Method of Determining the Cause of Fire - Report Example

FIRE INVESTIGATION by Student’s name Code+ course name Professor’s name University name City, State FIRE INVESTIGATION Introduction Fire menace, for a long time, has been a nuisance to many governments and organizations. Measures have been put in place to deal with this menace and methodologies developed in a bid to determine the cause of the fire outbreaks. The most notable methodology that can be employed in determining the cause of any fire is the scientific method. It is a careful and analytical study that involves more detailed procedures followed keenly to ascertain the cause of any fire outbreak. It is elaborate and entails specific areas of study. Examples of scientific investigative methods include arc mapping, depth of char analysis and fire pattern analysis. The arc mapping method is mainly employed in situations where the cause of fire is electric. The investigator using the arc mapping method determines the area of origin by analyzing the whole electric arcing region that is exposed to fire. Its usage is based on the assumption that circuit areas that are open to attacks by fire can be predictable in nature (Singh et al 1998). A pattern of evaluation and analysis is then established that will be followed in future. Once a sequence has been laid down, the origin of the fire outbreak is determined by the investigating officer. It is then analyzed and assumed to be the potential source of the fire. In using the depth of char method to determine the cause of fire, measurements are taken from the accumulated char. The measurements of heights obtained are compared against those indicated in a scene diagram that has standard measurements related to specific ignition fuels. This is done to ascertain the areas that could have been open to fire thus acting as fire source. The heights or depths of the chars obtained are then documented in a point to point form and estimated calculations done to act as future references (Gupta & Indian National Science Academy 2003). The fire pattern analysis is employed where there are indications of the presence of liquid accelerants. It is a more complex method as the complicated patterns displayed gives an indication of the presence of high temperatures at the time of combustion. Either, it indicates the presence of combustible items that could have increased the rate at which the fire burnt. With this method, the complexity comes in determining the specific combustible element that was present as only patterns displayed on walls by the fire is studied. In the application of the methods discussed above, there are certain factors encountered when using them that have a great influence on the outcome of an investigation. The most notable of the factors is the behavior exhibited by human beings in relation to fire incidences. They might inhibit proper investigation or fasten the whole process. These factors can be categorized as psychological factors- which constitute the human responses; and the physical setting of the fire area. The psychological factors consist of physical limitations like age, disability and intoxication which may inhibit an individual’s ability to respond appropriately to a fire outbreak (Kramer & Bahme 1992). Familiarity with the region of fire outbreak could enable one assess the extent of fire outbreak easily. An individual who is not familiar with the region will find it difficult to assess the fire impact. Influence from groups could also have a bearing on the outcome since it affects an individual’s behavior. An individual within a well organized group is able to act precisely in his quest to respond to a fire outbreak as opposed to one who is in a disorganized group thus acting with haste and sometimes behave haphazardly. Limitations related to cognition and comprehension could affect to a greater extent the outcome of any investigation and response to a fire outbreak. When an individual inhales toxic smoke, has a disability in his mental development or is under drug usage he might be impaired in his judgment. This could affect his assessment on the extent of the impact of the hazard. Under physical limitations, the characteristic features of the fire location could affect the outcome too. In the event that the location of the exit is not known to individuals, confusion crops in and rationality of the investigators is impaired as they will be pacing up and down in an attempt to locate an exit route. The individuals who have knowledge of the exit route are better placed to carry themselves in a manner that is more organized thus cases of casualties will be reduced to a greater extent. Either, the number of exit routes too affects the fire response outcome. If the number exits are few, people tend to scramble for them and cases of fatalities might be many. Individual’s judgment will be affected as they will be in a state of panic to exit the area of danger rather assess the extent of fire damage or attempt to put it out. Fire characteristics too do influence how people respond to fire outbreaks. In most cases, when there is the presence a of a huge flame that is characterized with large amounts of smoke people will tend to be more alarmed as this will be associated with real danger. In their minds, the big flames will have been conceived not to be just some false alarm but real threat. This will make them respond promptly to the fire outbreak as opposed to instances of small flames with little or no smoke that will be perceived not to pose immediate real danger (Weil 2004). People will tend to be more relaxed in their response to such an outbreak. Either, if the fire is characterized with toxic gases that will cause oxygen depletion, the response of individuals will be affected as high toxin and low oxygen levels will affect the people responding to fire outbreak as there will be instances of reduced stamina and eventual loss of strength that could lead to collapses causing serious injuries or even deaths on the part of the people responding to the outbreak. If the fire has low levels of toxins and the oxygen concentration is relatively high, the people responding to a fire outbreak will not be that much affected and thus will be effective in their course of action. Roles of Different Fire Investigating Agencies and Personnel Participating The process of responding to a fire outbreak has been elaborated and may sometimes not start with the investigators themselves. The process involves activities carried out by any individual who will have reached the scene of the fire to last activities carried out by the fire investigators. The process is elaborate as discussed below: The establishment of the first respondent’s role The individual who first appears at the scene of a fire outbreak has to define his responsibilities clearly. At this stage, the person has to undertake primary observations by physically taking a keen look at the area so as to enable him have his own assessment of the situation. The physical state of the scene is to be ascertained and initial safety measures put in place. The safety measures are meant to avert further casualties in case there is any, and the scene cordoned by erecting barrier to prevent loss of evidence or destruction to them (International Association of Fire Chiefs 2010). Different individuals and agencies like fire fighters, rescuers and investigators may be involved all at the same time. Therefore, a clear flow of security control has to be established to guide every individual on what course of action they can take. Activities such evacuation are undertaken at this stage in order to minimize the degree of damages already suffered on the people involved or save lives . Evaluation of the area of fire: At this stage, people have to clearly identify themselves to avoid confusion. The extent to which the damage