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IFS Organisation Fire Investigation
IFS Organisation Fire Investigation
Fire Investigation
Saturday, 27 August 2011 10:56 | Last Updated on Saturday, 27 August 2011 11:15 | 
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8.3 Fire Investigation
8.3.1 Introduction
Investigation of fires is carried out by the Garda Siochana, who are
interested in fires whose circumstances suggest that a crime may have
been committed.
Fire officers are also required to make reports on fires (see 7.1 above)
that they have attended. Frequently, the investigation of the causes and
of the development of fires in buildings can provide useful information.
The information supplied by fire officers is used to produce statistics on
the causes and locations of fires. This information can also be used as a
basis for fire safety advice and for the design of buildings against fire,
with a view to reducing injuries or deaths from fire. Thus, investigating
and reporting on fires attended is a vital feedback provided by the fire
brigade officer.
This section gives information to fire officers on the common causes of
fire, and indicates considerations for the officer to note at fires which
may be of assistance in preparation of his/ her reports and to others
whose tasks include investigating fires.
8.3.2 Common Causes of Fire
Figures based on information supplied by fire authorities on the causes
of fires attended by fire brigades are provided in the Annual Fire
Statistics Bulletins, prepared by the Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government .
For example, in the 2001 returns a substantial portion of the fires
(approximately 32%) were returned as cause unknown. However, the
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most common among the remainder are chimney fires (21%), malicious
fires (28%), fires resulting from rubbish burning (4%), fires resulting
from use of cooking or heating appliances (3%), and fires resulting from
electrical equipment or wiring (5%). These figures are unlikely to
surprise fire officers who respond to calls, week in and week out,
throughout the year.
In some situations, the cause will be very apparent to the officer-incharge
(OiC) at a fire. Persons on the scene may be able to give an
account of how the fire started, or the source of ignition may be still
visible after the fire has been extinguished. (For example, the remains
of a deep fat fryer may be found in a kitchen along with signs that the
burning was confined to the area near the fryer.)
The OiC should not automatically accept the account s/he may be
given by persons at the scene, however, but should try to verify for
himself or herself, noting the signs that are apparent. It may be that
someone who has set a fire maliciously could give misleading
information to a fire officer to deflect suspicion, or, in the case of a fire
caused accidentally, it may be that the person responsible wishes to
avoid blame.
Where an officer suspects a fire may have been caused deliberately or
m a l i c i o u s l y, the Garda Síochána should be informed as soon as
possible.
Officers should not give hasty or unfounded opinions about possible
causes of fire. Any information given about causes of fire should be
based upon facts observed by the officer or crew.
8.3.3 Points to Observe at Fires
There are a number of signs which may be observed by fire-fighters and
officers, and could go towards providing an indication of fire cause.
Such signs may be observed at all stages of the Fire Service's
involvement with the incident, from the initial call to the close of the
incident and even later.
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Junior Officer Handbook - First Edition (November, 2003)
Does the initial information given when the fire is reported contain
unusual information? If a fire is reported by someone who has set the
fire deliberately, s/he may know more about the circumstances than
otherwise and may inadvertently give more information than would be
available to someone who discovers a fire. Persons who report fires on
more than one occasion may be involved in deliberate fire setting.
On route to the fireground, or nearby, are there signs of disorderly
crowds, or attempts to prevent a prompt attendance by the Fire Service?
These may indicate the possibility that fires have been set deliberately
as part of some type of disturbance.
On arrival at the fireground, a number of features may be noted.
• The colour of smoke coming from a fire may provide an
indication of the material burning, and may suggest use of
accelerants (flammable liquids, etc.) to speed the fire ' s
development. (For example, the smoke produced from the
burning of hay or vegetable material is likely to be white in
colour; wood, paper and cloth generally produce grey-to-brown
smoke; coal or plastic material, black; cooking oil, brown; and
flammable liquids such as petrol, turpentine, paraffin oil, black
or black-to-brown.)
• Similarly, the colour of flames or the presence of unusual smells,
either generally or in smoke, may provide information.
• Explosions could also raise questions about the materials
involved in the fire, possibly indicating the presence of
flammable liquids or gases.
• The part of the building initially involved in the fire should be
noted. The presence of a number of fires in a building may
indicate deliberate fire setting, as may the presence of fires in
neighbouring buildings.
• The speed of growth or spread of the fire may again indicate use
of accelerants.
• Are there signs that entry points to the building have been forced
to gain entry (for example, if glass is broken in windows or
doors, is the glass on the inside or the outside?), or that they have
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been blocked to impede entry of firefighters?
• Are there signs that windows have been opened or broken to
provide an air supply to a fire?
• Are there persons fleeing the scene, or showing unusual interest
in the fire? Are there persons among spectators who have been
noticed at fires previously?
During operations, there are signs which may be noted.
• Are there factors which impede operations, such as blocked or
damaged hydrants, disabled sprinkler systems or alarms, or
interference from spectators?
• Are vents opened, or unusual openings created, to enhance the
air supply to the fire?
• Are doors held open to facilitate fire spread, or holes broken in
partitions or walls?
• Are there unusually large or small amounts of stock?
After a fire has been dealt with, the officer may notice further signs
which may provide information.
• The point of origin of burning should be sought. Begin at the
area of heaviest damage, though this may not always be the
location of origin. In this area, look for evidence of possible fire
causes, especially those listed above. Possible ignition sources
may often be found at low level in the area of origin. A source of
fuel is also necessary for fire development; remember that items
such as furniture may have been moved during operations.
• In the case of deliberate fires, the remains of incendiary devices
may be found in the building.
• Persons at the scene may show unusual interest, possibly staying
at the scene longer than might be expected, or asking questions
of officers or firefighters.
8.3.4 Further Reading
A Pocket Guide to Arson Investigation, published by Factory Mutual
Engineering Corporation, 1979.
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Junior Officer Handbook - First Edition (November, 2003)
AGuide to Fatal Fire Investigations, published by the Institution of Fire
Engineers, 1993.
Kirk's Fire Investigation (John D. DeHaan), published by John Wiley
and Sons, 1983.
Aspects of vehicle fire investigation (Simon Magnus-Hannaford), Fire
Engineers Journal, March, 1995.