OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL

Protecting Evidence for Cause and Determination

OBJECTIVES

• 2-20.1 Identify the three factors that can cause a fire (4-3.4)

• 2-20.2 Identify the responsibilities of the firefighter in relation to cause and determination (4-3.4)

• 2-20.3 Identify the role of the fire investigator (4-3.4)

OBJECTIVES

• 2-20.4 Identify observations the firefighter should make, while responding and working on a fire scene, in relation to cause and determination. (3-3.7, 3-3.12)

• 2-20.5 Identify the firefighter’s responsibility, after a fire, in relation to cause and determination (3-3.7, 3-3.12)

OBJECTIVES

• 2-20.6 Identify the firefighter’s role in obtaining statements at the fire scene (4-3.4)

• 2-20.7 Identify the procedures for securing a fire scene (3-3.13, 4-3.4)

• 2-20.8 Identify the legal considerations, at the fire scene, in relation to cause and determination (4-3.4)

• 2-20.9 Identify the procedures for protecting and preserving evidence. (3-3.13)

» IFSTA, Essentials, 4th ed, Chapter 17» Delmar, Firefighter’s Handbook, 2000, Chapter 20

FIRE CAUSES

• Fuel that ignited• Form and source of the heat of ignition• Act or omission that helped to bring these two

factors together

CAUSE & DETERMINATION

• Recognize and collect information by observing the fire and its behavior– During the response– Upon arrival– When entering the structure– While locating the fire– While extinguishing the fire– During overhaul efforts

FIRE INVESTIGATOR

• Collection and preservation of evidence• Analyzing evidence to determine the exact

cause

OBSERVATIONS

• Note anything that could point to the origin and cause or any actions taken that could affect determining the origin and cause

OBSERVATIONS

• While en route to the fire, note the following:– Time of day

• Are people dressed appropriately• Should building be occupied

– Weather conditions/natural hazards• Hot, cold, stormy• Heavy snow, flooding, fog• Hot outside, furnace running• Cold outside, windows open• Man-made barriers or obstructions• Vehicles blocking access, hydrants, FDC, etc• Dumpsters, fallen trees, etc., blocking streets

OBSERVATIONS– People leaving the scene

• Vehicle type, color and license plate• Clothing• Physical description

– Upon arrival on the scene, note the following:• Try to determine fire growth from time is reported until time of

arrival, if caller is present• Location(s) of smoke and flame• Has flashover occurred• Has it self-ventilated• How? Vertical or Horizontal?

OBSERVATIONS• Wind direction and speed may have effect on fire spread and path

of travel, may mislead investigation• Door and windows locked or unlocked• Signs of forcible entry, covered over on the inside• Is the fire a single location • Are there multiple unconnected locations• Pinpoint origin of fire• Containers or cans found in unusual places inside or outside could

have contained accelerants

OBSERVATIONS• Tools that may have been used for a burglary

– Pry bars, large screwdrivers, etc– Items found in unusual locations– Familiar faces in a crowd– Persons that show up at most fires– Persons may come forward to offer help or information

• Note the following observations while fighting the fire:– Unusual odors may smell as approaching the area– While wearing SCBA you will not smell odors

OBSERVATIONS

– Abnormal fire behavior/response to water application• Flashbacks• Re-ignition• Number of rekindles in the same area• Fire intensifies or spreads

– Obstacles to firefighting activities• Furniture or other obstructions in doorways or hallways• Doors blocked or tied shut• Holes cut in floor

OBSERVATIONS

– Incendiary devices• Candles• Wires or strings hanging from ceiling• Trip wires• Broken bottles or containers• Parts of timers or electrical devices

– Trailers (Combustible materials rolled and laid end to end from room to room• Papers• Rags• Blankets• Flammable/combustible liquid• Spreads fire from one point to another• Can be indicated by burn or char pattern

OBSERVATIONS

– Structural alterations• Holes cut in walls, ceilings, floors• Fire doors blocked open• Elevator hoist-way doors blocked open on multiple

floors– Fire patterns• Movement• Intensity• Irregular burning• Locally heavy charring

OBSERVATIONS

– Heat intensity• Varying degrees of heat intensity in same room or area

– Documents• Immediate availability of insurance policy, deeds,

inventory lists– Alarm (fire and/or intrusion) and suppression

systems• Tampering with either system• System damaged or shut off

OBSERVATIONS– Location of fire vs. ignition sources

• Closet• Dresser or file cabinet drawer• Bathtub• Center of a floor• Center of a bed

– Personal possessions• Little or no clothing in closets• Minimal or no furniture• No food or dishes• Lack of family photos, heirlooms, diplomas, etc.

