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FIREFIGHTER II • LESSON 17

FIREFIGHTER II LESSON 17. STEPS IN FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATION Noting, protecting, reporting evidence Noting, protecting, reporting evidence Analyzing

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FIREFIGHTER II • LESSON 17

STEPS IN FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATIONSTEPS IN FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATION

• Noting, protecting, reporting evidenceNoting, protecting, reporting evidence

• Analyzing evidence to determine fire causeAnalyzing evidence to determine fire cause

• Properly documenting entire processProperly documenting entire process

TS 17–1

ROLES IN FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATIONROLES IN FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATION

• FirefighterFirefighter

Conducting scene size-up

Noting, protecting, and reporting evidence

Documenting fire cause determination process

• Fire chief/fire investigator Fire chief/fire investigator

Analyzing evidence to determine fire cause

Documenting fire cause determination process

Conducting an interview with a suspected arsonist

TS 17–2a

ROLES IN FIRE CAUSEROLES IN FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATION (cont.) DETERMINATION (cont.)

• First arriving CO or IC First arriving CO or IC — Filing fire report

• Fire chief Fire chief — Assuming ultimate legal responsibility for fire cause determination

TS 17–2b

FIREFIGHTER SCENE SIZE-UP QUESTIONSFIREFIGHTER SCENE SIZE-UP QUESTIONS

• Are the contents of the rooms as they normally Are the contents of the rooms as they normally would be? would be?

• Are the rooms either ransacked or unusually Are the rooms either ransacked or unusually bare?bare?

• Are the doors and windows locked or open? Are the doors and windows locked or open?

• Is there evidence of forced entry prior to the Is there evidence of forced entry prior to the arrival of firefighters?arrival of firefighters?

• Are there indications of unusual fire behavior or Are there indications of unusual fire behavior or more than one area of origin?more than one area of origin?

• Are vehicles or people present in the area?Are vehicles or people present in the area?

TS 17–3

FIREFIGHTER CONDUCT & FIREFIGHTER CONDUCT & STATEMENTS AT THE SCENESTATEMENTS AT THE SCENE

• Statements of accusation, personal opinion, and Statements of accusation, personal opinion, and probable cause should be made probable cause should be made only only to the fire to the fire investigator.investigator.

• Firefighters should never prematurely announce Firefighters should never prematurely announce fire cause or make statements in jest at the fire cause or make statements in jest at the scene; they may be overheard and reported to the scene; they may be overheard and reported to the public as fact, embarrassing the fire department public as fact, embarrassing the fire department and hampering the legal process.and hampering the legal process.

• A sufficient reply to any question concerning fire A sufficient reply to any question concerning fire cause is: “The fire is under investigation.”cause is: “The fire is under investigation.”

TS 17–4

SECURING THE SCENESECURING THE SCENE

• Guard premises and keep under fire department Guard premises and keep under fire department control until fire investigator gathers and control until fire investigator gathers and evaluates all evidence.evaluates all evidence.

• Mark, tag, and photograph all evidence before the Mark, tag, and photograph all evidence before the last firefighter leaves the scene.last firefighter leaves the scene.

• Have personnel trained in evidence collection Have personnel trained in evidence collection and preservation secure the scene whenever and preservation secure the scene whenever possible.possible.

• Know that fire department authority ends as soon Know that fire department authority ends as soon as last fire department representative leaves the as last fire department representative leaves the scene.scene.

TS 17–5a

SECURING THE SCENE (cont.)SECURING THE SCENE (cont.)

• After the scene is secured, allow no one to enter After the scene is secured, allow no one to enter the premises unless accompanied by an the premises unless accompanied by an authorized individual.authorized individual.

• When a person is authorized to enter the When a person is authorized to enter the premises, record in the entry log the person’s premises, record in the entry log the person’s name, times of entry and departure, and a name, times of entry and departure, and a description of any items taken from the scene.description of any items taken from the scene.

TS 17–5b

FIRE SCENE LEGAL CONSIDERATIONSFIRE SCENE LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Know that Michigan Know that Michigan vs.vs. Tyler, (1978) resulted in Tyler, (1978) resulted in requiring firefighters to obtain a search warrant requiring firefighters to obtain a search warrant before returning to an incident scene.before returning to an incident scene.

Note:Note: To leave the premises, return later without To leave the premises, return later without a search warrant, and make a search might be a search warrant, and make a search might be enough to overturn a conviction or make enough to overturn a conviction or make prosecution impossible.prosecution impossible.

TS 17–6a

FIRE SCENE LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS (cont.)FIRE SCENE LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS (cont.)

• Know the recommended departmental action for Know the recommended departmental action for the Michigan the Michigan vs.vs. Tyler decision: Tyler decision:

Leave someone on the premises if there is incendiary evidence.

Learn the legal opinions that affect its jurisdiction in this regard.

Develop SOPs around these legal opinions.

TS 17–6b

PROTECTING & PRESERVING EVIDENCEPROTECTING & PRESERVING EVIDENCE

• Jurisdiction SOPs Jurisdiction SOPs

Procedures

Who is authorized

• Tagging and packaging evidence Tagging and packaging evidence

TS 17–7

TAGGING & PACKAGING TAGGING & PACKAGING EVIDENCE GUIDELINESEVIDENCE GUIDELINES

• Leave potential evidence found on site untouched Leave potential evidence found on site untouched and undisturbed and provide security for the and undisturbed and provide security for the area.area.

• Gather and handle physical evidence only if it is Gather and handle physical evidence only if it is absolutely necessary to preserve the evidence.absolutely necessary to preserve the evidence.

• Accurately document all actions taken as soon as Accurately document all actions taken as soon as possible.possible.

• Allow only those changes in the evidence Allow only those changes in the evidence absolutely necessary in the extinguishment of the absolutely necessary in the extinguishment of the fire.fire.

• Protect partially burned papers and charred Protect partially burned papers and charred documents from drafts.documents from drafts.

TS 17–8

© Copyright 1998, Board of Regents, Oklahoma State UniversityAll Rights Reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced

without prior written permission from the publisher.