An Overview of the Firefighters role in Fire & Explosion Investigations
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Paul Carolan
An Overview of the Firefighters role in Fire & Explosion
Investigations
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Fractured glass from window pane found on ground after fire. Note: no smoke stains – “Warning” sign on glass intact and not heat damaged – no curved fractures and all straight-line fractures -conclusion = mechanical damage prior to fire (break-in)
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Types of Scenes
Fire Explosion
EMS Rescue
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Each of these scenes could be a crime scene
and you are the 1st in!!!!
YIKES!
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• First In Firefighters are in a unique position to observe and note conditions and behaviour that maybe of critical importance in the investigative phase
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Primary role of Dublin Firefighter
• Save Life
• Save Property
• Render Humanitarian AidAll of these carry an intrinsic ‘ rider ’
When safe to do so……………
…..And we endeavour to carry out these roles regardless of the the status of that scene.
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…..but not regardless of other considerations
Why?
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Because………
• Every Scene we attend is potentially a crime scene
• And in accordance with best international practice we must understand our role as firefighters in relatioin to crime scenes.
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Fire / Explosion
Fire Dept.
Garda / Police
Forensic Scientist
Insurance IndustryLegal Profession
DPP
StatePathologist
Coroners Office
Legislation
PublicPrivate Investigators
LossAdjusters
ProductManufacturers
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So what can the firefighter do? Start thinking ‘outside the box’
From the time of the callEnroute to the sceneArrival at the scene
Initial impressions at the scenePersons at the scene
what you did at and inside the scene
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Scenario
• D41 61 31 44 64 35 D/O Delta
‘ Will you respond to a domestic fire, fully
involved, at no. 66 Busy Street, off Malahide rd we have two confimed persons reported from off duty Firefighter. Senior Officer, Gardaí, ESB, Bord Gáis responding’.
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You are on your way to this scene. Take a few moments to gather your thoughts and mentally prepare. You, your fellow firefighters and the Incident Commander will have a unique opportunity to make observations about the fire because you will see the scene in its most undisturbed state. You also have the responsibility to exercise as much care as possible to preserve physical evidence for later collection.
The investigation can be positively or negatively affected by what you do or do not do.
Mentally review your firefighting and observation responsibilities.
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At the Scene prior to entry
•Information you might be given directly.
•Information you might overhear.
•Human behaviour of those you are talking with.
•How are people speaking with you or to you!
•Behaviour that you see beside you, see at a distance.
•Unusual smells prior to donning.
Your focus is on your primary roles, that is your job.But always think that the scene you are about to enter
could be a crime scene
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Inside the Scene
•Route available to you -- Any difficulties with this route
Anything suspicious about those difficulties
•What is the temperature like
•Where is the fire
•Can you tell what is on fire
•What colour is the flame
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Inside the Scene (continued)
•How high are the flames
•What is the colour of the smoke–Is it dense, rate of buoyancy?
•Heat and intensity in different areas
•Your observation of the burn, how did the fire behave
•Problems encountered with the fire fight
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Inside the Scene (continued)
How many seats of fire can you see
Can you tell what fuels might be involved
Can you identify any ventilation points
How does fire seat or hot layer gases react to
H2O or CAFS
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Victims
Cons or U/Cons
Where were they found
What position were they in
What symptoms did they exhibit
What did you do
Why
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What are the implications of your actions?
• None
Why?
Do as you are trained to do
Do what will be considered reasonable
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Dr. Brian Farrell Dublin City Coroner
Witnesses
• Identification witness (or forensic evidence in relation to identification)
• Witnesses who can give evidence in relation to the circumstances of the fire
• Person who last saw the deceased alive• Members of the fire service and rescue teams• Scenes examiner• Investigating Garda• Pathologist
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• Your mental tape recorder @ the scene.
–Observe – (look at everything you can when possible N.B. 3
functions of a FF always come first)
–Recognize – (Identify information that will be of use in follow up
investigations)
–Preserve – ( Only move what is necessary, remember what you
did and why you did it)
–Notify – (Tell your Station Officer / Incident Commander
what actions you did or what you saw. – (Remember E.C.O. does not record all information on B.A. Board)
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So what are investigators looking out for?
• Information that remains at a scene which will help establish the Fire’s origin and cause:
Where did it Start
What was the first ignition source that came into contact with the first fuel
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Summary
En Route At Scene Route to exact Point
of Entry
Route
inside
Observations Actions inside
Notify Notify again!
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PAUL CAROLAN
Thank you for your
questions and interest.
Good luck in your careers