Whitestown Fire Department Standard Operating Procedure Title: Fire Investigation No: 6.01 Date: 7/29/2016 Adopted 8/1/16 Page: 1 of 1 Purpose: The purpose of the Fire Investigation Program is to investigate fire incidents as accurately and efficiently as possible. This will be accomplished by using the team or task force approach with the Fire Department and Law Enforcement Agencies working as a team. The Fire Marshal shall serve as the administrator of the Fire Investigation Program. Reference: The Fire Investigation Unit shall be comprised of those persons assigned by the Fire Marshal as approved by the Fire Chief. Each member of the Fire Investigation Program shall be certified as Fire Investigator I by the State of Indiana. Scope: 1. To initiate the Fire investigation process as soon as safely possible and inform the appropriate officers of the preliminary findings within 24 hours. 2. To involve law enforcement investigators immediately upon determination of suspicious origin and cause and to jointly pursue the apprehension and interrogation of the suspect(s). 3. To monitor the judicial process once apprehension has been made and inform the appropriate officers of the suspect(s) release and/or trial dates, final trial verdict, and imposed sentence(s). A. Fire Investigation Procedure: 1. It is the responsibility of command to provide for cause investigation of every fire incident causing injury or property damage. This must be accomplished after fire control activities and before taking salvage and overhaul actions, which could hinder the investigation. There is a responsibility to attempt to determine fire cause in all cases, not only when arson is suspected. The cause determination of accidental fires will be related back to NFIRS data and will be used to prevent future fires. 2. When a fire investigator is on the scene or responding, companies shall delay nonessential overhaul until the investigator has had time to survey the area. Salvage activities, which stop further property damage, should continue, while attempting not to interfere with the area of origin and any possible evidence. 3. When a delay in response by an investigator is indicated, command shall assign personnel to protect the fire scene and maintain custody until the arrival of an investigator. If the incident is minor in nature, (no injuries, slight damage) and the cause can be readily determined, units on the scene will gather the information and contact the investigator while still on the scene. 1
4. Command will turn over jurisdiction of the fire area to the investigator as soon as possible after the fire is stabilized. The investigator retains jurisdiction until he/she releases it back to command or the home owner. The investigator may inform command that he/she intends to maintain custody of the scene for further investigations. 5. The investigator will request from command any manpower or equipment needed to assist in the investigation. Command will respond to such requests to the extent possible under the prevailing circumstances. 6. All personnel will cooperate with the investigation. Protection of the fire scene and preservation of physical evidence will be the primary concern once life safety is secured and fire control is achieved. 7. One of the fire investigators will investigate all fires in which there is a reported fire loss or personal injury, even if it did not require apparatus response. If no investigators are at the scene, the officer in charge will call for one. If it is determined by the on scene investigator or officer in charge that additional investigators are needed, the officer in charge shall call for them. 8. If no investigators are available are need additional investigators, the officer in charge will call for assistance from the Boone Co. Arson Task Force. 9. The first investigator on the scene will be in charge of the investigation, and it is his responsibility to: a. Request additional investigators if necessary. b. Preserve Scene Integrity c. Determine origin and cause. d. Gather evidence / document findings e. Notify other agencies, the Fire Marshal, and Chief as necessary. f. Determine materials and/or equipment involved in ignition. g. Determine factors influencing the development of the fire. h. Record the extent of damages. i. Conduct interviews as required to determine origin and cause. j. Sketches and photographs as k. Keep hand written notes on all pertinent information. l. Complete the required reports. m. File all records and reports in the fire investigation file. n. Exchange information with the police agencies and other investigators as necessary. o. Report findings to the Fire Marshal upon completion. B. Destruction of Evidence: 1. The misconception that evidence is destroyed in a fire has been at the attention of the courts. Evidence is not destroyed, except in rare cases. The form, shape color, size and weight are certainly altered, but it can still be identified and placed in proper perspective. 2. The fire department must protect the scene from damage during firefighting. a. Extinguishment-evidence can be washed out the door with the misuse of fire streams. b. Overhaul-The most damaging time for evidence that is to be used by the Fire Investigator or Police Department in court cases. c. Salvage-This operation should not be too thorough until the investigation is completed, except to diminish continuing loss. 2
