called to attend and investigate:
- Fires where fatalities occur.
- Fires where serious or life related injury 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.
- Structure fires of 3rd alarm equivalent.
- Any other fires upon request from Police or other agencies.
Fire Scene control and handover
- The Fire Service has authority over the fire while a fire is in progress. Once the fire is extinguished and any threat to life or property no longer exist, it is to be handed over to the proper authority.
2 . The fire service will notify Police if it considers that a fire may have been deliberately lit or suspicious. - A designated investigating officer will confirm the handover process.
- The Fire Service will not hand over a fire scene until the danger to life has been eliminated or minimised.
- Some scenes require a multi agency investigation.
- The investigation plan will outline roles for each agency.
The Fire Investigator will liaise with the FILO in relation to:
- Handover of scene
- Access to the fire scene
- Process for examination and investigation
- Identification and collection of evidence at the fire scene
Possible injuries at fire scenes:
- Inhalation of toxic substances
- Ingestion of particles
- Cuts/wounds from sharp objects
- Airborne dusts or particles
- Tripping on fire debris
- Falling down, over, onto or into obstructions
- Items falling from above
Check under floors or stairs to assess suitability for walking on.
Protective clothing must be used by the on-scene investigator:
- Suitable helmet
- Overalls
- Nose and mouth filter
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
- Heavy duty footwear
Materials and how they react to fire
Timber - Will normally burn and char, but thick enough pieces will maintain integrity.
Steel - Unprotected steel will expand causing walls to be pushed out. With sufficient heat loose strength and collapse.
Cooled steel can fall off supports and be loosely intact.
Concrete - Spalling (breaking away at the surface), change colour and crack.
Masonry (brick) - Visible signs of damage or weakness include cracking l, leaning or bowing.
Common methods of fire setting
- Candles
- Chemical Ignitors - Potassium permanganate, sugar, Potassium chlori
- Electrical apparatus (heaters, irons, toasters and pan with flammable liquid)
Traces of a Molotov Cocktail
- Wick in a broken bottle.
- Pieces of glass scattered
- Pieces of window glass
- Traces of tape
- Evidence of liquid flowing down walls
Carelessness can occur when:
- Misusing electricity
- Choldren playing with matches
- Burning off paint
- Vagrants lighting fires for warmth
- Welsing and other industrial processes
- Leaving clothes near heating
- Wrapping live ashes in paper
- Ironing
- Setting off fireworks
- Using or storing flammable materials
- Burning rubbish
- Leaving a stove on
- Smoking
