Essentials of Fire Fighting,

1

• Essentials of Fire Fighting,
• 5th Edition

Chapter 18 Protecting Fire Scene
Evidence Firefighter II
2
Chapter 18 Lesson Goal

• After completing this lesson, the student shall
  be able to assist in the investigation of a
  suspicious fire and protect and preserve evidence
  after a fire following the policies and
  procedures set forth by the authority having
  jurisdiction (AHJ).

3
Specific Objectives

• 1. Discuss the roles of firefighters and
  investigators at investigations.
• 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)
4
Specific Objectives

• 4. Explain firefighter responsibilities after
  the fire.
• 5. Explain how legal considerations affect
  firefighters during operations that may involve
  incendiary evidence.

(Continued)
5
Specific Objectives

• 6. Discuss protecting and preserving evidence.
• 7. Protect evidence of fire cause and origin.
  (Skill Sheet 18-II-1)

6
Roles at an Investigation General Considerations

• Determining the cause of a fire may only require
  the expertise of the emergency responders on
  scene

(Continued)
7
Roles at an Investigation General Considerations

• More complex fire incidents or possible crime
  scenes often require assistance of law
  enforcement personnel and qualified fire
  investigators

Courtesy of Sheldon Levi, IFPA.
(Continued)
8
Roles at an Investigation General Considerations

• Guidelines for initiating steps vary among
  jurisdictions and the nature of the incident
• Firefighters must be aware of the guidelines
  and/or regulations in their areas

9
Roles at an Investigation Firefighter
Responsibilities

• In most jurisdictions, fire chief has the legal
  responsibility for determining the cause and
  origin
• Fire chief delegates this authority to fire
  officers and firefighters at the scene

(Continued)
10
Roles at an Investigation Firefighter
Responsibilities

• Proper training enables firefighters to recognize
  and collect important information
• First-arriving firefighters can observe unusual
  conditions that may indicate an incendiary fire

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Roles at an Investigation Investigator
Responsibilities

• Fire marshals or others may be responsible for
  conducting investigations beyond the
  determination of fire origin and cause

(Continued)
12
Roles at an Investigation Investigator
Responsibilities

• Fire investigators may also be sworn peace
  officers
• Firefighters may be questioned by an investigator
  or asked to assist in an investigation

(Continued)
13
Roles at an Investigation Investigator
Responsibilities

• Some fire departments have special fire
  investigation or arson squads
• Arson investigation
• Police department
• State fire marshal or some other state agency
• Private companies may conduct separate
  investigations

(Continued)
14
Observations En Route

• Time of day
• Weather and natural hazards
• Barriers
• People leaving the scene

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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)
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Observations Upon Arrival

• Containers or cans
• Burglary tools
• Familiar faces

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Observations During Fire Fighting Operations

• Unusual odors
• Abnormal behavior of fire when water is applied
• Obstacles hindering fire fighting

(Continued)
18
Observations During Fire Fighting Operations

• Incendiary devices
• Trailers
• Structural alterations
• Fire patterns

(Continued)
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Observations During Fire Fighting Operations

• Heat intensity
• Availability of documents
• Fire detection and protection systems
• Intrusion alarms
• Location of fire

(Continued)
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Observations During Fire Fighting Operations

• Personal possessions
• Household items
• Equipment or inventory
• Business records

21
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

(Continued)
22
Conduct and Statements at the Scene

• Firefighters should not attempt to interrogate a
  potential arson suspect unless trained and
  authorized
• Firefighters should refrain from expressing
  personal opinions

(Continued)
23
Conduct and Statements at the Scene

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

(Continued)
24
Conduct and Statements at the Scene

• Public statement regarding fire cause should be
  made only after
• The investigator and ranking fire officer have
  agreed to its accuracy and validity
• Have given permission for it to be released

25
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

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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)
27
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)
28
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)
29
Securing the Fire Scene

• Fire personnel should not allow anyone to enter a
  fire scene without the investigators permission
• The premises can be secured and protected in
  several ways

(Continued)
30
Securing the Fire Scene

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

31
Legal Considerations

• Legal cases
• Firefighters may remain on location as long as
  necessary, but once they leave they may be
  required to get a search warrant
• Based on the case of Michigan vs. Tyler
• U.S. Supreme Court findings

(Continued)
32
Legal Considerations

• Impact on firefighters
• If there is incendiary evidence, fire department
  should leave at least one person on premises
  until an investigator arrives
• To leave the premises, return later without a
  search warrant, and make a search might have
  negative consequences

(Continued)
33
Legal Considerations

• Impact on firefighters (cont.)
• Each department must comply with the legal
  opinions that affect its jurisdiction

34
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)
35
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)
36
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)
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Protecting and Preserving Evidence

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

(Continued)
38
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)
39
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)
40
After Evidence Has Been Collected

• Unburned materials can be separated from the
  debris and cleaned

41
Summary

• Before an investigation into the origin and cause
  of a fire can be conducted, there must be
  evidence to evaluate.

(Continued)
42
Summary

• As a firefighter, one of the most important
  responsibilities is to avoid disturbing or
  destroying evidence while fighting the fire. In
  the area of origin appropriate caution must be
  used when spraying water, moving debris, and even
  walking around.

(Continued)
43
Summary

• Once the area of origin is known, a more thorough
  investigation can be conducted to determine the
  exact cause of the fire.

(Continued)
44
Summary

• As a firefighter, it may be necessary to
  determine the cause of the fire more likely,
  firefighters may be assigned to assist their
  supervisor or a fire investigator in making that
  determination.

(Continued)
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Summary

• If the fire origin and cause investigation
  reveals evidence of arson, the property becomes a
  crime scene and must be treated as one.
  Firefighters must cooperate fully with whoever is
  assigned to investigate the crime.

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Review Questions

• 1. What individuals may have responsibilities in
  a fire investigation?
• 2. What are some observations that may indicate
  a fire was incendiary?
• 3. What is one way that a fire scene can be
  secured?

(Continued)
47
Review Questions

• 4. Why should the fire department leave at least
  one person on the premises of a scene until the
  investigator arrives?
• 5. What are ways that evidence can be protected?