C. Evidence: 1. Guard the scene. a. Post a guard. b. Maintain custody until release of the scene. c. No unauthorized persons will enter; the fire department has the authority to secure the scene. d. Prevent personnel from unnecessarily walking through the fire scene, avoid walking on evidence. e. Keep a list of the names of people who have been in the area where evidence is found or in the fire building. 2. In the event that physical evidence is to be taken, it shall be thoroughly documented and then stored in the fire departments evidence locker until a determination is made of its disposition 3. Whenever evidence is taken, it shall be put in appropriate containers and marked with name of person taking evidence sample, time, date and incident number. Whenever evidence is transferred from one person to another, the person who receives the evidence shall sign a receipt for it, with his or her name, date, time and incident number. When evidence is to be stored it must be under lock and key in the fire department s evidence locker. A supply of evidence containers will be kept in the evidence locker. D. Investigator Call Out: 1. Purpose: This is a guide to follow concerning investigations of fires or other incidents. Using this guideline, an investigator will be notified by radio, phone, or alpha/numeric pager when any of the following circumstances exist. 2. Commercial commercial building, which is: 1. Damage greater than $1000.00. 2. Unoccupied Structure. 3. Signs of forced entry. 4. A firefighter or civilian is injured or killed. 5. Fire appears to be suspicious. 6. IC is unable to determine cause or feels an investigator is 3. Residential residential building which results in: 1. Damage greater than $1000.00. 2. Unoccupied structure. 3. Bedroom or closet fires. 4. Signs of forced entry. 5. Fires, which occur when children are left home alone. 6. A firefighter or civilian is injured or killed. 7. Fire appears to be suspicious. 8. IC is unable to determine cause or feels an investigator is 3
4. Automobiles vehicle, which results in: 1. Confirmed stolen vehicle. 2. Abandoned vehicles. 3. Signs of forced entry. 4. Fire extends beyond car. 5. Vehicle is less than four years old and insured. 6. A firefighter or civilian is injured or killed. 7. Fire appears to be suspicious. 8. IC is unable to determine cause or feels an investigator is 9. The investigator can respond to the scene or order the vehicle to be held and secured at a wrecker lot pending further investigation. 5. Dumpster/Trash a. A Fire Department Investigator should be requested when a fire occurs in or around a dumpster which results in: 1. Damage which extends beyond the dumpster. 2. Known suspect. 3. A firefighter or civilian is injured or killed. 4. IC feels an investigator is 6. Field Fire field, which results in: 1. Damage, which extends beyond field. 2. Known suspect. 3. A firefighter or civilian is injured or killed. 4. IC feels an investigator is 7. Fire Scene Fatality a. The scene will immediately be secured, and the body will not be moved unless the body would be further damaged by spread of fire or possible building collapse. When possible, if a body has to be moved, it should be photographed before the moving of the body. b. The Incident Commander will be responsible for the following in the event of a fire fatality. 1. Request for Department Investigator. 2. Advise dispatch to notify a State Fire Marshal fire investigator. 3. Notify the appropriate law enforcement agency. 4. Establish a crime scene by taping off the property with yellow fire line tape. 5. Protect the body(s) and immediate area. 6. Limit access to the area where the bodies are found. 7. Obtain the names of anyone who has been in this area. c. The IC will fill in the investigator on his/her arrival: 1. Person(s) who found the body. 2. Location found. 3. Time the body(s) were found. 4. Times of dispatch and arrival. 4
5. Any witness information. d. When the normal removal of body is taking place, it will be done whenever possible by the law enforcement agency in conjunction with the coroner and according to the following procedures: 1. Photograph of body from at least two angles. (If body is covered with debris, it will first be photographed with debris in place.) 2. Then debris will be removed keeping debris separate from other debris preferably in can or container. 3. When body is being removed, it should be outlined with chalk or marking tape first. 4. Then a picture or pictures showing the normal escape route victim should have taken and also picture of anything preventing exit. 5. Call in an inspector to make notes of code violations if any. 6. Request an autopsy including fire related tests E. Juvenile Fire setter: 1. Anytime the Fire Department has a fire involving a possible juvenile fire-setter, the Fire Department will contact a Juvenile Fire-setter Interviewer to assist them in the interview and investigations. 5