Fire Investigation and Fire Fighting Rules - Coursework Example

Note: This paper has two versions. One is this paper with MLA referencing as indicated in your order and the other (uploaded in the drafts/reference section) with HARVARD referencing. I just think that Harvard is best for your paper but you can use any of them. Thanks! FIRE FIGHTING TACTICS Contents Contents 2 Introduction 3 Value of Forensic Awareness in Fire Fighting 3 Fire Fighting Speed and Rate of Response 5 Tactical Ventilation 6 Water Damage and Fire Extinguishing Agents 8 Leaking Petroleum-based Fire Fighting Equipment and Contamination of Evidence 9 Identifying smell, remembering location of items, compartment and fire condition 10 Informing Fire Investigator for Signs of Arson 11 Conclusion 12 Reference List 12 Introduction Investigation of fires and fire-related crimes include almost every aspects of the cause and origin of the fire thus fire forensic investigators often observe and collect materials from fire debris . However, investigation in fire scenes can become complex and difficult due to fire damage and fire fighting efforts that disturbed and destroyed the evidence. These include fire fighters directing strong stream of water to the suspected origin of the fire, forcibly entering the building and creating vent areas by breaking windows, tear down walls and moving object while performing traditional destructive practices known as “overhaul” . The following section discusses the importance of being forensic aware during fire fighting operation, the role of speed and rate of response in stopping growth of fire and preservation of physical evidence, use of appropriate ventilation tactics, fire fighting with minimal water damage, possibility of leaks from petroleum-based fire fighting equipment and contamination of evidence, the effect of fire extinguishing agents, the importance of remembering compartment conditions such as smell, location of objects, and informing fire investigators. Value of Forensic Awareness in Fire Fighting Physical evidence comes in various forms and in different locations in a fire scene . The responsibility to collect these evidence rest in the fire investigator who is trained and experience in recognizing, documenting, collecting, and preserving physical evidence . However, it will be very difficult for the fire investigator to recognise and collect evidence if those who fought the fire destroyed them. For this reason, the first stage of preservation of potential physical evidence rest on fire-fighters and the level of their forensic awareness . For instance, conventional fire fighting techniques such directing high-pressure, straight streams of water into the suspected fire origin or removal of all room contents out of a window and pulling down walls and ceilings can destroy evidence. As a basic rule in fire investigation, the best location of physical evidence is at the point where the person responsible initiated the fire . However, the physical evidence in this location may not be available for the fire investigator if fire fighters (forensically unaware) continue to use high-pressure streams of water or create pressure ventilation. This is because such fire fighting practices aside from generating complicated fire damage patterns, it totally destroys physical evidence . As mentioned earlier, the responsibility in preserving physical evidence is in the hands of fire fighting or suppression operation thus fire fighters play an integral part in the investigation. According to , fire fighters should be professional in their approach and conduct controlled fire fighting and conservative overhaul operations. They should be forensically aware and look for indicators of incendiarism such fire-starting devices or ignitable liquids. Evidently, forensic awareness enables fire fighters to perform their duty in a manner consistent with both life and evidence preservation. However, as discussed in the following sections fire fighters forensic awareness should be supported by responsible fire fighting tactics such as speed and rate of response, tactical ventilation, fire fighting with minimal water damage, and others. Fire Fighting Speed and Rate of Response For clarity of discussion, response time or speed and rate of response in fire fighting is considered the sum of time consumed on dispatch, preparation, and travel. Setup time on the other hand is the time consumed beginning from the time fighters arrived at the fire scene to the moment they commenced rescue and fire suppression efforts . In terms of forensic awareness and evidence preservation at fire scene, the speed and rate by which fire fighters respond to fire determine the extent of fire damage and evidence preservation. For instance, according to the International Association of Arson Investigators, early suppression of fire within the area of origin should be the top priority of fire fighters mainly because suppressing fire at its early stage help preserve evidence . Similarly, speedy response enable fire fighters to size up and take not existing conditions at early stages of fire such open or unlocked doors or windows, odours, and objects that do not seem to be in their proper places . In other words, early fire fighting response not only limit fire damage and preserve physical evidence but allows fire fighters to record the actual condition of the compartment just after the fire starts. This by analysis can make fire investigation more accurate and convenient. Evidently, late