JEREMY D.

GALINGAN APRIL 20,2018

MWF 9:00-10:00 AM

How First Responders Impact the Fire Investigation

INTRODUCTION

Fire Investigation

Fire investigation involves the examination of all fire-related incidents once firefighters have extinguished
the fire. The practice is similar to the examination of crime scenes in that the scene must be preserved
and evidence collected and analysed, but with numerous additional difficulties and dangers. The
investigation will include closely surveying the damaged scene to establish the origin of the fire and
eventually establishing the cause.

However, in order to effectively examine and evaluate a fire scene, it is imperative that the investigator
has a detailed knowledge of the chemistry and behaviour of fire and its effects.

DISCUSSION

Once a lead investigator arrives at the scene to relieve the first responders, he or she should evaluate the
scene, identify witnesses and survey what must be done. The lead investigator must:

 Contact first responders and establish presence.

Contact first responders and establish presence. The investigator should meet with the incident
commander and first responders to assess previous events and the current status of the fire scene, make
introductions, identify essential personnel, and determine scene safety and integrity issues.

The investigator should:

Identify and contact the current incident commander and present identification.
Conduct a briefing with the incident commander to determine who has jurisdiction and authorization (legal
right of entry) and to identify other personnel at the scene (e.g., law enforcement, firefighting, emergency
medical services, hazardous materials personnel and utility services personnel).

Determine the level of assistance required and whether additional personnel are needed.

Determine initial scene safety prior to entry through observations and discussions with first responders.
Consider environmental as well as personnel safety concerns. Assess changes in safety conditions
resulting from suppression efforts.

Define the scene's boundaries. The investigator should perform a preliminary scene assessment,
determine the area in which the site examination will be conducted and establish the scene perimeter.

The investigator should:

Make a preliminary scene assessment (an overall tour of the fire scene to determine the extent of the
damage, proceeding from areas of least damage to areas of greater damage) to identify areas that
warrant further examination, being careful not to disturb evidence.

Inspect and protect adjacent areas that may include nonfire evidence (e.g., bodies, bloodstains, latent
prints or tool marks) or additional fire-related evidence (e.g., unsuccessful ignition sources, fuel
containers and ignitable liquids).

Mark or reevaluate the perimeter and establish the procedures for controlling access to the scene.

Identify and interview witness(es) at the scene. The investigator should determine the identities of
witnesses and conduct interviews.

The investigator should:

Contact the incident commander, identify first responders and first-in firefighters, and arrange to
document their observations either in writing or through recorded interviews.

Determine who reported the fire. Secure a tape or transcript of the report if available.

Identify the owner of the building/scene, any occupants, and the person responsible for property
management.

Identify who was last to leave the building/scene and what occurred immediately before they left.

Identify and interview other witnesses (e.g., neighbors and bystanders) and record their statements.

Assess scene security at the time of the fire. The investigator should determine whether the building
or vehicle was intact and secure and if intrusion alarms or fire detection and suppression systems were
operational at the time of the fire.
The investigator should:

Ask first responders where an entry was made, what steps were taken to gain entry to the building or
vehicle, and whether any systems had been activated when they arrived at the scene.

Observe and document the condition of doors, windows, other openings, and fire separations (e.g., fire
doors). Attempt to determine whether they were open, closed or compromised at the time of the fire.

Observe and document the position of timers, switches, valves, and control units for utilities, detection
systems, and suppression systems, as well as any alterations to those positions by first responders.

Contact security and suppression system monitoring agencies to obtain information and available
documentation about the design and function of the systems.

Identify the resources required to process the scene. The investigator should determine what
personnel may be required to process the scene according to National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) 921 and other recognized national guidelines.

The investigator should:

Identify a distinct origin (location where the fire started) and an obvious fire cause (ignition source, first
fuel ignited, and circumstances of the event that brought the two together).

If neither the origin nor the cause is immediately obvious, or if there is clear evidence of an incendiary
cause, the investigator should

Conduct a scene examination in accordance with NFPA 921 and other guidelines.

Seek someone with the expertise required.

Know when to request the assistance of specialized personnel and to obtain specialized equipment as
required to assist with the investigation. Standard equipment should include the following:

Barrier tape.

Clean, unused evidence containers (e.g., cans, glass jars, nylon or polyester bags).

Compass.

Decontamination equipment (e.g., buckets, pans and detergent).

Evidence tags, labels and tape.

Gloves (disposable gloves and work gloves).

Handtools (e.g., hammers, screwdrivers, knives and crowbars).

Lights (e.g., flashlights, spotlights).

Personal protective equipment.

Photographic equipment.

Rakes, brooms, spades, etc.

Tape measures.

Writing equipment (e.g., notebooks, pens, pencils and permanent markers).

Note: If the scene involves arson or other crimes, the investigator must address legal requirements for
scene access, search and evidence seizure.

Recognize the interests of parties that may be affected by the outcome of the investigation and avoid
jeopardizing those interests by taking steps to protect evidence. These issues include spoliation[2],
subrogation[3] and third-party claims.

