General Questions 01

Question 1

What are the causes of fires

Answer 1

Deliberate Fires
Careless Fires
Faults Fires
Natural Fires

Question 2

Examples of Carelessness Fires

Answer 2

1. Misusing electricity
2. Children playing with matches or cigarette lighters
3. Burning off paint
4. Vagrants lighting fires for Warmth, that get out of control
5. Welding and other industrial processes
6. Leaving clothes near heating
7. Wrapping up live ashes in paper
8. Ironing
9. Setting off fireworks
   10.Using or storing flammable materials
10. Burning rubbish
11. Using domestic or camp fires
12. Leaving a stove or heater on
13. Leaving fat unattended while cooking
14. Smoking.
    Note: The last three factors are often associated with alcohol abuse.

Question 3

Examples of Faults Fires

Answer 3

1. Chimneys and flues, (indicated by a honey comb type of solid soot)
2. Heating systems
3. Appliances
4. Televisions left on standby mode
5. Dust extractors
6. Fans and ventilation systems
7. Electrical wiring - shorting and arcing
8. Machinery - friction can cause overheating
9. Gas pipes and fittings
10. broken power lines.

Question 4

Examples of Natural Fires

Answer 4

1. Chemical reactions
2. The sun’s rays
3. Lightning
4. Static electricity
5. Rodents eating through wiring, or building nests out of flammable material
6. Spontaneous combustion and ignition of, for example, damp grain, hay or wool; cloth soaked in oil, turpentine or paint; fine dust in joinery factories or flour mills.

Question 5

What are your Powers while the fire is being fought?

Answer 5

1. Enter private property when it is on fire or endangered, or when entry is essential to performing a necessary duty - section 28 (4)(b)
2. Close roads - section 28 (4)(h)
3. Remove vehicles impeding the Fire Service. If necessary, they can break into the vehicles for that purpose - section 28 (4)(i)
4. Remove people who are in danger or interfering with operations, using reasonable force if necessary - section 28 (4)(j)
5. Do anything else that is reasonably necessary for the protection of life and property - section 28 (4)(n).

Question 6

What should you interview incident controller about at the scene and find out?

Answer 6

1. The time and date of the call and the manner in which it was received.
2. What appliances attended.
3. The state of the fire when the Fire Service arrived
4. What action the Service has taken, particularly in entering the building and ventilating it after the fire
5. What information the Fire Service has about the building’s security.
6. What alterations they have made to the scene, for example, they may have had to force doors or windows.
7. Whether they think the fire is suspicious, and why
   their opinions of the informant (for example, a person who regularly attends or reports fires may have lit them).
8. Details of people or vehicles acting suspiciously in the vicinity.

Question 7

Fire Investigation Liaison Officers- FILOs have responsibility for?

Answer 7

1. Attending every fire that results in serious injury or death.
2. Co-ordinating fire investigations in their designated area or district.
3. Arranging Police attendance at fire scenes where required.
4. Maintaining effective working relationships with the relevant Fire Service Investigation Liaison Officer (FSILO) and Fire Service Specialist Fire Investigators;
5. Assisting areas or districts with fire investigation-related queries.
6. Ensure communication is maintained with the Police National Fire Investigation Co‑ordinator, Police District Intelligence Manager and District Manager Criminal Investigations, where appropriate.
7. Co-ordinating fire investigation training for any Police employees within the area or district, where needed.
8. Providing other advice and expertise as required.

Question 8

At a fire scene most injuries are received from what hazards?

Answer 8

1. Inhalation of toxic substances e.g. car fires emit particularly toxic and harmful gases
2. Ingestion of particles etc
3. Cuts/wounds from sharp objects
4. Air borne dusts, particles etc
5. Tripping on fire debris
6. Falling down, over, onto or into any obstructions or cavities
7. Items from above falling onto you or hitting objects and causing a chain reaction.

Question 9

To identify the best method of protection, you must consider:

Answer 9

an assessment of each hazard

a strategy to prevent an occurrence or to mitigate its impact.

Question 10

Potential Hazards and how to identify them

Answer 10

Floor burns maybe evidence of the presence of accelerant although testing will be required. If possible look under the floor to see if it is suitable for walking on.

Stairs: Check underneath them to ensure they are safe to carry weight. Walk on the wall side of the stairs for both forensic (footprints) and safety reasons.

A fire that has been ‘held’ internally may result in an unstable roof, requiring it to be removed prior to investigation.

Question 11

Protective clothing must be used by the on-scene investigator. These items are required:

Answer 11

• A suitable helmet (that complies with the relevant safety standard)
• A pair of overalls
• Nose and mouth filter, a full face respirator or full BA (if required and qualified)
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Heavy duty footwear with steel soles and toe caps.

Question 12

Initial action on fires involving explosives

Answer 12

1. Remember that there may be a secondary device anywhere at the scene, including in a nearby building or vehicle. Do not
   handle or interfere with anything unfamiliar.
2. Do not use cell phones, portable radios or other transmitting devices.
3. Evacuate the scene to a distance of at least 100m. Ensure that people leaving the scene bring their personal possessions with them. This will limit the number of items to be cleared. Consider using an explosives detector dog to locate the device.
4. If the IED is located, immediately obtain the assistance of an IED operator from the Department of Labour. If N/A, consider a Defence Force expert.
5. Give regular SITREPs to Police Comms.