This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to undertake an investigation of a fire involving fatalities. It is applicable to specialist fire investigators who are required to apply a systematic approach to the investigation of fatalities at a fire scene.

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

Assess impact of fire on human remains

1.1

Presence of human remains is identified and confirmed at the scene and is processed, in accordance with coronial and organisational requirements

1.2

Appropriate notifications to coronial services and police are made, in accordance with statutory and organisational procedures

1.3

Effect of fire heat range on human remains is assessed

1.4

Visible burn patterns and injuries on human remains are identified, assessed and documented

1.5

Proximity of human remains to fire is assessed

1.6

Origin and cause determination theories for fire are assessed

2

Examine factors impacting on origin and cause of death

2.1

Human factors that may have prevented occupants escaping the fire and products of combustion are examined and recorded

2.2

Effectiveness and operation of early warning detection and suppression systems are assessed

2.3

Observations regarding deceased's clothing are made and recorded

2.4

Observations of human behaviour before, during and after the fire are recorded

2.5

Effects of environmental conditions are assessed and recorded

3

Implement procedures for recovery of human remains and report findings

3.1

Disaster victim identification procedures are implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.2

Methods of protecting human remains prior to removal from a fire scene are implemented

3.3

Consequential damage to human remains are recorded and reported to the appropriate authorities

3.4

Human remains collected from a fire scene are recorded, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.5

Techniques to minimise evidence deterioration are followed, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.6

Techniques and equipment are used for scene analysis, reconstruction and testing of hypothesis, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.7

Investigation report is completed and forwarded to appropriate authorities and stakeholders

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.

Fire

Fire