Investigation Flashcards
Under section 44 of the fire and emergency act 2017 the confer what powers to the person from the fire service in charge of the fire?
- access to water/ change water supply pipes.
- close roads
- removed vehicles impeding the fire service.
- remove person who are interfering, may use force.
- do anything reasonably necessary for the protection of life and property.
When will the fire service inform the police of a fire?
- if the fire resulted in serious injury or death.
- if the fire is considered suspicious.
Fire investigation liaison officers (FILOs) in each policing district have what responsibilities?
- attend fires of serious injury or death.
- co-ordinate the fire investigation.
- maintain effective working relationships with fire service specialist personnel investigators.
- assisting districts with fire investigation related questions
- co-ordinating fire investigation training where needed.
- provide other advice and expertise when needed.
Specialist fire investigators (FENZ) will be called to attend and investigate fires in what circumstances?
- fires with fatalities
- fires where serious injury has occurred.
- suspicious or undetermined cause structure fires.
- significant fire spread across property boundaries.
- fires in building where built-in fire safety features have failed.
- structure fire of 3rd alarm equivalent.
- any fire upon request from Police or other agency.
Fire scene control and hand over includes what stages?
1 - fire service has control until the fire is extinguished.
2 - fire service will notify police if it may be a deliberately lit fire.
3 - police attended and confirm hand over with FENZ incident controller.
4 - hand over will only be done dangers and hazards have been eliminated or minimised.
5 - for fire that involves multiple agencies all agencies will consult with each other.
6 - the investigation plan will include an outline of the investigation process and role of each agency.
The FENZ specialist fire investigator will liaise with police on what matters?
HAPI
- handover of the scene
- access to the fire scene
- process for examination and investigation
- identification and collection of evidence at the fire scene
Hazards at a fire scene include?
- inhaling toxic substances
- ingestion of particals
- cuts/wounds from sharp objects
- air borne particles
- tripping on fire debris
- falls over or into obstructions/ cavities
- items falling from above you.
Clothing protection that must be worn include?
- safety Helmet
-overalls - nose and mouth filter/respirator
- gloves
- safety glasses
- heavy duty foot ware, steel toe caps/soles
Five scene risks, what to look for in timber structure beams?
- thickness of beams (after Charing)
- carrying load
- any sounds emanating from structure members
Most common methods of starting fires include?
- setting ignition to combustible material such as rubbish.
- candles
- electrical apparatus
- chemical igniters
- electric matches
- matches and lighters
- cigarettes
- Molotov cocktails
- timing devices
- trailers
Evidence that a Molotov cocktail was used to ignite a fire?
- traces of wick, often in the broken neck or a bottle.
- broken glass found at the seat of the fire
- evidence of accelerant.
- chemical type burns identified by chemical analysis.
- evidence of rubber bands, egg white substance, gelatine or similar stuck to flooring or walls.
Non-intentional fire can be cause by what faults?
- chimneys and flues
- heating systems
- appliances
- television left on standby mode
- dust extractors
- ventilation systems
- electric wiring
- machinery overheating
- gas pipes and fittings
- broken power lines
Non intentional fires can be cause by what in nature?
-chemical reactions
- suns rays
- lightening
-static electricity
- rodents eating through wiring
Initial action at a fire scene not involving explosions has what 8 steps?
- interview the informant briefly
- secure and control the scene
- initial interview of the fire investigator and first crew on scene.
- interview the incident controller
- ensure that the scene is safe, hold conference with the specialist fire investigator and conduct examination of the scene
- if found to be suspicious re-group and hold a briefing conference.
- determine a plan of action, reply staff to guard the scene, canvas for witnesses/CCTV
- contact COMS and give sit-rep, request specialists as required such as photography, forensics, police fire investigation liaison officer.
Upon arrival at the scene interview the FENZ incident controller and gain what information?
- time and date of the call and manner in which it was received.
- what crews attended
- the state of the fire when FENZ arrived
- what action FENZ has taken, particularly in entering the scene/ventilation
- any information about building security
- what alterations FENZ has made to the scene in the process of extinguishing the fire
- whether the fire is suspicious and why
- their opinions on the informant (suspicious ect)
Guarding and controlling the scene, considerations to be made are?
-ensuring the scene is not interfered with.
- exclusion and control of onlookers or interested parties.
- preserving evidence
- prevention of looting
- Must be aware or re-ignition of hotspots
- watch for suspects revisiting the scene
- identify any witnesses among onlookers
- report all matters to OC investigation
Where it is difficult to preserve the scene the investigator must record it using what?