has taken place has to be clearly defined and interviews carried out to get first hand information on the possible cause of the fire. A rough identification and estimation of the resources required at the scene to mitigate the situation is done and initial processing begins. Such resources could include equipment like ambulances that would be used to administer first aid to the victims and fire suppressing equipment to be used in putting out the fire (International Association of Fire Chiefs., International Association of Arson Investigators., & National Fire Protection Association 2012). Documenting the area The first respondent’s have the responsibility of documenting the area. The documentation can take place in two forms. In the first form, several photographs of the fire scene are taken and then kept safely so that they could be handed over to the relevant authorities for further analysis or future reference (Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills 2008). Video recording can also be done as an alternative to the photos. The videos must also be stored for analysis of the scene. In documenting the area of fire outbreak, a short but detailed description has to be done. This will accompany the photographs or video recordings and aids in better understanding the contents of the documentations. Processing the evidence at the scene After documenting the evidence, what follows is for them to be processed by the investigators at the same place. At this stage, the investigators must make a clear identification of the specific evidence that is to be used in determining the cause of the fire (Ott et al 2012). Then the evidence has to be collected in a systematic and safe way that will not cause damages or alteration to them. Preservation by packaging in clean materials to is done avoid instances of loss or contamination that will affect the end results of the investigations. The investigators then have to lay down modalities that they will follow afterwards in the course of their operation. Complete scene investigation Once the documented evidence has been processed, the investigators must finalize their work by releasing the scene to the owner. If the evidence shows that the cause of the fire was accidental, investigators end their exercise so that the insuring companies can take over and do a further analysis for purposes of compensation. In case the evidence indicates that the cause was intentional; law enforcement agencies come in and procedures to prosecute are instituted. Either, the investigating authority has to submit a report of their findings for storage in their database so as to be used for purposes of reference in the future to avert the occurrence of a similar outbreak. There are different fires investigating agencies that undertake to perform specific tasks. Most notably is the fire department that has the primary obligation of determining the cause of fire. This they undertake through detailed study of the scene. The forensic investigative unit carries out scientific investigative activities that include laboratory tests. This helps ascertain the cause of the fire outbreak based on scientific studies (Chandler 2009). Either, the law enforcement agency is tasked with the responsibility of carrying out investigative activities and in the event that the cause was purposely, they carry out an extra activity of prosecution. There are too private investigators who are charged with the responsibility of representing the interests of the insuring companies in the event of compensation, landlords who own the premises and to some extent they also represent the companies that manufacture some of the ignition agents causing the fires. Analysis and Critique of Fire Investigative Reports Based On Incidences Different investigative reports have been commissioned to study and analyze different fire outbreaks. These reports tend to develop a hypothetical argument of the cause of the fire outbreak. As a case study, the fire investigative report of the Camiolo comes in handy. The fire broke out at a time the occupants of the house (father, mother and son) were asleep. The parents passed on while undergoing treatment though the son survived. Interviews of the son revealed that the fire broke out due to her mother mishandling her smoking equipment. The lead investigators on the other hand found traces of gasoline accelerator on the evidence presented and concluded that the son might have started the fire while the parents were asleep upstairs. They based their argument on the assumption that he wanted to inherit his parent’s property. Either, they used the presence of gasoline to back it up by suggesting he might have used the causative agent that is a burn accelerator to start the fire. Intensive forensic investigations, based on computer modeling, were carried out to reconstruct the fire. This was meant to analyze the conflicting stance taken by the different reports. Though in their investigation traces of gasoline too were found, the inconsistencies that were associated with the level of burns on the body of Camiolo (the son) and the standard burns that were expected to appear on his body based on the study proved otherwise. The gasoline was found to have traces of lead which was a clear indication that it was spilled way long time ago thus could not be relied on as a causative agent of the fire. The final outcome exonerated Camiolo off any wrong doing as opposed to the initial investigative report that implicated him. Conclusion In their report, the lead investigators based their argument on the fact that the mother could not mishandle her smoking equipment to an extent of causing fire yet still become a casualty. They believed Camiolo must have started the fire then locked the parents inside. The investigators based their investigation on non-scientific methods that were biased due to human error and limitations. The forensic investigators, on the other hand, employed the usage of modern scientific methods that proved to be a powerful tool. The study on the pattern of flames, backed by initially collected data from similar case scenarios, brought out the different flame formats as produced by different causative agents. In this case therefore, the limitations of cognition in the part of the lead investigators must have influenced their findings. This comes out clearly as they were unable to unearth the underlying factors that were way too important in determining this cause of the fire. They were unable to study the composition of the gasoline traces found at the scene. Reference list Chandler, R. K. 2009. Fire investigation. Australia: Delmar Cengage Learning. International Association of Fire Chiefs., International Association of Arson Investigators., & National Fire Protection Association. 2012. Fire investigator: Principles and practice to NFPA 921 and 1033. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Ott, D. C., International Association of Fire Chiefs., International Association of Arson Investigators., & National Fire Protection Association. 2012. Fire investigator: Principles and practice to NFPA 921 and 1033 - student workbook. Sudbury, Mass: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills. 2008. Jones & Bartlett Pub. International Association of Fire Chiefs. 2010. Fire officer: Principles and practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Weil, A. 2004. Fire Disasters. Costa Mesa, Calif.: Saddleback Publishing. Kramer, W. M., & Bahme, C. W. 1992. Fire officer's guide to disaster control: William M. Kramer, Charles W. Bahme. Saddle Brook, NJ: Fire Engineering Books & Videos. Gupta, H. K., & Indian National Science Academy. 2003. Disaster management. Hyderabad: Universities Press. Singh, S. K., Kundu, S. C., & Singh, S. 1998. Disaster management. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. Read More