OBSERVATIONS– Household items

• Quality items replaced with junk• Appliances replaced with non-working (are they plugged in or

connected)– Business equipment and/or inventory

• Old or obsolete• Does it appear to currently be in use

– Business records• Open and exposed to fire• Not in normal place• Missing

RESPONSIBILITY AFTER A FIRE

• Protect evidence at the scene– Perform salvage and overhaul carefully, especially around

area of origin– Delay thorough salvage and overhaul until point of origin

and cause have been determined– Report all facts to officer in charge as soon as possible

• Officer in charge should maintain a chronologically written report

OBTAINING STATEMENTS

• Obtain all information possible pertaining to fire– Allow owners and occupants of property to talk

freely– Do not attempt to interrogate a potential arson

suspect• Call a trained investigator to conduct the interview

OBTAINING STATEMENTS

• Report all information to officer in charge or investigator– Never make statements of accusation, personal opinion or

probable cause– If investigator on site, personnel should make statements

only to him/her– Public statements are made only after investigator and

ranking fire officer have agreed to accuracy and given permission for release

SECURING A FIRE SCENE

• Premises must be properly secured and guarded by fire department until investigator authorizes its release– All evidence collected should be marked, tagged and

photographed as collected– Fire department has authority to bar access to premises

during firefighting operations and for a reasonable time after suppression has been terminated• Fire department authority ends when last member of department

leaves the premises

SECURING THE FIRE SCENEVS 17–2

BlockedEntrances

Cordoned-Off Areas/SignsLocked/Guarded Fences

BoardedDoors/

Windows

OBTAINING STATEMENTS

– Fire personnel should not allow anyone to enter the scene without the investigator’s permission and only with authorized escort• Should be documented in chronological written log• A description of any items removed from the scene

should be documented

– Premises should be cordoned off and guarded

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Two statements relevant based on Michigan vs. Taylor by US Supreme Court:– “Once in a building (to extinguish a fire), firefighters may

seize (without a warrant) evidence of arson that is in plain view….(and) officials need no warrant to remain in a building for a reasonable time to investigate the cause of the blaze after it has been extinguished.”

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS– “If there has been a fire, the blaze extinguished and the

firefighters have left the premises, a warrant is required to re-enter and search the premises, unless there is consent…”

• If there is incendiary evidence, the department should leave at least one persons on the premises until an investigator arrives

• Local Authority Having Jurisdiction should write a standard operating procedure concerning these opinions

PROTECTING & PRESERVING EVIDENCE

• Firefighters should protect evidence, untouched and undisturbed if at all possible, until an investigator arrives

• If evidence is handled or procured, the firefighter must accurately document all actions as soon as possible, to maintain the chain of custody (evidence)

• Changes to evidence should be permitted only if absolutely necessary to extinguish the fire

• After investigator has collected evidence, careful overhaul of debris may begin, taking notice of any possible further evidence

TAGGING & PACKING EVIDENCEVS 17–3

New, UnusedPaint Can

ClearGlass Jar

Resealable Plastic Bag

Homework1. Responsibility to conduct an interview with a suspected arsonist rests with ___.a. A trained investigator c. The police department b. The first-arriving firefighter d. The incident commander2. To whom does the firefighter or fire officer make statements of accusation, personal

opinion, and probable cause?a. To the property owner c. To the fire investigatorb. To the press d. To the property’s insurer3. Why should firefighters never prematurely announce fire cause or make statements

in jest at the scene?a. Fire cause is not a matter for public dissemination.b. Such statements should be reserved for the privacy of the fire station.c. Such statements may embarrass the fire department and hamper the legal process.d. Such statements can only be made by the chief.4. What is a sufficient reply to any question concerning fire cause?a. “No comment.”b. “It is unlikely that we will be able to determine the cause of this fire.”c. “That information is confidential fire department data that cannot be released to

the public.”d. “The fire is under investigation.”