- sketches
- photographs
- videos
- plans
What other personnel may be required to attend the scene?
- FILOS
- ESR
- photographer
- finger print tech
- electrical inspector
- building inspector
- pathologist
- vehicle inspector
- marine surveyor
- forensic mapper
-insurance assessor
The point of origin/ seat of the fire is the exact location at which?
- a component failed
- a fire was lit
- an accidental fire originated
Scene examination should be done from the outside moving in towards the point of origin/seat of the fire and external examinations should involve?
- adjoining premises for signs of break in.
- nearby streets, driveways, alleyways
- yard and outbuildings
- peripheral of the structure
- what distance debris was scattered
- make note of items if interest/exhibits to be seized.
- jimmy marks or signs of forced entry
- broken windows before the fire
- v shaped burn patterns pointing to the seat of the fire
Scene examination should be done from the outside moving in towards the point of origin/seat of the fire and internal examinations should involve?
- burn patterns
- signs of hardship (empty buildings ect)
- low stock levels in commercial premises
- lack of personal items, such as photographs, clothing, files
- forced entry
- presents of accelerant
- multiple seats of fire
- owner/occupier attitude
- unusual odors
Powers under section 42 of the fire and emergency act 2017 allow FENZ to do what?
- enter any building
- break into the building or structure
- take any equipment into the building to be used
- remove any dangerous material
- cause the building to be demolished
A detailed internal scene examination will include details notes of what?
- burn patterns and smoke deposits
- spalling (concrete cracking form heat)
- damage to wall studs
- damage to roofing timbers
- soot deposits
- floor areas burnt through
- eliminate false low burns
- removal of fire debris
- under floor inspection
Looking for signs of intentional interference may include what?
- tampering with alarms or sprinkler system
- hindered access
- misdirecting fire fighters
- evidence of intentional removal of valuables
- signs of furniture being rearranged to create a base of fire
- foreign materials or objects
- signs that a crime has been committed and the fire started to destroy evidence
- inconsistencies
- unusual burn patters or time factors (such as the fire starting after the building was secured.
Steps to take with exhibits?
- photograph in situ, label them, preserve them in containers
- use approved arson kits.
- take control samples such as ashes from debris, accelerants, soil from surrounding area.
Exhibits - PUT
P- photograph in situ, label the exhibit and preserve them.
U - use approved arson kits
T - take control samples of debris, accelerates or soils.
Conducting area enquiries includes?
- conduct area enquiries with local businesses and properties.
- conduct a preliminary interview with the owner of the property/victim. Assess when the building was secured, if they know the cause of the fire, any suspects, type of buisness, actions leading up to the arson.
- note the owners demeanour during interview
- arrange for formal statements from informant, witnesses and owner
- give supervisor a sitrep.
Conferences held during scene examination can include what?
- assessing information obtained
- reconstructions
- establishing possible motives
- identifying suspects
- planning further enquiries
Who could attend a scene conference?
- OC investigation
- OC scene
- OC CIB
- investigating officers
- FENZ specialist fire investigator
- police photographer
- forensics
- finger print technician
- other specialists as required
12 steps of general enquires.
1- submit exhibits for ESR
2- create offence report/IMT file
3- obtain all written reports
4- consider suspect identification
5- plan enquires and interview informant, witnesses, owners ect
6- consider area canvas
7- think about motives
8- contact insurance company, gain reports
9- if previous similar fires in locality consider prevention activity
10- inform Intel and get details of potential suspects
11- enquire at Met service for weather conditions
12- maintain contact with owner/victim
You can identify suspects by means of what?
- circumstances of the fire
- fingerprints
- witnesses/informants
- media responses
- police intelligence
- enquiries at prisons, mental health facilities, rehab centres and schools
- information from FENZ about individuals who regularly attend fires.
Suspects of a fire may include?
- owner/occupier for insurance fraud
- an employee to cover up a theft
- a criminal to cover up a crime
- an aggrieved person, hate, jealousy, prejudice, revenge ect
- a pyromaniac suffering from mental illness
- in the case of school fire a pupil.
- a member of the fire service for excitement/ personal recognition
- a buisness competitor
Complete enquires on suspects to establish what?
- opportunity
- motive
- Mens Rea
- connection with scene and the crime
- character, mental background, movements and behaviour
When carry out a search warrant on a suspects address/vehicle look for the following.
- accelerants
- containers
- igniters
- traces of debris from the scene
- any notes/diaries made by the suspect
- digital evidence
- note anything about the suspect that may indicate that he was at the scene of a fire, eg burns, smell of smoke.
Suspect enquiries 12 steps include?
1- identify the suspect by (say means)
2- possible suspects may include (name)
3- investigate suspects, obtain their details.
4- consider surveillance
5- complete enquiries to establish suspects motive, opportunity ect
6- consider a SW
7- interview the suspect
8- consider ID montage
9- corroborate suspects negative explanation, allibys
10- obtain authority to prosecute from OC
11- arrest
12- complete prosecution file, close alerts.
FENZ “alarm states” are?
First alarm- standard call out of two appliances
Second alarm- more resources required,
Third alarm - automatic trigger of fire investigation and ambulance attendance require command unit, 6+ appliances and specialists.
The Police report to be created must include what?
- introduction
- information about the property
- details of the fire and events leading up to it.
- value of the damage
- the result of the investigation
- information on to insurance
- results of general enquiries
Police report IPDIIVE stands for?
- introduction
- property details
- details of fire and events leading up to it.
- value of damage
- investigation results
- insurance information
- enquiries results.
Electrical fire scene exam process
- flexi leads are very vulnerable and easily damaged.
- locate plug sockets
- note whether and where conduit or ductwork has been used
- located and plot in-line connections
- locate and plot all power outlets, lights switches.
- check connections for tightness and signs of localised overheating
- locate and plot all appliances
- where possible identify all appliances by name, make, model number ect.
Steps of electrical fire scene examination
- information gathering
- scene examination
- debris examination
- product examination
- analysis and testing
- opinion formulation
- reporting data
What are the first questions in relation to a suspected electrical fire?
- was the power to the building live?
- was the power to the area of the building where the fire started live?
- electrical continuity to the suspected electrical heat source
Common electrical ignition sources include?
- heaters and clothing
- electric lamps and petrol igniters
- ignition of the main switch board
- fallen over lamps
- toasters (ignite the toast after 7 mins)
- leaving pots on the stove
- ceiling exhaust fans
Initial action at the scene of fire involving explosives.
1 - remember there may be a secondary device, do not handle of touch anything unfamiliar.
2- do not use cell phones, radios near the scene
3- evacuate the area at least 100m, consider explosive detection dog
4- if IED located obtain assistance from IED operator from Department of Labour or Defence Force
5- give sitrep
Identifying explosives follow these steps?
1- give priority to identifying the explosive used and what type.
2- a low powered explosive will explode in a general manner, spreading debris is all directions about the same distance
3- explosives 1200-5000 meters per second have a “least line of resistance” pattern.
4- 5000mps and above do so it a directional manner.
5- explosive residues dissipate rapidly, may need to allow experts to the centre of the explosion to take swabs before a scene exam has taken place.
6- clear bodies promptly before decomposition or animal activity contamination
7- record any impressions of odours you detect.
Reconstructions of the explosion must only be carried out only when-
- under the supervision of the OC scene
- at a suitable range or site
- in conditions as close to those of the original explosion as possible
- in close association with explosive and scientific advisors
- as a scientific test
Characteristics of damage caused by explosives?
- createring
- spread of debris
- shredding of materials
- a smell particular to the explosive material.
- an overlay of dust
- shrapnel marks
Initial action ISIISCPS
I - interview informant
S - secure and control the scene
I - interview the fire investigator/inital fire unit on scene
I - interview incident controller
S - safety of the scene and do scene exam
C - if suspicious regroup, hold a conference
P - make a plan, deploy units
S - sitrep.
Police report IPDIIVE stands for?
I- introduction
P- property details
D- details of the fire and events leading up to it
I- the result of the investigation
I - insurance information
V - value of damage
E - enquiries and their results
Explosives inital action SCEIS stands for?
S - be aware of secondary devices
C - don’t use cell phones, radios
E - evacuate to 100m
I - IED identified, call in IED operator
S - sitrep
Scene exam of explosive detonation involves?
1 - once scene is safe conduct scene exam, use video and photographs
2 - remember to continually reconstruct
3 - request attendance of ESR to start swabbing for residues.
When using a suspicious fire sampling kit (arson kit) ensure that:
- the samples have not been, cannot be cross contaminated
- all containers and sealed and clearly labelled
- liquid samples are secure and separate from other samples
- the kit is forwarded as a unit, even if only one container has been used
- the package is correctly addressed
The MS outlook bulletin board (panui) bomb/ explosive/ IED report is designed to report what?
- bombings
- attempted bombings
- Molotov cocktail attacks
- hoax devices
- bomb threats
- suspicious packages that a IED operator attended
- stolen/ recovered explosives
- unlawfully possession of explosives
- any other explosive related incident
