Fire Manual 2

Question 1

SA - What are the 6 steps of handover at a fire?

Answer 1

1. Fire Service has authority while fire is in progress. Once fire is extinguished/no threat to life, scene must be handed over to appropriate agency.
2. Fire Service will notify Police if they believe it is suspicious, deliberately lit, involved fatality or serious injury.
3. If Police attend scene and seek authority over the scene, the Police Investigating Officer will confer with Incident Controller to confirm handover process.
4. Fire Service will not usually handover until danger of fire, structure, dangerous products, combustion, other hazards have been eliminated, isolated or minimised.
5. Any incident involving multiple agencies will require consulting with each other prior to any investigation or scene exam to develop investigation plan.
6. Investigation plan will include outline of how it will proceed and role of each agency.

Question 2

SA - What is the Police responsibility at a fire scene?

Answer 2

• Conduct criminal investigation or coronial enquiry
• Undertake responsibility for protection, collection and recording of forensic evidence
• Collection and removal of material will only be done by Police or other agencies with authority
• Preservation, analysis and disposition of any material is the responsibility of Police or other agency with authority

Question 3

SA - At a fire scene, what will a SFI liaise with the FILO?

Answer 3

• Handover of scene
• Access to scene
• Process for examination and investigation
• Identification and collection of evidence

Question 4

SA - What are most injuries from at a fire scene?

Answer 4

• Inhalation of toxic substances
• Ingestion of particles
• Cuts from sharp objects
• Tripping on debris
• Falling down
• Items above falling onto you

Question 5

SA - What must the on-scene investigator wear at a fire scene?

Answer 5

• Helmet
• Overalls
• Nose and mouth filter, full face respirator or full BA (if required and qualified)
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Heavy duty footwear with steel soles and caps

Question 6

SA - What are some common methods of setting fires?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

SA - What can be found in a Molotov cocktail, apart from a rag and petrol?

Answer 7

• Polystyrene beads
• Rubber bands
• Soap flakes
• Soap powder, sugar or flour

Question 8

SA - What are some things that may be evidence of a Molotov cocktail?

Answer 8

• Traces of wick
• Bottle glass, scattered or in one place
• Window glass from the cocktail’s entry
• Evidence of liquid flowing down walls

Question 9

SA - What are the three non-intentional causes of fire?

Answer 9

• Carelessness
• Faults
• Nature

Question 10

SA - What are some examples of how carelessness can cause a fire?

Answer 10

• Ironing
• Fireworks
• Smoking
• Burning rubbish
• Leaving fat unattended while cooking
• Children playing with matches
• Leaving a stove on
• Leaving clothes near heating