Fire Investigation Protocol

Question 1

Memorandum of Understanding

Answer 1

An agreement to share info and details for both organisations.
Both agencies want to ensure that in determining the origin and cause of fires:
investigation of fire scenes by both are efficiently coordinated, and expertly and independently conducted, AND,
any relevant evidence is protected and collected for potential criminal prosecutions or colonial enquiries.
Fire Service will notify Police if:
- a fire results in serious injury or death; or,
- a fire is considered suspicious

Question 2

Fire Investigation Liason Officers (FILO)

Answer 2

FILO have responsibility for:
- Attending every fire that results in serious injury or death.
- Assisting districts with fire Investigation questions.
- Arranging Police attendance at Fire scenes.
- Co-ordinating fire Investigations in their area/district.
- Co-ordinating fire Investigation training for Police.
- Ensure communication is maintained with Police and Fire managers.
- Maintain effective relationships with the FSILO (Fire Service Investigation Liason Officer) and Fire Service Specialist Fire Investigators.
- Provide other advice and expertise as required.

Question 3

Specialist Fire Investigators

Answer 3

Officers are typically very experienced in firefighting and fire safety and have received specialist training and assessment in fire investigation techniques.

Question 4

Specialist Fire Investigators (SFI) will be called to attend and investigate…

Answer 4

• Fatal Fires (two SFI minimum).
• Serious (life-threatening) fire-related injuries have occurred (two SFI minimum).
• Structure fires that cause are suspicious.
• Significant fire spread across property boundary.
• Fires inside buildings where built-in fire safety features have failed or not performed to expected standard.
• Structure fires that may have significant regional or national consequences.
• Any other fire, upon request from Police or other agency.

Question 5

Fire Service Investigation Liaison Officers (FSILO) responsibility for…

Answer 5

• Arranging Specialist Fire Investigator attendance at Fire scenes where requested by Police.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with relevant Police Fire Investigation Liaison Officers (FILO) in respective districts.

Question 6

Fire scene control, notification and handover.
The Process…

Answer 6

Stage 1) Fire Service has authority over a fire scene while a fire is in progress. Once fire is extinguished and any threat to life or property no longer exists, the fire service must hand the scene of the fire over to the appropriate person or agency.
Stage 2) The Fire Service will notify Police if it considers that a fire may have been deliberately lit, or if it considers the cause of a fire is suspicious. The fire service will also notify Police of all incidents where fatalities or serious injuries occur.
Stage 3) Where Police attend a scene and seek authority over the fire scene, the designated Police Investigating Officer will confirm with the Incident controller to confirm the handover process.
Stage 4) The fire Sevice will not normally hand over a fire scene until the danger of fire, structural collapse, exposure to dangerous products of combustion or other fire related hazards have been identified and eliminated, isolated or minimized.
Stage 5) For any fire scene involving multiple agencies, all agencies will consult each other before any investigation or scene examination to develop an investigation plan.
Stage 6) The investigation plan will include an outline of how the investigation will proceed and the role of each agency.

Question 7

Fire scene examination and investigation
After the fire has been extinguished, SFI to liaise with FILO in relation to:

Answer 7

• Handover of the fire scene
• Access to the fire scene
• Process for examination and investigation
• Identification and collection of evidence at the fire scene
• SFI will conduct an independent investigation into the origin and cause of the fire.

Question 8

Police responsibility

Answer 8

The Police must
- Conduct the criminal investigation or colonial enquiry.
- Responsibility for the protection, collection and recording of forensic evidence.
- Collection and removal of material from a scene will only be done by Police or other agencies with authority to remove items.
- The preservation, analysis and subsequent arrangemnets of any such material is the responsibility of Police or other agencies with the appropriate authority.