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Evidence Guide: PUAFIR604A - Determine origin and cause of structure fire

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

PUAFIR604A - Determine origin and cause of structure fire

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Coordinate structure fire investigation

  1. Roles and responsibilities of multi-agency and supportpersonnel involved in a structure fire investigation are confirmed
  2. Cooperation with multi-agency personnel in the conduct of the investigation consistent with designated roles and responsibilities for a structure fire investigation is achieved
  3. Information required by fire investigator from multi-agency personnel is identified, sought and received
  4. Protective clothing and equipment are used in accordance with agency procedures
  5. Occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures appropriate to the incident are followed
Roles and responsibilities of multi-agency and supportpersonnel involved in a structure fire investigation are confirmed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooperation with multi-agency personnel in the conduct of the investigation consistent with designated roles and responsibilities for a structure fire investigation is achieved

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information required by fire investigator from multi-agency personnel is identified, sought and received

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protective clothing and equipment are used in accordance with agency procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures appropriate to the incident are followed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secure fire scene and preserve evidence

  1. Legal obligations of fire scene investigators are adhered to throughout the investigation
  2. Methods of scene security prior to examination are implemented
  3. Procedures to monitor and log access to a fire scene are established and applied, as required
  4. Strategies for locating, collecting and processing evidence are implemented
  5. Methods of preservation of evidence at a fire scene are implemented
  6. Scene is protected from unnecessary damage, spoliation, destruction or contamination
Legal obligations of fire scene investigators are adhered to throughout the investigation

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methods of scene security prior to examination are implemented

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strategies for locating, collecting and processing evidence are implemented

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methods of preservation of evidence at a fire scene are implemented

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conduct scene investigation

  1. External and internal survey of scene is conducted to identify hazards and action is taken to mitigate risk
  2. Scene is examined externally and internally to determine areas of interest and to record observation of factors which may have a bearing on the origin, cause or development of a structure fire
  3. Areas or items of evidence that have a potential bearing on the origin, cause or development of a structure fire are identified
  4. Effect of building construction and other factors relevant to fire development and spread are identified
  5. Nature and reactivity of materials involved in fire cause are identified
  6. Site indicators of fire spread with other sources of evidence are examined
  7. Witness and firefighter information is obtained in accordance with the rules of evidence
  8. Significance of evidence is assessed and prioritised for further review
  9. Burn patterns and effects of fire suppression are identified and assessed
  10. Area/likely point of origin and possible cause of structure fire are determined
  11. Origin and cause determination theories are assessed and tested
External and internal survey of scene is conducted to identify hazards and action is taken to mitigate risk

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature and reactivity of materials involved in fire cause are identified

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Witness and firefighter information is obtained in accordance with the rules of evidence

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significance of evidence is assessed and prioritised for further review

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burn patterns and effects of fire suppression are identified and assessed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Area/likely point of origin and possible cause of structure fire are determined

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin and cause determination theories are assessed and tested

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collect and analyse evidence from a fire scene

  1. Appropriate sampling areas and items are identified using required sampling equipment and resources
  2. Appropriate collection techniques are applied eliminating contamination and loss of evidence
  3. Best available samples and items including control samples are collected
  4. Appropriate collection and packaging techniques are adopted
  5. Potential for destruction (spoliation) and contamination of evidence is eliminated
  6. Integrity and continuity of collected exhibits is maintained
  7. Evidence from fire scene is analysed and processed using a range of recording and technological media
  8. Witness accounts are reviewed against theories
  9. Findings are reported and documented according to required practice and agency policy
  10. Evidence is secured for subsequent action
  11. Investigation report is completed and forwarded to appropriate authorities/stakeholders
Appropriate sampling areas and items are identified using required sampling equipment and resources

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appropriate collection techniques are applied eliminating contamination and loss of evidence

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best available samples and items including control samples are collected

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appropriate collection and packaging techniques are adopted

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potential for destruction (spoliation) and contamination of evidence is eliminated

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Integrity and continuity of collected exhibits is maintained

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evidence from fire scene is analysed and processed using a range of recording and technological media

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Witness accounts are reviewed against theories

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Findings are reported and documented according to required practice and agency policy

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evidence is secured for subsequent action

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigation report is completed and forwarded to appropriate authorities/stakeholders

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

collect and maximise the potential evidentiary value of physical evidence

apply safe work practices at a fire scene

identify area/point of origin and possible cause of fire

apply evidence and forensic scientific principles to assess possible area/point of origin and causes.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time and across a range of workplace and/or simulated situations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in the workplace and in a simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

legislation, policy, procedures and protocols relating to gathering and managing evidence

case studies and workplace scenarios to capture the range of causes likely to occur for which evidence needs to be gathered and managed.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this unit may include a combination of:

case studies

demonstration

observation

questioning

scenarios

authenticated evidence from the workplace.

Required Skills and Knowledge

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

assess and investigate a scene externally and internally

clearly articulate and justify findings

collect and handle exhibits and items of interest

elicit information from relevant witnesses

interpret fire indicators

interpret fire scene

manage fire scene investigation cases

present findings

take notes

take photographs with written explanations

take videos with narrative and explanations

write reports

Required Knowledge

appropriate recording methods

appropriate sampling

categories of fire

common causes of fire (accidental, chemical, deliberate, electrical, incendiary, natural, negligence)

fire behaviour (flashover, backdraught, sequence of development)

fire language

human behaviour/impact on incident

incendiary devices (commercial, home-made, industrial)

OHS considerations

scene protocol

sequence of events of a fire

what samples (if any) need to be taken

Range Statement

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Roles and responsibilities may include:

Agency operating procedures

Legislative requirements

Memorandums of understanding

Agencies may include:

Coroner

Electrical authorities

Forensic scientists

Gas authorities

Industry peak bodies

Insurance investigators, assessors and construction companies (to ‘make safe’ properties)

Other statutory authorities

Police investigators

Support personnel may include:

Government and private forensic chemists

Insurance investigators and assessors

Statutory bodies

Scene security may include:

Legal obligations

Scene preservation

Internal survey of scene includes:

Development and testing of hypothesis/es on potential areas of origin

Determination of area of origin

Interpretation of smoke, heat and direct flame contact records

Recognition of area of least damage

Witnesses may include:

Firefighters

Members of statutory agencies

Members of the public

Property owners/occupants

Origin and cause determination must include:

Burn patterns (V patterns, inverted V patterns, hourglass patterns, circular-shaped patterns)

Identification of ignition sources

Scene interpretation

Scene processing

Sampling equipment and resources may include:

Accelerant detecting canine

Field-based sampling devices e.g. photo ionisation detectors

Appropriate collection techniques may include:

Preservation of evidence

Search techniques

Security of environment

Recording and technological media may include:

Audio

Computers

Log book

Note taking

Photography (digital, multimedia, closed circuit television [CCTV], other media images)

Sketches and plans

Video