Police Manual - Arson (fire and explosion investigations) Flashcards
(35 cards)
Section 42(2)(a-f), Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 infers powers to the person in charge of the Fire Service at a fire.
What are those powers?
The right to: EBTRCC
- (a) enter any land, building, or structure
- (b) break into any building or structure that may be on fire or otherwise endangered or that is near the emergency
- (c) take or send any equipment or machine required to be used into, through, or upon any land, building, or structure
- (d) remove from any land, building, or structure that is on fire or otherwise endangered, or that is near the emergency, any flammable, combustible, explosive, or dangerous material found in the building or structure
- (e) cause any building or structure that is on fire or otherwise endangered, or that is adjacent to or in the vicinity of any building or structure that is on fire or otherwise endangered, to be pulled down or shored up (either in whole or in part)
- (f) cause any building or structure to be pulled down or shored up (either in whole or in part) at the time of the emergency or within a reasonable time afterwards.
S44 FENZ Act 2017 - Other powers of authorised person
(MAGIC MUCS)
Move any vehicle
Anything reasonably necessary to:
protect and preserve life
prevent or limit injury
prevent or limit damage to property and land
prevent or limit damage to the environment
Can shut off Gas etc in the vicinity of the emergency
Use force to remove any person Interfering with operations
Close any road or railway in the vicinity of the emergency
May break into any vehicle in order to move it
Use force to remove a person in danger or likely to cause danger to any other person or property
Can request info from the owner/occupier in order to fulfil functions
Shut off water
Under the MOU between Fire and Police, when will the Fire Service notify Police if there is a fire?
A fire results in serious injury or death
A fire is considered suspicious
What are Fire Investigation Liaison Officers responsible for?
(CAMP AACE)
Co-ordinating fire investigations in their designated area or district;
Attending every fire that results in serious injury or death;
Maintaining effective working relationships with the relevant Fire Service Investigation Liaison Officer (FSILO) and Fire Service Specialist Fire Investigators;
Providing other advice and expertise as required.
Arranging Police attendance at fire scenes where required;
Assisting areas or districts with fire investigation-related queries;
Co-ordinating fire investigation training for any Police employees within the area or district, where needed
Ensure communication is maintained with the Police National Fire Investigation Co‑ordinator, Police District Intelligence Manager and District Manager Criminal Investigations, where appropriate;
The Fire Service Special Investigator will liaise with the designated Police Fire Investigation Liaison Officer or other members of Police in relation to four specific matters. What are they?
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.
Detail Police responsibilities at a fire scene examination and investigation
(CUP-C)
Police must:
Conduct the criminal investigation or coronial enquiry
Undertake responsibility for the collection, protection and recording of evidence
Preservation, analysis of any evidence if the responsibility of Police or any other such agency
Collection and removal of material from a crime scene will only be done by Police or other agencies with authority to remove evidence.
Most Injuries are received from what hazards?
(TACIT-FI)
- Inhalation of Toxic substances e.g. car fires emit particularly toxic and harmful gases
- Air borne dusts, particles etc.
- Cuts/wounds from sharp objects
- Ingestion of particles etc.
- Tripping on fire debris
- Falling down, over, onto or into any obstructions or cavities
- Items from above falling onto you or hitting objects and causing a chain reaction.
What clothing protection should be worn by the on-scene investigator?
- A suitable helmet (that complies with the relevant safety standard)
- A pair of overalls
- Nose and mouth filter, a full face respirator or full BA (if required and qualified)
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
- Heavy duty footwear with steel soles and toe caps.
What are some considerations regarding the preservation of a fire scene?
(SCREWS - LH)
- Ensuring the Scene is not interfered with
- Exclusion and Control of on-lookers, property owners and other interested parties
- Report all matters of significance to the O/C investigation and/or scene co-ordinator
- Preserving Evidence
- Identify any Witnesses among onlookers and passers-by
- Be vigilant and watch for possible Suspects
- Preventing Looting
- Be aware of re-ignition from Hotspots after the fire is extinguished.
What is the point of origin?
The exact location at which:
- A component failed
- A fire was maliciously lit, OR
- An accidental fire originated
External Examination
(PAYND / CAB-R / “Jimmy Marks”)
The external examination takes into account:
- The Periphery of the structure itself
- Adjoining premises which often reveal:
- accelerant containers
- attempts at forced entry
- broken windows
- forced doors
- The Yards and outbuildings of the fire affected property
- Nearby alleyways/streets/driveways
- What distance Debris was scattered, particularly if drums or cylinders have exploded.
- The surrounding area of the involved premises may also reveal:
- Contents of outbuildings missing
- Accelerant containers
- Business appears to be struggling.
- Run‑down property
- The damaged structure itself may reveal:
- jemmy marks or other signs of forced entry on windows or doors
- window glass broken before the fire was ignited
- burn patterns above doors and windows and “V” shaped burn patterns on external cladding.
What 14 indicators should be noted during a preliminary internal examination?