Arriving at the Fire and/or Arson Scene: Documenting the Scene

After the lead investigator has evaluated the scene, he or she must document the scene. He or she
should follow these steps:

 Photograph or videotape the scene.

Photograph or videotape the scene. The investigator should create and preserve an accurate visual
record of the scene and the evidence prior to disturbing the scene.

The investigator should:

Photograph and/or videotape the assembled crowd and the fire in progress.

Remove all nonessential personnel from the background when photographing the scene and evidence.

Photograph the exterior and interior of the fire scene (consider walls, doors, windows, ceilings, floors) in a
systematic and consistent manner. (Videotaping may serve as an additional record but not as a
replacement for still photography.)

Photograph any points or areas of origin, ignition sources and first material ignited.

Photograph any physical reconstruction of the scene.

Maintain photo and video logs. Record the date, the name of the photographer and the subject.
Determine whether additional photographic resources are necessary (e.g., aerial photography, infrared
photography or stereo photography).

Describe and document the scene. The investigator should create a permanent, documented record of
observations to refresh recollections, support the investigator's opinions and conclusions, and support
photographic documentation.

The investigator should:

Prepare a narrative, written descriptions and observations, including possible fire causes.

Sketch an accurate representation of the scene and its dimensions, including significant features such as
the ceiling height, fuel packages (e.g., combustible contents of the room), doors, windows and any areas
of origin.

Prepare a detailed diagram using the scene sketch(es), preexisting diagrams, drawings, floor plans or
architectural or engineering drawings of the scene. This may be done at a later date.

Determine whether additional documentation resources are necessary

Arriving at the Fire and/or Arson Scene: Completing the Investigation

Once evidence has been collected and processed, the investigator must complete the investigation and
release the scene. He or she should follow these steps:

Note: This section of the guide is intended for the individual responsible for the investigation of a
fire incident. At the time the scene is determined to involve an arson or other crime, the
investigator must address legal requirements for scene access, search and evidence seizure.

 Release the scene.

Release the scene. The investigator should release the scene after reasonable efforts have been made
to identify, collect and remove all evidence from the scene for examination and that all physical
characteristics of the scene have been documented. In addition, prior to releasing the scene, associated
legal, health and safety issues must be articulated to the party taking over the investigation and reported
to public safety agencies if necessary.

The investigator should ensure that the following tasks are completed before releasing the scene:

Perform a final critical review:

Ensure that all evidence is inventoried and in custody.

Discuss preliminary scene findings with team members.

Assign postscene responsibilities to law enforcement personnel and other investigators.

Address legal considerations.

Verify that all scene documentation has been completed.

Address structural, environmental, health and safety issues.

Remove all investigative equipment and materials.

Recover and inventory equipment.

Decontaminate equipment and personnel.

Document the following information:

Time and date of release.

Receiving party.

Authority releasing the scene.

Condition of the scene at the time of release (e.g., structural, environmental, health and safety issues).
Consider photographing and/or videotaping the final condition of the scene.

Cautions given to the receiving party upon release (e.g., safety concerns, conditions, evidence, legal
issues).

Submit reports to the appropriate databases. The responsible agencies must file incident reports with
the appropriate databases. Detailed fire information is collected, integrated and disseminated through
national and State databases. These data help authorities identify fire trends and develop innovative
procedures and equipment.

The investigator should collect sufficient information and report it to the following databases:

Arson and Explosives National Repository (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms).

Bomb Data Center (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

National Fire Incident Reporting System (U.S. Fire Administration).

National Incident-Based Reporting System (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

State and local fire incident reporting systems.

In my opinion, how the first responder impacts the fire investigation is very important of the investigations
for he/she is one who will conduct all the possible investigations before turn over this to the higher
authorities. And to the fire fighters and other agencies thanks to the conducting a study to examine how

ventilation impacts fire damage and the resulting fire patterns in structures representing single family
homes. Knowledge of fire dynamics is critical for fire investigators to identify a fire’s area of origin and
determine a cause; and fire dynamics are dependent upon understanding the role of ventilation during a
fire event.

CONCLUSION

Over all Fire and Arson investigation. They analyze available information, decide what else is needed,

and then formulate a game plan. During the interview/interrogation they always listen to what is being
said and observe body language and mannerisms. They are cognizant that a nonjudgmental, objective
approach is most productive and professional. If investigators use these techniques, evaluate themselves
honestly, examine their strategies, and develop their expertise, then, and only then, will they succeed in a
successful interview or interrogation.

RECOMMENDATION

I recommend that all the agencies relating fire investigation must formulate a plan to have a program
every month or a year to the citizens in one’s country for it will lessen the disasters and crimes of arson
worldwide. And, in my observations fire fighters and fire investigators todays are not doing their jobs well
that’s why I recommend that the higher authorities will punish them according to the possible penalties to
serves as their warning. Also, Steps should be taken to ensure sufficient funding for training fire and

arson investigations. Lastly to improve all the qualities of investigations process their must be a manual
of all the agencies to be followed and to be performed.