Arson Questions Flashcards
What combination is needed to start of fire?
HEAT
FUEL
OXYGEN
What are the THREE non-intentional causes of fire?
Nature - chemical reactions, sun rays, lightning, static electricity, rodents eating through wiring
Carelessness - misuse of electricity, children playing with fireworks, burning rubbish, smoking, pot leaf on the stove, ironing, heater left on with clothing over it, burning off paint
Faults - Heating systems, appliances, TV on standby, Gas pipes and fittings, Dust Extractors
When it comes to property what is the difference between s267 (1)(a) and s267 (1)(b) & (c) ?
The value of the property is higher in general.
Property in s267 (1)(a) is ANY property, the risk to another persons LIFE is the focus of this section.
Property in s267(1)(b) & (c) covers immovable property. It is the value of these items that raises the offending to the higher category
Legally you are allowed to set fire to your own property, what are the exepectations of this?
- Danger to life is likely to ensue.
- Intend to cause a loss to another person as a result of the fire.
- Know that the fire is likely to destroy or damage someone elses property
Name the responsibilities the Fire Service Investigation Liaison Officers have (FSIIO)? (2 things)
- To ensure that the Senior Specialist Fire Investigator is called out to a scene where requested by Police.
- Maintain a good working relationship with relevant Police FILO’s within their respective districts.
The Specialist Fire Investigator will liaise with the FILO on the following matters (4 things)
Handover of the scene
Access to the scene
Process for the examination & investigation
Identification & Collection of Evidence present at the scene.
When it is difficult to preserve a scene what are some options to combat this?
- Photographs
- Videos
- Sketches
- Plans
Name the SIX steps when it comes to handing over a fire scene
- Fire ensures that there is no fire, danger to life, or threat to any property.
- Fire advises if they think the fire was deliberately lit, suspicious, fatalities or serious injury.
- Police must ask permission from fire to take control of the scene, and then the incident controller confirms handover of scene.
- Fire identifies hazards, eliminates, minimises, or isolates them.
- Agencies come together to form an investigation plan before an investigation or scene exam commences.
- Agencies will conduct a step by step investigation plan, and delegate specific roles.
Name the TWO things Police are responsible for doing in regards to a fire investigation? CU
- Conduct a criminal investigation or coronial enquiry
- Undertake responsibility for the protection, collection and recording of forensic evidence
Fire scenes are dangerous and unstable. Name two things investigators will find themselves often doing? SE
- Searching through an unstable structure.
- Excavating the scene to identify the cause of the fire.
At a Fire Scene the most common injuries are received from the following hazards (there are 7 of them).
- Falling into, over, or on obstructions or cavities
- Airborne dust/particles.
- Cuts/Wounds from sharp objects
- Tripping over fire debris
- Inhalation of toxic substances
- Ingestion of particles
- Items falling from above from the fragile structure
At a Fire Scene Protective Clothing MUST be worn by an on-scene investigator. What are these items (6 in total)
Steel cap boots
Hard Helmet
Gas mask - Nose and Mouth filter
Overalls
Gloves
Safety Googles
Name the four main building materials
- Timber
- Steel
- Concrete
- Masonary + Brick Structures
Name EIGHT common methods for setting things on Fire
Candles
Chemical Ignitors (i.e. Potassium Permanganate, Sugar, and Glycerine)
Electrical Apparatus
Electric Matches
Matches/Cigarettes
Molotov Cocktail
Timing Devices
Trailers
What are examples of Electrical Apparatus?
Appliances that are left on in circumstances can cause a fire. Some examples:
- Iron left on, and facing down
- A toaster with the downward button tied down
- A pan with fat in it left on the element
- Heating panel left close / up against a wall or furniture
What is a Molotov Cocktail?
A bottle filled with petrol, a petrol soaked rag stuffed down the neck of the bottle. The rag is lit on fire and bottle smashed against a hard surface igniting the petrol.
If the cause of the fire was due to a molotov cocktail how would you determine this?
- Traces of wick, often in the broken neck of the bottle.
- Pieces of bottle glass scattered or in one place.
- Evidence of liquid flowing down the walls, and under doors, and furniture
- Evidence of rubber bands, egg white residue, gelatine or similar substances stuck to the wall
Name some examples of Timing Devices
- Bottle containing acid is suspended above the dry ingredients, and tipped by a lenghth of cotton attached to the other end of the alarm
- Use of incense stick or matches cut to length
- Actual timing device so offender can leave the scene well before it goes off
What is a trailer?
Trailers such as rags are soaked in kerosene are laid from an ignition source to the site of the intended fire. They leave traces such as soarch marks on carpet or burnt vegetation
Name the 8 steps of initial action when dealing with fires not involving explosives
1.
When will a Serious Fire Investigator be called to attend a scene? Fires where………
- Fires that have caused a fatality
- Fires where there is serious (life threatening) injuries
- Fires that have spread significantly across property boundaries
- Fires where safety measures have failed.
- Structural fires in which the cause of it is suspicious
- Fires where an external agency (i.e. Police) requests assistance
Initial Action when dealing with Fires (not involving Explosives). Name the EIGHT steps
BRIEF interview with informant (don’t look past the fact they could be the offender)
Secure and control the scene
Initial interview with (specialist fire investigator if present, and O/C of fire appliance to attend the scene)
Interview the incident controller at the scene and find out
Preliminary Exam of Scene
IF deemed suspicious, re-group and hold a conference on priorities
STAFF - come up with plan and deploy (i.e. scene guards, witnesses that need speaking to, area canvas, CCTV)
SITREP
Step 4 of Initial Action - INTERVIEW the Incident Controller. What will you ask them?
- Time / Date of the phone call, and the manner in which the phone call came in.
- Appliances that attended
- State the fire was in when the fire service showed up
- Scene Control (i.e. what have they done since arriving to the scene (i.e. entering building and ventilating it after the fire), have they moved anything, has anyone left or come into the scene)
- Do they think the fire is suspicious
- Any informants or persons that have spoken with them and their opinions on them
- Vehicles/People acting susiciously in the vicinity
- Information they have about the buildings security
What is the purpose of interviewing witnesses at the scene?
Gain Knowledge about the sequence of events leading up the fire (events before, during, after) that may help with the investigation.
Who can be witnesses?
- Person who found the fire, raised the alarm, called Police.
- Fire Fighters
- Occupants & their visitors
- Neighbours
- Owners
- Local Police
- Passer-Bys
- Spectators
- Employees including their cleaners
- Reporters and Photographers
- Vendors and Delivery Persons
To ensure the origin / cause of the fire the scene must be controlled and protected from time to time. Name four security considerations for Police. PIPE
- Interference with the scene - ensure this doesn’t happen
- Preserve evidence
- Prevent looting
- Exclusion and control of onlookers
What else do attending Police at a fire scene need to be aware of?
- Reignition from hotspots after fire is extinguished
- Watch for possible suspects
- Identify witnesses
- Report all significant matters to incident controller / O/C
When assisting in scene preservation whilst fire fighters are busy what is something Police can do?
- Liasie with Fire Incident Commander to limit unnecessary operations within the area of origin (including unnecessary persons inside dwelling)
- Stop fire crews from moving fire debris
- Consider how much of the area needs to be preserved.
