This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to manage the inspection and assessment of a structure fire to determine origin and cause. The unit focuses developing and applying a systematic approach to fire investigation in a structured environment.

It includes originating structure fire investigations, securing fire scenes and preserving evidence. It also includes the evaluation and examination of fire debris, identifying and recovering evidence relevant to a fire investigation, packaging items of evidence for examination and conducting a thorough analysis of fire behaviour, development and travel as well as gathering evidence to establish fire cause.

Application of this unit is relevant to fire investigators who are required to determine the origin and cause of a structure fires.

The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Coordinate structure fire investigation

1.1

Cooperation with a range of agencies/organisations personnel in the conduct of the investigation is consistent with organisational procedures and designated roles and responsibilities for a structure fire investigation

1.2

Information required by fire investigator from a range of agencies/organisations personnel is identified, sought and recorded

1.3

Personal protective clothing and equipment is used, in accordance with organisational procedures

2

Secure fire scene and preserve evidence

2.1

Legal obligations of fire scene investigators are adhered to throughout the investigation

2.2

Methods of scene security prior to examination are implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.3

Procedures to monitor and log access to a fire scene are identified and applied, as required

2.4

Strategies for locating, collecting and processing evidence are implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.5

Methods of preservation of evidence at a fire scene are implemented

2.6

Scene is protected from unnecessary damage, spoliation, destruction or contamination

3

Conduct scene investigation

3.1

Investigation activities are coordinated with Incident Controller, in accordance with organisational procedures, when active fire management activities are still occurring

3.2

External and internal survey of scene is conducted to identify hazards and action is taken to mitigate risks

3.3

Scene is examined, externally and internally, to determine areas of interest and to record observations which may have a bearing on the origin, cause or development of a structure fire

3.4

Areas or items of evidence that have a potential bearing on the origin, cause or development of a structure fire are identified

3.5

Effects of building construction and other factors relevant to fire development and spread are identified

3.6

Nature and reactivity of materials involved in fire cause are identified

3.7

Site indicators of fire spread with other sources of evidence are examined

3.8

Witness information is obtained and recorded, in accordance with organisational procedures and rules of evidence

3.9

Burn patterns and effects of fire suppression are identified and assessed

3.10

Area or likely point of origin and possible cause of structure fire are determined, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.11

Origin and cause determination theories are assessed and tested, in accordance with organisational procedures

4

Collect and analyse evidence from a fire scene

4.1

Appropriate sampling areas and items are identified using required sampling equipment and resources

4.2

Appropriate collection and packaging techniques are adopted, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.3

Potential for destruction, spoliation and contamination of evidence is eliminated, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.4

Integrity and continuity of collected exhibits is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.5

Evidence from fire scene is analysed and processed using a range of recording and digital multimedia

4.6

Fire origin and cause determination theories are developed and assessed

4.7

Witness accounts are reviewed against theories, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.8

Fire origin and cause are determined

4.9

Findings are reported and documented, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.10

Evidence is secured for subsequent action, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.11

Investigation report is completed and forwarded to relevant authorities and stakeholders, in accordance with organisational procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

origin and cause determination must include

burn patterns - v/patterns, inverted v/patterns, hour glass and circular shaped patterns

identification of ignition sources

scene interpretation and processing

Fire

Fire