Lesson Goal After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to identify indicators of an incendiary fire and protect and preserve evidence after.

Lesson Goal

• After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to identify indicators of an incendiary fire and protect and preserve evidence after a fire

Specific Objectives

1.Describe signs and indications of an incendiary fire. 2.Summarize important observations to be made en route, after arriving at the scene, and during fire fighting operations. 3.Discuss firefighter conduct and statements at the scene. (Continued)

Specific Objectives

5. Discuss protecting and preserving evidence.

Determining Cause

• In most jurisdictions the fire chief has the legal responsibility for determining the cause and origin of a fire.

• Delegates this authority to the fire officers and firefighters at the scene

(Continued)

Determining Cause

• Proper training enables firefighters to recognize and collect important information

• First-arriving firefighters are in a position to observe unusual conditions that may indicate an incendiary fire

First-arriving Firefighters Should Note

• Vehicles and people present in the area

• Status of doors and windows • Evidence of forced entry by

anyone other than firefighters• Contents of the rooms• Indications of unusual fire behavior

or more than one point of origin

Observations En Route

• Time of day • Weather and

natural hazards • Barriers • People leaving the

scene

Observations Upon Arrival

• Time of arrival and extent of fire

• Wind direction and velocity

• Doors or windows locked or unlocked

• Location of the fire (Continued)

Observations Upon Arrival

• Containers or cans • Burglary tools • Familiar faces

Observations During Fire Fighting Operations

• Unusual odors • Abnormal behavior

of fire when water is applied

• Obstacles hindering fire fighting

(Continued)

Observations During Fire Fighting Operations

• Incendiary devices • Trailers • Structural alterations • Fire patterns

(Continued)

Observations During Fire Fighting Operations

• Heat intensity • Availability of

documents • Fire detection and

protection systems • Intrusion alarms• Location of fire

(Continued)

Observations During Fire Fighting Operations

• Personal possessions • Household items • Equipment or

inventory • Business records

Conduct and Statements at the Scene

• Firefighters should obtain as much information as possible

• Owners or occupants of the property should be allowed to talk freely – Command Personnel– Operational personnel should direct

bystanders, owners, occupants to ICP(Continued)

Conduct and Statements at the Scene

• Firefighters should not attempt to interrogate a potential arson suspect

• Firefighters should refrain from expressing personal opinions

(Continued)

Conduct and Statements at the Scene

• After the investigator arrives, firefighters should make statements only to the investigator

(Continued)

Conduct and Statements at the Scene

• Public statement regarding fire cause should not be made by operational personnel– All information released shall be

released by Command Personnel only

Responsibilities After the Fire

• Firefighters should report their observations to their supervisor

• Firefighters should not discuss their observations with other crew members

• Improperly done overhaul operations can be detrimental to the investigation

Securing the Fire Scene

• Fire department has the authority to deny access to any building– During fire fighting operations – For a reasonable length of time after

fire suppression is terminated

(Continued)

Securing the Fire Scene

• If an investigator is not immediately available, the fire department or other lawful authority should keep control of the premises until all evidence has been collected

(Continued)

Securing the Fire Scene

• Once all fire personnel leave the scene, a search warrant or written consent to search will be required to reenter the premises

(Continued)

Securing the Fire Scene

• Fire personnel should not allow anyone to enter a fire scene without the investigator’s permission

• The premises can be secured and protected

(Continued)

Securing the Fire Scene

• Cordoning can be accomplished with specially designed fire and police line tape

Protecting and Preserving Evidence

• Protect evidence by keeping it untouched and undisturbed until an investigator arrives

• Do not gather or handle evidence unless it is absolutely necessary in order to preserve it

(Continued)

Protecting and Preserving Evidence

• If firefighters handle or procure evidence, they then become a link in the chain of custody for that evidence

• Evidence must remain undisturbed except when absolutely necessary for the extinguishment of the fire

(Continued)

Protecting and Preserving Evidence

• Firefighters must avoid trampling over possible evidence and obliterating it

• The same precaution applied to the excessive use of water may help avoid similar unsatisfactory results

(Continued)

Protecting and Preserving Evidence

• Human footprints and tire marks must be protected; use cardboard boxes

(Continued)

Protecting and Preserving Evidence

• Protect completely or partially burned papers found in a furnace, stove, or fireplace by immediately closing dampers and other openings

• Leave charred documents found in containers

(Continued)

After Evidence Has Been Collected

• After evidence has been properly collected by an investigator, debris may be removed

• Remove charred materials to prevent the possibility of rekindle and to help reduce smoke damage

(Continued)