Aspects of fire scene examination

Question 1

What is your procedure on arrival? (8 steps)

Answer 1

1. Briefly interview informant
2. Secure and control the scene
3. Initial interview of:
   
   • Specialist fire investigator
   • O/C first fire appliance to attend
4. Interview the incident controller at the scene
5. If fire extinguished, ensure safety of the scene before an initial conference is held, and a preliminary examination of the scene
6. If 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 COMMS and supply a SITREP

Question 2

Aspects to consider to preserve a fire scene

Answer 2

1. Guarding and controlling the scene
2. Fire scene contamination
3. Scope
4. Cordon

Question 3

An external examination takes into account…

Answer 3

DANY P - AC’PD - BFG

Distance debris scattered
Adjoining premises which reveal - Accelerant
containers/Attempted forced entry/broken
windows/forced doors
Nearby alleyways/streets/driveways
Yards and outbuildings of the fire effected property
Periphery of the structure itself

Accelerant containers
Contents of outbuildings missing
Property run down
Business appears to be struggling

Burn patterns above doors and windows and 'V' burn 
      patterns on external cladding
Forced entry or jemmy marks on windows and doors
Glass broken (window) before the fire started.

Question 4

The preliminary scene examination is a slow walk through of the premises. Take note of the following indicators:

Answer 4

SUBFLOORS

Signs of hardship
Unusual Odours
Burn patterns
Forced entry into an empty till
Lack of clothing in wardrobes and drawers
Open filing cabinets or missing files
Owner/occupier attitude during walk through
Rifled premises
Separate unrelated seats of fire

Question 5

During a detailed scene examination, the specialist fire investigator may not the following:

Answer 5

DDD FUSSERS

Damage to wall studs
Damage to roofing timbers
Damage to windows sills and door edges

Floor areas burned through
Under floor inspection
Smoke deposits and burn patterns
Spalling (or cracking or chipping of concrete)
Elimination of false low burns
Removal of fire debris
Soot deposit on glass windows and craze patterns