HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 702.01 REVIEWED 11-2010-Fire Investigator Call-Out702.01 - Fire Investigator Call Out
Effective: 12/1/2003
Reviewed: 11/5/2010
Replaces: UOG 202.13A; SOG 202.13 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 1 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 1111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111
I. Guiding PhilosophX
Determining the cause and origin of a fire is not always a simple process. Fire
Investigators have the technical training and experience necessary to appropriately make this
determination and collect evidence, if this is necessary. They should be utilized when there is
aM doubt by the Incident Commander as to the circumstances surrounding a fire.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to Chief and Company officers by
communicating the appropriate circumstances relative to calling out a Fire Investigator, and to
define the role, relationship, and authority of the Investigator at the emergency scene.
III. Goals
The goals of this policy are to:
A. Communicate when the Incident Commander should call a Fire Investigator to the
scene.
B. Define the roles, responsibilities, and authority of the Fire Investigator on scene.
IV. Definitions
A. Chain of Custody, - the chronological documentation, and/or paper trail, showing
the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of evidence,
physical or electronic. Because evidence can be used in court to convict persons
of crimes, it must be handled in a scrupulously careful manner to avoid later
allegations of tampering or misconduct which can compromise the case of the
prosecution toward acquittal or to overturning a guilty verdict upon appeal.
B. Evidence - in its broadest sense, anything that is used to determine or
demonstrate the truth of an assertion. The focus of criminal evidence is to connect
physical evidence and reports of witnesses to a specific person.
V. When to Call Out an Investigator
A. Any time the Incident Commander feels that a situation may require investigation
or follow up a Fire Investigator may be called out. In any and all cases where
there is a question as to the need for a Fire Investigator to be called out, the
Incident Commander will communicate the nature of the situation to the on-call
Investigator, and be guided by the advice provided. An Investigator shall be
called to the scene in the following situations:
1. Any incident involving a fire death or serious injury by fire to civilian or
emergency response personnel.
2. Any incident escalating to a multi -alarm status.
3. Any fire within a commercial structure - particularly restaurants - this is
primarily for code violations that may exist which need to be corrected
before the business reopens.
4. Any fire in an apartment building or complex where structural damage
and/or property loss is involved.
5. Any fire of a suspicious or undetermined origin where structural damage
and/or property loss is involved.
6. Any incident involving arson or attempted arson.
7. Any incident involving explosives, improvised explosive devices, or
where an explosion has occurred.
8. Any fire scene with major damage and/or injuries where a full
investigation is appropriate.
9. Any situation involving a life safety or fire codes -related issue that
requires immediate attention.
10. Any fire scene involving multiple responses to the same location or
rekindles which incur additional structural and/or property damage.
VI. Evidence Collection & the Chain of Custody
A. Custody of the scene must be maintained, and overhaul should be restricted,
whenever practical, until evidence has been collected and the origin and cause of
a fire has been appropriately determined.
VII. Investiaator Roles. Responsibilities & Authori
A. Upon arrival on scene, the Fire Investigator will check in with the Incident
Commander and will be functionally assigned within the current Incident Action
Plan. The Incident Commander will work with the Fire Investigator and assign
crews as necessary to assist with the investigation.
B. Following the principles of ICS and effective communications, the Investigator
will coordinate his/her activities on scene with the Incident Commander.
C. The Investigator will have functional authority of the scene relative to the
investigation aspects of the incident.
SOG 702.01 — Fire Investigator Call Out Page 2 of 2