fire suppression activities result to larger fire damage and reduced possibilities of finding potential physical evidence . The problem however is the fact that while fire fighters employing traditional search and complete extinguishment (overhauling), speedy response is futile in terms of physical evidence preservation . There is therefore a need for fire fighters to be fully forensic aware and blend speedy response with appropriate fire fighting tactics. Tactical Ventilation Almost all structure fires require ventilation to either channel heat, smoke, and gases or provide access to fire fighters . However, according to FEMA, ventilation should plan, systematic, and matched the fire and smoke conditions in the compartment. Otherwise such ventilation can result to rapid fire growth leading to destruction of potential evidence and fire fighters injury or death . Ineffective ventilation enables build up of heat resulting flashover. In some circumstances, ventilation (ex. horizontal ventilation) can be a useful lifesaving tactic if there is a need to rescue a person suffocating from smoke in a room adjacent to the fire area. However, allowing influx of fresh air can also draw fire to that vented window resulting to more fire damage . Traditionally, there are two fire fighting ventilation types – vertical and horizontal- and each is performed at different stages of fire. Also, there different methods of performing these ventilation such as natural, mechanical, and so on . However, ventilation is extremely time sensitive and requires precise coordination. If initiated improperly, the fire will spread rapidly and fire fighters will lose any chance of initial containment. Consequently, the fresh air from the vent will fuel the fire while the wind current pushes the fire from high to low pressure areas of the compartment resulting to sever fire damage and loss of potential evidence . Ventilation operations according to Glenn Corbett differ from types of structures thus fire fighters must use the most appropriate type of ventilation. In basement fires for instance where windows are absent and vertical or horizontal ventilation is not directly possible, the tactic is to use pressurised ventilation or any available openings such as door, dead lights, elevator bulkheads (in large structure), and so on. However, this should be in a timely manner to minimise the effect of ventilation in fire development. In dwellings, horizontal ventilation is more appropriate such as removal opening of the right windows (opening wrong windows or premature ventilation can result to additional fuel for fire) close to the fire. However, if the fire in the dwelling is extensive and backdraft conditions are present then vertical ventilation at the roof may be necessary. In multi-storey buildings, ventilation tactics requires venting the affected floor horizontally where the immediate fire room and area is first priority . The UK Fire Service, all fire fighting operations according to Paul Grimwood start with anti-ventilation stance and these include zoning-off compartments by closing doors after the room had been searched. If the fire compartment is found and the attack hose-line is not ready yet, then it would be closed-off. These tactical ventilation protocols also include locating the fire, establishing the stage of fire development and area of involvement, existing air-track and its influence on the fire, assess all fire and building conditions, ventilating the stair-shaft in mid-rise as early as possible, use cross-ventilation if necessary, and determine the need for creating an opening . Evidently, the priority given to anti-ventilation stance is to avoid the consequences fuelling the fire with fresh air, limit the spread of fire and fire damage, and preserve evidence. Water Damage and Fire Extinguishing Agents A fire suppressed at its early stage may not destroy everything but water damage resulting from suppression activities can have additional impact . According to Klaene & Sanders, there should be a balance between doing necessary damage to halt the fire and minimising damage caused by fire suppression activities. This secondary damage is often caused by applying too much water to suppress the fire. For instance, using a smaller fire line in order to extinguish the fire quickly sometimes result in both increased water and fire damage. This is because water will flow continuously for a long time without effectively extinguishing the fire . However, water damage can be minimised or avoided by innovative fire fighting tactics. These tactics includes doing things in a timely manner such as promptly extinguishing the fire and avoiding wash downs, promptly shutting down hose lines, immediately stopping the flow of water from sprinkler systems, use of pumps and water vacuums to prevent migration of water, channelling the water into drains or chutes, and placing salvage covers on valuable property if possible . Similarly, carbon dioxide extinguishing agents exclude oxygen from the fuel and causing no damage to unburned materials and leaving no residue. Foam-based fire extinguishing agents such Aqueous film form foam or AFFF and FFFP or film-forming flouroprotein foam can rapidly control the fire without water damage as it utilised only small amount of water but it leaves residue and requires cleanup . Dry chemicals are faster fire suppressing agent than foam and prevent water damage but they are corrosive and can damage electronic equipments . Halogenated