Elements and Performance Criteria
- Coordinate fire investigation
- Roles and responsibilities of multi-agency and support personnel involved in fire investigation are confirmed
- Cooperation with multi-agency personnel in the conduct of the investigation consistent with designated roles and responsibilities for the fire investigation is achieved
- Information required for the fire investigation from multi-agency personnel is identified, sought and received
- Protective clothing and equipment are used
- Occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures appropriate to the incident are followed
- Identify, assess and collect circuitry components and appliances
- External and internal survey of fire scene is conducted to identify and assess electrical circuitry, electrical equipment and appliances
- Relevance of electrical circuitry, electrical equipment and appliances to fire cause is assessed and established
- Arrangements are made for the attendance of a specialist electrical fire investigator, or government or private specialist investigators, where it is believed that electrical systems, components or appliances may have contributed to the fire
- Local expertise is sourced, where required
- Interviews are conducted
- Circuitry plans/layouts are sourced
- Areas or items of evidential value relevant to the investigation at the fire scene are identified and preserved
- Evidence is recorded and collected at the fire scene and relevant observations are documented
- Electrical circuitry components, equipment and appliances of evidential value are protected
- Arrange for tests on electrical evidence collected
- Advice is received from the specialist fire investigator (electrical), or government or private specialist investigator, as to the tests required of evidence relating to electrical systems or appliances
- Arrangements are made for laboratory and specialist testing and assessment of electrical items of evidential value
- Interpret and record findings
- Circuitry components on site plans are documented to support evidence and conclusions
- Basic circuit diagrams and electrical plans relating to building, components and equipment are interpreted
- Report providing expert opinion concerning the potential of electrical circuitry or equipment failure to contribute to the cause of fire is obtained
- Expert findings relating to potential electrical circuit component or appliance contributions to ignition are considered in conjunction with other observations and evidence from the fire
- Product recall and material safety data sheet databases are researched, as appropriate
- Recommendations are forwarded to appropriate authorities/ stakeholders, as required
- Findings are interpreted and recorded according to required practice and agency policy