What are the differences between public and private sector fire investigations?

Overview: In this assignment, you will analyze a fire. You are one of the on-call Fire Investigators for the Jamestown Municipal Fire Department. At 10:00 AM on Tuesday April 3rd you are notified that a structure fire has occurred at 75 South Street. You are assigned to conduct the cause and origin investigation along with your partner Lieutenant Brady. 75 South Street is a three story, two family residential structure located in a residential neighborhood. The dispatcher tells you the fire was in the rear of the building and it took the Fire Department about twenty minutes to extinguish it. The dispatcher also informs you that there is an investigator from the SafeWay insurance company responding to the scene. SafeWay holds the insurance policy for the building. Instructions:

• Download the PowerPoint with the fire scene photos.

• Analyze the photos to answer the questions in each part. Part I. The Initial Investigation

1. You have been tasked with conducting a cause and origin investigation. Define

“Cause” and “Origin” and provide examples of each.

2. While responding, you and Lieutenant Brady discuss using the scientific

method to approach the investigation. What are the steps of the scientific

method?

3. You are working for the Jamestown Municipal Fire Department as a public

sector investigator. The SafeWay insurance company has sent a private sector

investigator. What are the differences between public and private sector fire

investigations?

4. Before you arrive on scene, you and Lt. Brady must ensure you are legally

entering the property to begin your investigation. There are three main ways a

CRJ344 – Fire & Arson Investigation

Fire Scene Investigation

public sector investigator can legally enter a building to begin an investigation.

Define and explain them.

5. Your safety and the safety of your partner are always the top priority. What are

some items you may wear to ensure you remain safe during the investigation?

When you arrive on scene, you will want to identify any potential hazards

present during the investigation. What are some hazards for a fire investigator

working at a residential structure fire?

Part II. The Exterior Examination You and Lt. Brady arrive on the scene and meet with the Fire Department. The Fire Department says a neighbor called in the fire after seeing it through her bedroom window. Upon arrival the fire department said the whole back of the building was on fire. They used hose lines to extinguish the fire. Review the pictures and provide answers based on your knowledge of fire science.

6. The “Exterior South” photo shows that heat energy traveled from the house to a

nearby car, likely through radiation. Radiation is one of the three methods of

heat transfer. Name the other two methods and provide examples of each.

7. All the photos show that the fire moved well past the “Incipient Stage” which is

the first stage of fire growth. Name the other three stages of fire growth and

provide examples.

8. To determine the cause and origin of the fire, the investigator must show how

all parts of the “Fire Tetrahedron” came together. Define the four components

of the “Fire Tetrahedron”.

9. This is a “wood frame” building where the walls, floors and roof are all

constructed with wood. How does fire impact wood as oppose to non-

combustible construction materials such as steel or concrete?

10. One of the gases that is produced any time organic material burns is carbon

monoxide. How does carbon monoxide impact the human body?

11. What is the definition of “Fire”?

12. You conduct your exterior survey in a clockwise fashion and then work from

areas of “least damage” to areas of “most damage”. This is a systematic

approach to fire scene documentation. Why is it important to use a consistent

systematic method when documenting a fire scene?