agents such as halons and halocarbons are commonly known as “clean” agents because they leave no residue. However, they are not recommended for confined areas as excessive inhalation of these agents can be fatal to health . Evidently, some of these fire extinguishing agents in terms of water damage prevention and preservation of physical evidence at fire scene are not recommended due to its residue and corrosive properties. Fire fighting might as well use carbon dioxide-based extinguishing agents as aside from leaving no residue it will not damage unburned materials in compartment. Leaking Petroleum-based Fire Fighting Equipment and Contamination of Evidence There are four major sources of contamination at fire scene and these include tools, protective equipment, evidence containers, and fire fighting equipment. For this reason, fire fighter should not bring tools or generators powered by petroleum distillates into the area being covered by forensic investigation. For instance, leaking generator fuel tank or hoses will let fuel flow to the floor, stepped on, and taken to the area of fire origin by fire fighter’s shoe. Consequently, fire investigators testing the area for the presence or omission of fuels will find traces of fuel and make an erroneous assumption that accelerants were used in the fire . Fire fighters have a responsibility to preserve or prevent contamination of evidence and these evidences are often found during salvage and overhaul phases of fire. For this reason, fire fighters should do their overhauling carefully, avoid moving debris when it is not absolutely necessary, and make sure that potential evidence is not destroyed. Aside from avoiding use of leaking gasoline powered tools such as saw and generators, fire fighters should not refuel them inside the investigation area . Identifying smell, remembering location of items, compartment and fire condition Size-up operations can provide valuable information for fire investigators thus fire fighters should pay attention to the fire conditions, building characteristics, location of objects, vehicles and people leaving the premises, and unusual items or conditions such as opened windows or doors, gasoline can, forcible entry, and others. Similarly, they should note the colour of smoke as it suggest what kind of materials is burning and smell for the presence of familiar odours such as gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner, and others. More importantly, those that are involved in interior fire suppression should note any unusual content such as missing personal items in a residence, empty boxes in warehouse, appliances are plugged, and other strange incident that can provide a clue to the cause of fire . Informing Fire Investigator for Signs of Arson As mentioned earlier, fire fighters have a responsibility to preserve evidence and these include notifying the fire investigator of any useful information regarding the cause of fire. For instance, although fire fighters are not in a position to interview witnesses, they can inform the fire investigator of potential witnesses. Similarly, if a fire fighter learn something that might be related to the cause of fire, he must not keep it to himself but rather tell the fire investigator about it . Fire fighters do not decide which evidence is worthy of preservation thus they should never move any potential evidence discovered at the fire scene. Instead, they should inform the fire investigator immediately or make sure that no one interferes with it until the investigator arrived. However, if it is really necessary to move an object because such evidence is at risks of being damaged, fire fighters should get a witness, draw a simple sketch of the original location of the object with exact measurements or take photographs taken from different angles. This information at a later time will enable the fire investigator to accurately recreate the fire scene . Conclusion Fire fighter’s forensic awareness and innovative fire fighting tactics can greatly contribute to the preservation of physical evidence at the fire scene. First, these characteristics will enable fire fighters to improve their speed and rate response not only because they need to save lives and property but desire to minimise fire damage and preserve potential evidence. Second, fire fighters will become more motivated to adopt best practices in their fire control and suppression activities such as application tactical ventilation techniques, conservative use of water, and “clean” fire extinguishing agents to minimise water damage to property and evidence that may be present in the area where the fire originated. Third, fire fighters will be more aware of their potential contribution to evidence contamination and subsequent inaccurate fire investigation and more careful while working at the fire ground. Fourth, forensic awareness will make fire fighters more vigilant in acquiring information relevant to the cause of the fire. Finally,, such awareness encourage fire fighter to take their fire scene responsibility seriously, protect the evidence from any damage, and impart useful information that can help the fire investigator recreate the fire scene accurately. Reference List Angle, J., et al. 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Smith, R., and M.J. Bogusz. Forensic Science. Elsevier Science, 2011. Print. Spadafora, R. Mcgraw-Hill's Firefighter Exams. Mcgraw-hill, 2007. Print. Yung, D. Principles of Fire Risk Assessment in Buildings. