Knowledge test

Question 1

What role does fire investigator play?

Answer 1

By accurately and efficiently identifying causes
Whether accidental or non-accidental
Real & substantial contribution to reducing losses

Question 2

When was flammability of clothing & bedding identified?

Answer 2

1960s

Question 3

Introduction of cigarette & flame resistant furniture

Answer 3

1990s

Question 4

Only way to be sure regulation is having desired effect

Answer 4

Document effects of fire in regulation compliant buildings & transport

Question 5

When to establish if arson has been committed

Answer 5

Every fire scene must be considered possible crime scene until clear proof accidental

Question 6

Sherlock Holmes quote

Answer 6

“It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. One begins to twist facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts”

Question 7

Investigator’s prime concern

Answer 7

Cause, not extent of destruction

Question 8

Special need for every investigator to…

Answer 8

…develop a comprehensive analytical approach

Question 9

To be successful fire investigator must understand and master facets of:

Answer 9

Fires
Fuels
People
Investigative procedures

Question 10

Investigator must really understand:

Answer 10

How a fire burns
What factors control behaviour
That all fires do not necessarily behave in a precisely predictable fashion

Question 11

Deviations from predictable behaviour of fire must be:

Answer 11

Correlated with fire conditions

Causes established

Question 12

Causes of unpredictable fire

Answer 12

Nature of fuel

Physical circumstances & environment of fire

Question 13

Properties of fuels

Answer 13

Density
Thermal conductivity
Heat capacity

Question 14

Properties of fuels will

Answer 14

Determine ignitability
Determine flame spread characteristics
These control nature of ignition and following events

Question 15

Ignition sources

Answer 15

Glowing
Flaming
Electric arc

Question 16

Scientific method

Answer 16

Define problem > Collect data > Analyse data > Develop hypothesis > Test hypotheses

Repeat until:

Select final hypothesis

Question 17

What is the scientific method?

Answer 17

Way to explain to others findings and logical analysis of information collected at the scene.
Explains your deductive reasoning.

Question 18

Locard’s principle

Answer 18

When two objects come into contact there is an exchange of material

Question 19

Police evidence

Answer 19

Finger marks 
Shoe marks
Instrument/tooling marks
Glass samples
DNA
Body tissue
Physical fits/manufacturing marks
Preservation

Question 20

Finger marks - visual

Answer 20

Blood
Oil
Grease
Paint

Can be photographed

Question 21

Finger marks - latent

Answer 21

Found with powders

Can be lifted with tape

Question 22

Finger marks - surfaces

Answer 22

Glass
Painted/varnished wood
Plastics
Paper
Smooth leather

Question 23

Shoe marks

Answer 23

Various surfaces
Can be enhanced with powder
Can be lifted with adhesive gel
Can be photographed
Casts from soil or sand

Question 24

Instrument/tooling marks

Answer 24

Sample item/tool

Can take cast of tooling mark

Question 25

Glass samples

Answer 25

From broken windows
Direct comparison to fragments of suspects clothing
Can determine which side window broken/failed

Question 26

DNA

Answer 26

Blood
Saliva
Nasal secretions
Skin/hair

Body tissue

Question 27

Physical fits/manufacturing marks

Answer 27

Fitting together of wicks

Linking together petrol bombs

Question 28

Preservation

Answer 28

Point of entry:
Signs of force
Can we avoid using point of entry to preserve evidence?

Question 29

If items have to be moved for preservation from scene

Answer 29

Why?
From where?
To where?

Question 30

Other possible evidence

Answer 30

Ignitable liquid detection (gas-tec, hydrocarbon dog)
Control samples (exemplar/unmanaged item)
Electronic records
Appliances & equipment (prove use, burn tests)
Hard drives, phones etc
Gas/electric/liquid fuel tampered with

Question 31

Release of information

Answer 31

Brigade will not release information relating to incidents investigated by a fire investigator where cause has been recorded as deliberate except to Police

Question 32

Brigade investigation (eg: fire safety prosecution)

Answer 32

Release of information restricted to ensure prosecution not compromised.
Will not release any information where considering or are prosecuting under RRO.

Question 33

External requests for information

Answer 33

Police
Coroner
Local authority
Insurance/loss adjuster/insurance investigator
HSE
Environmental health 
Housing association
Environment agency

Question 34

Photograph release restrictions

Answer 34

Image removed from requested photo set if:
Image gruesome or grotesque
Image may show photograph of individual or family
Image may show correspondence (name, address, account details)
Image may show medications/personal lifestyle items
Image may show registration plates of vehicles
Image may show visible public faces
Image may show visible fire service personnel faces

Question 35

Restrictions to releasing photographs (additional)

Answer 35

No images released if:

Fire recorded as having bee deliberately started or such investigations ongoing without consent of investigating Police officer or CPS

Pending prosecution by Brigade (or enforcement notice)

Accidental fatal fire without consent of coroner

Question 36

Redaction is

Answer 36

Editing of exempt material from information held by public authorities that may be considered for release

Question 37

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA)

Answer 37

Interception of communications, acquisition and disclosure of data relating to communications, surveillance, covert human intelligence, acquisition and means by of data protected by encryption or passwords.

LFB could potentially use RIPA but has no plans to