Investigation Methods for Causes of Fire - Report Example

Investigation methods for causes of fire Name Institution Instructor Subject Date TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.Introduction 2 2.Factors that are relevant to the individual in investigation the causes of fire 3 3.Factors that are relevant to a group in investigation the causes of fire 3 4.Impact of physical setting on the cause of fires 4 5.Assessment of characteristics of fire during fire outbreak 5 6.Specific fire incidents where characteristics have influenced the fire outcome 7 7.Conclusion 8 8.References 9 1. Introduction It is necessary to know the methods of investigation of causes of fire so that the right courses of actions are taken to prevent subsequent occurrences of the situation. It is also vital to have an understanding of roles that are performed by a number of fire fighting agencies and personnel involved in fire investigation as well as, having the ability to analyze a number of fire investigation reports and explain a range of fire incidents (Allen and Congress Senate. Committee on Finance, 2004). The information gathered from the scene of fire can be used to understand a number of factors that resulted into the occurrence of the fire. The information is also useful in understanding the characteristics of the fire such as, the amount of calories consumed by the fire and technical and scientific knowledge and skills required to conduct a successful fire investigation. These include actions of human beings that are possible causes of fire outbreaks and the methods of controlling these actions. This paper provides an investigation of methods of investigation the causes of fire within individual level, group levels as and characteristics of the fire that can be used to explain the nature and cause of the fire (Cote, 2008). 2. Factors that are relevant to the individual in investigation the causes of fire The method used for investigation of the causes and nature of fire at individual level is dependent on a number of factors. One of these factors is the profession of an individual. For the case of a metallurgical engineer, the main areas of focus would be to determine whether there was any defective product involved. It will also involve an investigation of melting temperature of materials. This assists in determining whether there are any means that have been put in place to assist in controlling such high temperature (Cote, 2008). An individual can also participate in determining the cause of fire by determining whether there were any protective materials put in place to assist in controlling the fire. If these materials are not found, then a report is provided of the need to include them in fire management systems. In addition, an individual can determine whether he has the right equipment for fighting fire such as fire extinguishers or safety measures such as exit doors in case of fire incident. 3. Factors that are relevant to a group in investigation the causes of fire Groups of individuals such as members of a family can contribute in understanding the causes of fire in a number of ways. For instance, they can engage themselves in determining the existence of any electrical fault within their surrounding and determining the areas that can be affected such as equipment and property that can be burnt (DeHaan, 2006). They will then make a record of the condition and try to come up with a method of controlling it. The group can also try and determine the source of heat that caused the fire. This can be an oven that is left to come into contact with flammable materials or the existence of flammables gases such as gasoline that can explode when exposed to fire. They also have to understand the basic chemistry relating to the causes of fire such as the presence of oxygen and inflammable material that when subjected to heat can exposed and result into a destruction of materials and equipment in the residences. Furthermore, the group involved in fire investigation has to consider the impact of load on fire occurrence. It involves determining the nature of properties that need to be protected from fire such as occupants, furnishings that are not permanently attached or built into a house (Green, 2006). This is followed by determining the role of load explosion on the occurrence of a fire outbreak. The groups of investigators also have to include the role of properties contained in the house in contributing to fire outbreaks. For instance, the existence of chemicals and inflammable materials that can result into fire outbreak should be determined. These materials are then recommended to be handled with care while any fire handling process is done with maximum care. 4. Impact of physical setting on the cause of fires This is the process where the conditions surrounding the area of fire outbreak are put into consideration. For instance, the group involved in fire investigation has to consider certain elements of a building that can be useful in fire investigation (Lentini, 2006). These include wall partitioning, ratings of fire walls and levels of certification of wall finish. It also includes the levels of wall integrity. The nature of the wall should be analyzed on the possibility of contributing to spread of fire in case of outbreaks or methods that can be used to prevent the incidences of fire occurrence. The other factors that are considered include ceilings assemblies such as hidden spaces that act as flues and the reliability of the ceiling. This assists in determining whether any destruction can emerge to these structures and preventive measures are developed. 