Homework5. How long should the premises be guarded and kept under the control of the fire department?a. For 60 days after completion of the operationb. Until all evidence has been gathered and evaluated by the fire investigator exactly as it appearsc. Until after all court proceedings regarding the incident have been completedd. Until the property owner insists that the department vacate the premises6. Why should all evidence be marked, tagged, and photographed before the last firefighter leaves the

scene?a. Because that is a normally assigned duty of the last department personb. So that such activities do not interfere with tactical operations, they should be done lastc. Because in many instances a search warrant or written consent to search will be needed for further visits

to the premisesd. To prevent damage to the delicate measuring instruments used in the collection of evidence7. Firefighter A says that firefighters should secure the site and maintain security. Firefighter B says that departments may use law enforcement personnel to secure sites. Who is right?a. Firefighter A b. Firefighter B c. Both A and B d. Neither A nor B8. When does fire department authority end?a. At each end of the first duty shift after the fire is extinguishedb. As soon as last fire department representative leaves the scenec. Five work days after termination of the incident d. Upon issue of an order from the local courts

Homework9. When the scene is secured, who should be allowed to enter the premises?a. No one unless accompanied by an authorized individual within local laws as applicable to

property ownersb. Only department personnel and members of the news mediac. Only law enforcement officersd. No one except the fire investigators10. When a person is authorized entry to the premises, what information should be

recorded in the entry log?a. Person’s name, social security number, and description of any items taken from the sceneb. Person’s name, times of entry and departure, and vehicle license numberc. Person’s name, physical description, and social security numberd. Person’s name, times of entry and departure, and description of any items taken from

the scene11. On what legal case was the decision to require a search warrant on return to premises

based?a. Minnesota vs. Taylor (1988)b. Michigan vs. Tyler (1978)c. Mississippi vs. Tyson (1987)d. Wisconsin vs. Towson (1977)

Homework

12. What is the likely legal impact of reentering the premises without the owner’s written consent or a search warrant?

a. Arrest of the fire chiefb. Dissolution of the departmentc. Making prosecution or conviction of the alleged arsonist impossibled. The need to provide a chain of custody report to the court in order to admit

evidence13. Firefighter A says that the recommended action if there is incendiary

evidence is to have someone watch the premises from nearby. Firefighter B says that the recommended action if there is incendiary evidence

is to develop SOPs around the legal opinions applicable to the jurisdiction. Who is right?a. Firefighter A b. Firefighter B c. Both A and B d. Neither A nor B

Homework14. What is the preferred way for a firefighter to deal with potential evidence that is

found on site?a. To immediately recover it and place it in an area of safe storageb. To immediately cease salvage operations and notify the IC of the evidence so that

Command can determine what to doc. To leave it untouched and undisturbed and to provide security for the aread. To cordon off the area during daytime operations or to mark it with a flare during

nighttime operations15. Under what circumstances should a firefighter gather and handle physical

evidence?a. Whenever such evidence is discoveredb. Whenever there will be more than a 12-hour delay in the arrival of the investigatorc. Only if it is absolutely necessary to preserve the evidenced. Only if absolutely necessary to allow thorough overhaul and salvage16. What must a firefighter do if he or she handles or procures evidence?a. Undergo decontamination.b. Testify in all related court proceedings.c. Accurately document all actions taken as soon as possible.d. Notify the fire investigator immediately.

Homework17. What changes in the evidence should be allowed?a. Those absolutely necessary in the extinguishment of the fireb. Those absolutely necessary to improve the quality of photographs that can be

obtainedc. Those absolutely necessary to remove evidence from toxic atmospheresd. None18. What type of protection should be provided to partially burned papers and charred

documents?a. They should be protected from drafts.b. They should be placed in plastic page protectors in three-ring binders.c. Individual photographs should be made of each page.d. Photocopies should be made of each page. 19. Firefighter A says that when protecting and preserving evidence, the firefighter

should immediately package all evidence and transport it to the laboratory.Firefighter B says that when protecting and preserving evidence, evidence should be guarded where it is found — untouched and undisturbed — to preserve the chain of custody.Who is right?

a. Firefighter A b. Firefighter B c. Both A and B d. Neither A nor B

Homework20. What is the best method of preserving human footprints until plaster casts can be made?a. Covering them with a salvage coverb. Covering them with boxesc. Picking them up on a shovel and transferring them to a cardboard boxd. Roping off the area21. When may debris be cleaned up?a. After fire cause has been determined b. Twenty-four hours after extinguishmentc. After salvage operations have been performed d. After evidence has been properly

collected22. What should the firefighter not do when handling debris during cleanup?a. Separate unburned materials from the debris, clean these materials, and remove debris

from the structure.b. Shovel debris into large containers and dump on street or sidewalk where there is little

possibility of re-ignition and fire spread to nearby materials.c. Separate charred materials from the debris and remove from the structure.d. Shovel debris into large containers and dump in backyard or alley that is not visible to the

public.23. What should the firefighter who detects possible signs of arson do?a. Ensure that the evidence will not rekindle by drenching it with water.b. Prevent contamination of the evidence by packaging the evidence and removing it from

the fire area.c. Protect it, untouched and undisturbed.d. Immediately report the evidence in writing to his or her superior or the police.