(POLAR HOUSE BLAM)
- Position of clothes if not in wardrobe or drawer
- Open filing cabinets or missing files
- Low stock levels in commercial premises
- Accelerant containers or trails present
- Rifled premises
- Hardship signs
- Owner/occupier attitude
- Unusual odours
- **Separate **unrelated seats of fire
- **Entry **forced into an empty till
- Burn patterns
- Lack of clothing in wardrobe, drawers
- **Areas **of building needing repairs
- Missing family photos, furniture, personal items
List seven signs that an accelerant may have been used to cause the fire?
CUTS BUM
- Containers
- Unusually rapid spread or intensity of fire
- Traces in debris
- Smell
- Burning under or behind boards where the liquid has run through the cracks
- Uneven burning
- Multiple seats of fire
What will the Specialist Fire Investigator be looking for when you accompany them on a detailed internal investigation? List 10 pointers.
(Hint: 3xS; 5xD; FE)
- spalling (chipping of concrete)
- soot
- smoke deposits and burn patterns
- deposits on window glass and craze patterns
- damage to skirting boards
- damage to wall studs
- damage to roofing timbers
- damage to window sills and door edges
- floor areas burned through
- elimination of false low burns
What does the Specialist Fire Investigator consider when determining the seat of the fire?
(WDDDCCSS)
-
Witness reports
- When they notices the fire and where they were
- The state of the fire at that time - Direction of wind and its speed and the weather
- Direction of spread
- Damage severity
- Colour of the flames and smoke
- Charing depth
- ‘Starting devices’ present
- Specialists’ reports and opinions
List 10 factors to consider when determining the cause of the fire?
(Hint: FIU / 3xE / 4xS)
- Foreign material and objects, such as screws/batteries, that might be part of a device
- Inconsistencies
- Unusual burn patterns or unusual time factors
- Evidence of accelerants
-
Evidence of intentional interference
- Tampering with the alarm or sprinkler
- Hindering access
- Misdirecting firefighters - Evidence of intentional removal of valuable property
- Signs that furniture was rearranged to create a fire base
- Signs that windows and skylights were opened to create a draught
- Signs a crime had been committed
- Signs that a heater, soldering iron or other electrical appliance has been left on
List the steps to take when dealing with arson exhibits
- Photograph in situ, label the exhibits, and preserve them in containers.
- Use approved arson kits if these are available; if not, use any suitable containers such as unused four litre paint tins.
- Take these control samples:
- Charred timber and ashes or debris from the seat of the fire for examination and comparison with samples from other points
- Any accelerants found near the scene
- Soil from the surrounding area.
What are you aiming to find out when conducting a preliminary interview of an owner or occupier of a premises?
WWATT
- When the premises were last secured, and by whom
- Whether he or she knows the cause of the fire
- Actions leading up to the fire
- Type of business
- The details of any suspects and any insurance
What are some things that could be discussed during a conference?
(PIEAR)
- Planning further enquiries
- **Identifying **suspects
- Establishing possible motives
- Assessing information obtained
- Reconstructing
Who might attend a conference at an arson?
(SCOOP - FIF)
- Specialist Fire Investigator
- Crime Scene Co-ordinator
- O/C CIB
- O/C Investigation
- Police photographer
- Fire Investigation Liaison Officer
- **Investigating **officers
- Fingerprint technician/SOCO
Upon arrival at a scene, the incident controller needs to be spoken to. What needs to be found out from the incident controller?
(ASSIST - AAP)
- What Appliances attended
- The **State **of the fire when the Fire Service arrived
- What information the Fire Service has about the building’s Security
- Their opinions of the Informant (for example, a person who regularly attends or reports fires may have lit them)
- Whether they think the fire is Suspicious, and why
- The Time and date of the call and the manner in which it was received
- What Action the Service has taken, particularly in entering the building and ventilating it after the fire
- What Alterations they have made to the scene, for example they may have had to force doors or windows
- Details of People or vehicles acting suspiciously in the vicinity.
What witnesses might you want to consider tracking down before, during, and after a fire that may have a bearing on the investigation?
(POPOVERS NOLP)
- The Person(s) who found the fire, raised the alarm and informed Police or Fire
- Occupants and their visitors
- Passers-by
- Owners
- Vendors and delivery people
- Employees, including cleaners and casual staff
- Reporters and photographers
- Spectators
- Neighbours
- Other Police and security staff
- Local Police
- Patrols
In what ways might suspects be identified?
(EPIC MIIF)
-
Enquiries at prisons, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation centres and schools
2.** Police resources** such as Intelligence and Youth Services sections or FENZ - Investigation Liaison Officer
- Circumstances of the fire
- Media response
- Information from fire crews on people who regularly attend fires
- Information from informants and witnesses
- Fingerprints
Suspect enquiries - step 5:
Complete enquiries to establish the suspect’s:
opportunity
motive
mens rea (‘guilty mind’)
connection with the scene and the crime
character, mental background, history, movements and behaviour.
