Scene Exam Flashcards
What is the Point of origin
Exact location at which
1) a component failed
2) a Fire was maliciously lit
3) an accidental fire originated
External Examination takes into account……
Adjoining premises which often reveal accelerant containers, attempts at forced entry, broken windows, forced doors.
Nearby alleyways/streets/driveways
Yards and outbuildings of the fire effected property
The periphery of the structure itself
What distance the debris was scattered
Surrounding area of involved premises may also reveal
Accelerant containers
Contents of outbuildings missing
Property run down
Business appears to be struggling
The damaged structure itself may reveal
Jenny marks or signed of forced entry on windows/doors
Window glass broken before the fire was ignited
Burn patterns above doors and windows and V shaped patterns on external cladding
Prelim internal exam take note of
PRELIMINARY BOS
Involves a slow walk through the premises from the area of least damage to the most. Take note of indicators:
Presence of accelerant containers or trails
Rifled premises
Entry forced into empty till
Low stock levels in commercial properties
In wardrobe/draws lack of clothes
Missing family photos, furniture, personal items
If clothing not in draws/wardrobe, position of it
Needs repair (building)
Attitude of the owner/occupier during walk through
unRelated separate seats of fire
Yucky unusual odour
Burn patterns
Open filing cabinets or missing files
Signs of hardship
Hold another conference after prelim exam to plan course of action
Detailed internal exam
WEAR SCRUBS D
Accompany specialist Fire investigator. They will observe and note:
Wall stud damage
Elimination of false low burns
Areas of floor burned through
Removal of fire debris
Spalling Crazing patterns and soot deposits on windows Roofing timber damage Under floor inspection Burn patterns and smoke deposits Skirting board damage
Damage to window sill and door edges
Crazing
Created by rapid heating of glass and also rapid cooling of it by the application of water spray in a hot environment.
Not an indicator of the use of flammable liquid without other indicators being present.
At the end of the detailed internal exam the SFI will be able to determine
Area of origin
Point of origin
Seat of the fire
Determining the seat of the fire SFI will consider
When Wendy Witnesses The Seat Of the Fire She Phoned Comms
WHEN witnesses first noticed the fire and where they were at the time
WIND direction and speed and weather
WITNESS reports
THE direction of the spread
STATE of the fire at the time it was noticed
OPINIONS and reports of other specialists
FLAME and smoke colour
SEVERITY of the damage
PRESENCE of starting devices
CHARRING depth
Cause of the fire. Evidence of intentionally lit fire look for….
CAUSES FIRE
Evidence of accelerants such as:
Containers
Traces in debris
Smell
Unusually rapid spread or intensity of fire
Uneven burning
Burning under or behind boards where liquid has run through cracks
Multiple seats of fire
Evidence of intentional interference such as:
(CAUSES FIRE)
Crime may have been committed, fire lit to destroy evidence
Accelerants may be present
Unusual burn patterns or time factors
Signs of furniture being moved to create fire base
Evidence of tampering with sprinklers/alarms
Skylights and windows left open to create draft
Foreign material and objects (screws/batteries) that might be part of a device
Inconsistencies
Removal of valuable property/substitution
Electrical appliances have been left on
Hindering access
Misdirecting fire fighters
Exhibits
Action from seat of fire
1) photograph in situ, label and preserve in containers
2) use approved arson kits if available. If not use any suitable container such as unused paint tins.
3) take control samples from
•Charred timber and ashes or debris from seat of the fire for examination and comparison with samples from other points
•accelerants found near the scene
•soil from the surrounding area
Area enquiries
1) conduct area enquiries - interview people who work at other warehouses to see if there have been any other arson attempts
2) prelim interview with owner (WHATT)
• When Premises were last secured, by who
• He/she knows the cause of the fire
• Actions leading up to the fire
• The details of any suspect and insurance
• Type of business
3) note owners demeanour during prelim interview
4) complete interviews and obtain/arrange formal statement from INFORMANT, WITNESSES and OWNER
5) give supervisor sitrep
