Fire Investigation and Fire Prevention - Term Paper Example

Evidence, Witnesses and the Investigation Report When the investigator arrives at the fire scene, he begins the identification, collection and preservation of evidence. He notes details such as presence of smoke at the time of his arrival, its colour, direction and area of concentration. The presence of unusual items or marks outside the premises and whether there was an explosion is also recorded. The condition of outlets such as windows and doors is also described, including whether they were open or closed, broken or damaged. He should also carry out interviews whenever necessary. Adequate descriptions should be provided and sketches made if possible (Daeid 2004). Dolan & Newman (2007) argue that in collecting evidence, there should be caution to avoid contamination of evidence. They should also document where the items were found through taking notes, making sketches, video and photo logs. All items should be well labeled and the investigator should ensure the collection of the evidence at the point of origin of the fire, for instance where its fuel was ignited. There is also the placing of the evidence in well labeled containers that will facilitate their transportation and storage. Liquid evidence should be put in air tight, clean and fresh well sealed containers. All containers should be labeled by including the investigator’s name, the time and date of collection, the number of the case, its sample and a proper documentation of the location and description of the recovery. In conducting interviews, the investigator should be objective. He should enable the witnesses recount whatever they saw in detail, through the asking of open questions. The staring pint of the fire will be important to note. The investigator could take notes or fill out a pre designed form. The law provides for the investigator taking over the fire scene. He could utilize the powers by limiting the access of other people in to and out of the building once the investigation begins. This may either extend to the time of the police or other investigators or until all necessary samples have been collected. The putting up of barriers and stationing of investigative assistants will be important in this case (CRC 2006). The resulting report may be based on a form that the investigator will fill once the reaches the crime scene. The issues to be indicated will include his personal details, date of the incident and its number. Further issues of how he arrived follow. It will be important to indicate the direction from which he approached the scene and the route taken. , in addition to whether there was any other vehicle or person around at the time. Whether the other people had acted to put out the fire is also important. In case they were there, they will be identified and described (Samuels, Boyd & Rau 2000). Role of Fire Investigation in Fire Prevention De Haan (2006) explains that although fire investigation occurs after a fire, it also plays a considerable role in ensuring prevention of future occurrences. This is carried out in numerous ways. First, investigation reports point out existing weaknesses in fire prevention. It also establishes a link between shortcomings of gadgets and regulations, as a result of which others are able to prepare their preventive measures. Fire investigators further provide insights into new challenges in fire management and play an active role in fire safety training and awareness creation in general. Additionally, the fire investigator assists in inspecting public facilities. Cities have fire codes for businesses to meet. These are checked periodically, with the fire investigator acting as an inspector. Engineering Design Solutions Among the engineering design solutions usually suggested is the installation of fire alarm systems. Automatic alarms are used in notifying people when to evacuate due to emergencies. There is also the use of Rack Drenching Systems (RDS). High racking systems in most warehouses increase the danger of destruction in case of fire. Because of them small ignitions may quickly grow to roof level, making extinguishing difficult. The RDS forms a horizontal decking system placed at lower levels. These trap heat in their mini-compartments, leading to the prevention of fire spread through the racking flues. The compartments each has a heat sensitive gadget which when triggered, switches on some drencher heads that soak up the fire base with some liquid having cooling agents located in the storage tank. RDS is therefore able to slow or stop the spread of fire in warehouses (Daeid 2004). Another common engineering solution is the Residential Sprinkler System. This offers residents time for escaping, and also helps to control fire spread in buildings. One of the common designs is the standard sprinkler system. When a fire occurs, the sprinkler utilizes a temperature link in sounding the fire alarm and activating a sprinkler system. Water is then automatically expelled, aiming at the fire base and surrounding places. Car park Ventilations are also recommended as a solution. These get rid of smoke and air pollution from car parks through main fans that are vented. There are also jet fans that help to distribute and direct the air towards one extraction point and ensuring that all places are adequately ventilated. Smoke extract systems such as these are intended to remove the smoke emitted during a fire and afterwards. They help in ensuring safe escape and access to fire fighters by offering smoke free approaches (Dolan & Newman 2007). Responsibilities and Powers of a Fire Investigator The investigator’s main role is investigating fires. He investigates the causes of the fire by locating its origin and checking whether it was intentional or accidental. In case it appears to be arson, he looks for prove to advance his case. If accidental, he writes up a report to the owner of the premises for forwarding to an insurance company. A fire investigator has the power to request anyone to give out his or her address if he believes that they will be useful in the investigation. The investigator can also enter any vessel, building or compound where there is the possibility of an offense having been committed, carry out a search and seize any item connected with the offence. He may take as long as is necessary in the place and handle the items he has collected in any way that will enable effective analysis and examination. He may retain the items for as long as necessary and take video or still pictures for investigative purposes. Once he leaves the premises, he can also block trespassers from accessing it (De Haan 2006). Fire Sources, Mechanics and Effects One common cause of fire is open flames. This may be for instance due to improper usage of candles and negligent handling of fire generating machines such as in welding and cutting. Causes may also be electrical, for instance the short or overloading of circuits, use of substandard or faulty electrical appliances, closeness of electrical heating gadgets to flammable materials and use of damaged conductors. Fire results from a series of exothermic reactions due to the interaction between and oxidant and a fuel. This produces heat which might generate light, either as a flame or a glow. A fire begins when flammable or combustible materials are exposed to heat in the presence of enough oxygen or some other oxidizer such as permanganate, nitrate or nitrite. When ignited, there is a in which the fire sustains its own heat through more heat energy release in combustion. Putting out a fire involves the removal of any of the substances involved in the chain reaction. Water removes heat from fuel, carbon dioxide starves fire of oxygen and other fire suppressing gases for instance halon interfere with the chemical reaction (Daeid 2004). According to CRC (1995), fossil fuels are usually highly flammable. They therefore easily fan fires and make its fighting more challenging, mostly due to water resistance and flame intensity. Most buildings also have wood, which also burns quickly and continues the fire whenever it breaks. One of the common fossil fuels is diesel. This has an extremely less octane rating. Because of this, it is able to self ignite because of heat, hence a negligible Self Ignition Temperature. Petrol is also another cause of fuel fires. It has a low calorific value but a high detonation temperature.  It is highly flammable and capable of exploding whenever exposed to a spark. Petrol fire is highly difficult to control, leading to great damage in the incidence of fire. The other is methanol. This is essentially a cooling fuel mostly used in vehicles. It is based on alcohol and its flame not as uncontrollable as is likely to be the case in the stronger fuels. De Haan (2006) explains the effect of fire as mostly being conflagration, hence physical damage to materials and structures. The extent of damage caused depends on the material within the structure that is on fire. Oil-based paints also makes surfaces more flammable hence likely to be destroyed in case of fire as compared to water based paints. Other common highly flammable materials include foam mattresses, Poly Vinyl Chloride and synthetic cloth among others. Bibliography CRC, 1995, Engineering Analysis of Fires and Explosions, CRC, New York CRC, 2006, Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation, CRC, Houston Daeid, N, 2004, Fire Investigation: Forensic Science, Oxford University Press, Oxford De Haan, J, 2006, Kirk's Fire Investigation, Prentice Hall, New York Dolan, J., & Newman, R, 2007, Fire Debris Analysis, Kogan Page, London Samuels, J, Boyd, D. & Rau, R, 2000, Fire and Arson Scene Evidence, National Institute of Justice, Washington DC Read More