Fire Involving Explosives Flashcards
Initial Action
What are the initial action steps?
- Remember there may be a secondary device anywhere at scene or close by. Do not handle or interfere with anything unfamiliar.
- Do not use cellphone/radios/transmitting devices
- Evacuate scene to a distance of at least 100m. Ensure people leaving the scene take their personal belongings with them to limit the number of items to be cleared
- Consider using bomb dog
- If IED located, immediate obtain assistance of an IED operator from the department of labour. If not available consider using defence force.
- Give regular SITREP to Comms
Examining the scene of a fire involving explosives
What are the steps to take when examining the scene of a fire involving explosives
- Once the scene has been declared safe, conduct a scene examination. Take photographs and videos for court purposes and conference purposes
- Continually reconstruct
- Request ESR analyst with experience in Arson involving explosives
Identifying the Explosive
What are the steps when identifying the explosives
- Give priority to identifying the explosive used. Expert analysis on the type of explosive used from the scene examination maybe overturned by a scientific analysis. General rule, the more powerful the explosive the less reside it leaves.
- Low powered explosive with explode in a general manner causing damage and spreading debris over roughly the same distance. Such explosives need to be confined
- Explosives that explode at a rate of 1200 – 5000 mps are characterised by the fact that the damage occurs in a least line of resistance pattern. Ie doors and windows blow out.
- Explosives that explode 5000 mps do so in a directional manner. Sometimes they explode up and down in a definable blast pattern causing great directional damage. However, items that miss the directional blast are not as seriously damaged as might be expected.
- O/C scene may need to authorise expert to enter the centre of the scene before it has been fully examined
- May be necessary to remove body parts promptly before they decompose, and animal and insect contamination begins.
- Record impressions of any odours you detect.
Exhibits
Describe you exhibit handling process with Fire scenes involving explosives
Photograph and label exhibits in the normal fashion and preserve them in containers. Make an appreciation of each exhibit and how it would assist in the investigation instead of recovering every item you see.
Linking the suspect with the scene
What do you need to look for to link the suspect to the scene?
- Look for fingerprints and handwriting samples
- IED operator may ID “Signature” of offender. Bombers often construct IED in a similar way on each occasion
- Consider items from the suspects home and property that may link them to the scene. Often bombers construct bomb in a workshop or dwelling.
- Don’t overlook tool marks or footprints
- Seek advice from IED expert before searching suspects home or property
Bodies
What do you need to consider when dealing with bodies at a scene involving explosives?
- Consider pathologist to obtain evidence from bodies
- Consider using x-rays to recovers exhibits from body parts such as shrapnel
- When identifying suspected consider suicide, terrorism as possible motives
Media
Regarding media, what do you need to consider?
- Don’t speculate to the media
- Speculation will likely be traversed in court
- Media interest can create red herring theories which can be unhelpful
Reconstructing the Explosion
If you are unable to ID the explosive using scientific analysis consider reconstructing the explosion. What must you do before reconstructing the explosion?
- Do only under the supervision of the OC Scene
- At a suitable range or site
- In conditions as close to that of the original explosion
- In close association with explosives and scientific advisors
- As a scientific test
