Fire Investigation Protocols Flashcards
Setting Fire to Own Property
Legal to SET FIRE TO OWN PROPERTY UNLESS
− Know or ought to know that the fire will endanger life
− Know that the fire is likely to destroy or damage someone else’s property as a consequence.
- Intend to cause loss to someone else as a result of the fire
MOU
MOU
Both agencies want to ensure that in determining the origin and cause of fires - investigations of fire scenes by Fire Service/Police are efficiently coordinated, and expertly and independently conducted and any relevant evidence is protected and collected for potential criminal prosecutions or coronial enquiries.
Fire Will Notify Police of a Fire if (MOU)
- Fire results in serious injury or death or it is considered suspicious
Fire Investigation Liaison Officers
FIRE INVESTIGATION LIAISON OFFICER RESPONSIBILITY
- Attend every fire that results in serious injury or death
- Coordinating fire investigations in their area/district
- Arranging Police attendance at fire scenes
- Maintaining effective working relationships with the relevant Fire Service Investigation Liaison Officer (FSILO) and Fire Service Specialist Fire Investigators;
- Assist area/district with fire investigation-related queries
- Coordinating fire investigation training for any Police employees within the area or district
Fire Service Investigation Liaison Officer
FIRE SERVICE INVESTIGATION LIAISON OFFICER
- Arranging Fire Service Specialist Fire Investigator attendance at fire scenes where requested by Police
- Establishing/maintaining effective working relationships with relevant FILOs, in the respective Police districts/areas.
Liaison Between Fire Service Specialist Investigator and Police Investigation Liaison Officer
− Handover of the fire scene, Access to the fire scene, Process for examination and investigation, Identification and collection of evidence at the fire scene
Handover Includes
HANDOVER
Where Police attend a fire scene and seek authority over scene, the designated Police Investigating Officer will confer with the Incident Controller to confirm the handover process. Fire Service will not normally handover a fire scene until the danger of fire, structural collapse, exposure to dangerous products of combustion or other fire related hazards have been identified and eliminated, isolated or minimised.
A Specialist Fire Investigator Will Attend and Investigate When
SPECIALIST FIRE INVESTIGATOR ATTENDANCE WHEN
- Fires where fatalities occur or serious (life-threatening injuries) which are fire related occur
- Structure fires where the cause is suspicious or cannot be determined
- Significant fire spread across a property boundary
- Fires in buildings where built in fire safety features have failed/not performed to standard
- Fires that have a significant regional or national consequence
- Any other fire upon request from Police or other agency
S42 FENZ ACT
S42 FENZ ACT 2017 - POWERS of AUTHORISED PERSONS
Authorised person in charge of responding to emergency may enter any land/building/structure, break into any building that may be on fire/endangered, take/send any equipment/machine required to be used into, through, any land etc, remove from any land etc that is on fire/otherwise endangered any flammable, combustible, explosive, or dangerous material found, cause any building or structure that is on fire or otherwise endangered be pulled down or shored up at the time of the emergency or within a reasonable time afterwards.
S44 - Other Powers of Authorised Persons
S44 FENZ ACT 2017 - OTHER POWERS
- Shut off water in order to obtain a greater pressure and supply of water
- Shut off gas, fuel oil, or electricity to any building on fire/endangered
- Close roads/Remove vehicles impeding, can break into the vehicles for that purpose
- Remove people who are in danger or interfering with operations, using reasonable force if necessary
- Do all other things that are reasonably necessary to protect and preserve life, prevent or limit injury, limit damage to property/land/environment.
Police Responsibility At Fire Scenes
POLICE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Conduct the criminal investigation or coronial enquiry
- Undertake responsibility for the protection, collection and recording of forensic evidence
- Collect and remove materials for evidence
- Preservation and analysis of any such materials
Injuries Through Hazards
HAZARDS
- Inhalation of toxic substances and harmful gases
- Ingestion of particles, airborne dusts
- Cuts/wounds from sharp objects
- Tripping on fire debris
- Falling down, over, onto or into any obstructions or cavities
- Items from above falling onto you or hitting objects causing a chain reaction.
Best Method of Protection - Must Consider
Assessment of each hazard and a strategy to prevent occurring or mitigate impact. Be aware of how structures react to fire.
Hazard/Safety Protection
- Suitable helmet (complies with safety standards)
- Safety glasses, overalls, gloves, heavy duty footwear
- Nose and mouth filter/a full face respirator
Common Methods of Setting Fires
- Candles, Chemical Igniters, Electrical apparatus, Electric matches, Matches/Cigarettes, Timing devices, Molotov cocktails