5. Assessment of characteristics of fire during fire outbreak It is the role of fire investigators to ensure due caution when assessing fire outbreak to ensure individuals present in the scene are not harmed. It is necessary for investigators to follow certain recommendations regarding issues such as personal protection. One of the recommendations is that fire scene investigation needs to be conducted by at least two individuals to provide assistance to each other in case of trapping or injury to a partner. The safety clothing that are recommended for fire safety investigation include safety shoes, gloves, boots, and protective clothes that need to be worn throughout fire investigation process. The type of clothing used is dependent on the extent of the hazard to be solved. In the case where there is a possibility of falling objects, firefighting clothing should be those that ensure protection is the better choice. In the case where the investigator is dealing with toxic objects and substances, it is recommended to use disposable overalls are highly recommended. It is also important for the investigator to be aware of the general dangers posed by the scene under investigation. These include areas that are likely to result into serious injuries and it is advisable that the investigator should not be involved in taking unnecessary risks. The investigator should also be aware of his personal health and safety by recognizing factors related to chemicals, biological hazards as well as radiological hazards that may be dangerous to his health while investigating the fire incident. This has been done in industries in a number of ways such as seeking information from knowledgeable people in the facility to determine any possible sources of danger in working area of the fire scene. In order to prevent fatigue, investigator is required to get periodic rest and fluid refreshment in a safe environment near the scene of the fire. This is necessary to reduce fatigue as a result of use of heavy clothing and heavy equipment during fire investigation. Structural stability is also a factor that needs to be considered by fire investigators. This is due to the fact that structures that have been exposed to fires demonstrate structural weaknesses. This is due to the effects on the roofs, ceilings, partitions and floors as a result of fire explosion. When the investigator enters these structures, he is required to perform operations such as removal of debris and conducting careful assessment of stability as well as safety of the building or facility. He also needs to seek the assistance of qualified structural specialists to determine the need for removal of weakened construction or provisions that need to be made for supporting ceilings, roofs and walls. Fire investigators also need to be aware of any electrical hazards that may be present at the fire scene. For instance, they need to ensure they protect themselves from dangers caused by electricity while carrying out fire scene investigation. When conditions are favorable for conducting fire assessment process, there is the need for the investigator to ensure the electrical system to the building is disconnected while ensuring only authorized utility performs the operation. Furthermore, there is the need for fire explosion scenes to be aware of the safety of bystanders. This is because; naturally fire explosions attract interests of bystanders. There is the need for investigation scene to ensure security from entry by curious bystanders. This can be achieved by roping the area under investigation or posting ‘Keep Off’ signs as well as barricade tapes, seek the assistance of police officers or fire service professionals. Those who enter the scene of the fire without permission should be identified and ordered to leave. 6. Specific fire incidents where characteristics have influenced the fire outcome One of the cases where characteristics of fire have influenced the outcome of the outbreak is in the use of charcoal stove. This is a stove that is used in households and is considered a major source of fuel in urban areas and it is estimated to be owned by approximately 250 million people within urban areas in Africa. There are a number of ways this device has contributed to fire outbreak in houses and homes of individuals. People who have left their clothes in the open and exposed them to these devices have occasionally experienced fire outbreak. This has resulted into burning of flammable materials and occasionally the entire house. Another case where characteristics have influenced the nature of fire outbreak is the case of the use of Liquid Petroleum gas (LPG) (Allen and Congress Senate. Committee on Finance, 2004). This is a clean-burning, portable and sustainable fuel that is derived from oil and is made up of a mixture of gases such as propane and is used in the process of heating and can be used in any part of the world. This gas has not only had accidents impacts in terms of fire, but also health complications. This has been as a result of inflammability of the gas when exposed to other burning material. This gas has mainly been used in stoves to produce heat for cooking. Occasionally, the flames from the gas have caught flammable materials within the vicinity and this has resulted into fire in homes and houses. 7. Conclusion This paper provides a guide on the methods that can be used to conduct a fire analysis process within an individual level as well as within group levels. The areas covered include techniques that individuals can use to assist in understanding the causes of fire, equipping students with methods of identifying the nature of fire and the ability to analyze and come up with technically legal investigation relation g to fire outbreaks. The major area that fire investigation is based on is explained at both individual levels and group levels. The case study also provides a support for the role of fire characteristics on the extent and nature of the fire. Following the investigation of fire characteristics and the roles of fire investigators, it is possible to create a report relation any fire out break to its causes. It also assists in understanding the methods that can be used to prevent any chances of fire in the case where there is no fire outbreak experienced. 8. References Allen, K. G. and Congress Senate Committee on Finance, 2004. Nursing home fire safety: Recent fires highlight weaknesses in federal standards and oversight. Washington, D.C: Government Accountability Office. Cote, A. E., 2008. Organizing for fire and rescue services: A special edition of the Fire protection handbook. Quincy, Mass: National Fire Protection Association. DeHaan, D., 2006. Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 6th Edition. . pp 292, 293, 54. Green, K., 2006. Home health aide training manual. Gaithersburg, Md: Aspen. Lentini, J., 2006. Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation. pp. 72-89, 445-451, 461-462. Quintiere, G., 2005. Principles of Fire Behavior.  Chapter 9 (Compartment Fires). Read More