Pol instructions Flashcards
Natural causes of fire
(Non intentional)
Fires can be caused by combination of fuel, heat source and air
Factors include
-chemical reactions
-the suns rays
-lightning
-static electricity
-rodents eating through wiring, or building nests out of flammable material
-spontaneous combustion and ignition of, for example damp grain, hay or wool, cloth soaked in oil/turpentine/paint, fine dust in joinery factories or flour mills
Powers and duties
Fire service act 1975
Section 32
All police present must cooperate with the person in charge of the fire service at a fire, suspected fire or other emergency
Police may exercise powers if called upon to do so by member of fire service in charge of fire
Fire investigation liaison officer (FILO) responsibilities
-Attending every fire that results and serious injury or if
– coordinating fire investigations in the designated area or district
– arranging Police attendance at five scenes where required
– maintaining effective working relationships with fire service investigation liaison officer FSILO and fire service specialist fire investigators
-Assisting areas or districts with fire investigation related queries
-insure communication is maintained with place national fire investigation coordinator, Police district intelligence manager and district manager of criminal investigations were appropriate
– coordinating fire investigation training for any police employees within the area or district
– providing advice and expertise as required
Specialist fire investigators are called to
FSSSBSA
Fatal fires
Serious (life threatening) injuries
Suspicious structure fires
Significant spread across property boundary
Built in fire safety measures have failed or not performed
Structure fires (at least 6 appliances) significantregional or national consequence
Any other fire upon request of police or another agency
*fatal fires a minimum of 2 specialists
Specialist fire investigator will liase with the designated a
Fire investigation liaison officer in relation to
HAPI
Handover of the fire scene
Access to the fire scene
Process for examination and investigation
Identification and collection of evidence at the fire scene
To determine the seat of the fire, the SFI will consider:
Witness reports
When they first noticed the fire and where they were at the time
The state of the fire at the time
Wind direction, speed and weather
The direction of spread
The colour of the flames and smoke
Severity of the damage
Depth of charring
The presence of starting devices
Reports and opinions from other specialists
Initial action- what to interview the incident controller about
FAMASSIVE
-state of fire when FIRE SERVICE arrived
-what APPLIANCES attended
-time date of call, MANNER received
-alterations made to scene
-security information held on building
-suspicions of informant
-vehicles and people noted around
-action taken by fire when ENTERING
Police responsibilities at a fire scene exam and investigation
-conduct the criminal investigation or coronial inquiry
-undertake responsibility for protection, collection, and recording of forensic evidence
-collection/removal material from crime scene
-preservation analysis and subsequent disposition of any such material
Section 28 Fire service act 1975
Person in charge of fire service has right to
ENTER private property when on fire or endangered
CLOSE roads
REMOVE vehicles impeding fire service
REMOVE people in danger or interfering
DO anything else reasonably necessary for protection of life and property
MOU is to ensure
Fire service will notify police if
Investigations are efficiently coordinated and expertly and independently conducted AND
Any relevant evidence is protected and collected for potential criminal prosecutions or coronal enquiries
-fire service results in serious injury or death
OR
-fire is considered suspicious
Fire service investigation liaison officer FSILO responsible for
-Arranging SFI attendance at fire scenes
-establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with relevant FILOs
Incendiary and explosive devices used to start fires
-readily available combustible material
-Candles
-Chemical ignitors (potassium permanganate)
-Electrical Appliances
-Electrical matches
-Matches and cigarettes
-Molotov cocktails
-Timing devices
-Trailers
EVIDENCE OF WILFUL CAUSES OF FIRE
(MOVIE MASTER)
•MULTIPLE seats of fire
•Signs that windows or skylights were OPENED to create a draught
•Intentional removal of VALUABLE property
•Evidence of INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE i.e. tampering with alarm/sprinkler system
•Evidence of EXPLOSIVES
•MISDIRECTING fire fighters
•Evidence of ACCELERANTS i.e. containers
•SMELL
•TRACES in debris
•Signs that a heater, soldering iron or other ELECTRICAL appliance has been left on
•Unusual RAPID SPREAD or intensity of fire
Purpose of conferences
IREAP
IDENTIFY suspects
Reconstructing
Establish possible motives
Assess information obtained
Plan further enquiries
Suspect enquiries to establish the suspects
Opportunity
Motive
Men’s rea
Connection with the scene and the crime
Character, mental background, history, movements and behaviour
