OP 018: Fire Investigation

Question 1

What are the five basic aims of fire investigation?

Answer 1

To establish the most likely cause of a fire, identifying any trends, defects, acts or omissions causing fire

The establish reasons for the development and spread of fire and smoke

To assess the performance of a building or contents in a fire situation

To check the effectiveness of fire safety provisions in a building

To provide other information for use by the LFB and other agencies

Question 2

What does FIT stand for? And where are they based?

Answer 2

Fire Investigation Team

Based at Dowgate fire station

Question 3

When will fire investigation teams attend an incident?

Answer 3

If the IC:
Cannot determine the cause of the fire

Suspects a possible rekindling of a fire

Is refused entry to an incident for the purpose of fire investigation

Needs to take samples as part of the investigation

Requires support and advice at the scene

Question 4

When will FIUs be ordered?

Three answers

Answer 4

At 4 pump fires or above

Persons reported, fire survival calls, and fatal fires

Firefighter emergency

Question 5

What does HCDD stand for?

Answer 5

Hydrocarbon Detector Dog

Question 6

What are the four types of evidence a firefighter can identify?

Answer 6

Physical evidence

Visual evidence

Audible evidence

Smell

Question 7

If a person is found, and it is obvious that life is extinct, what actions should be done?
Six answers

Answer 7

All information about the body may be presented at an inquest and must be passed to the police and FIO

The body must, if possible, be left in place

If a body must be moved, the location and position of the bodymust be noted

Anything such as buttons, clothing, dentures, or jewellery which has fallen from the body must be collected and handed to the IC

Information about the bodies must not be given to unauthorized people

The command units carry a fatality identification system, which will be iniciated by the IC when they consider it necessery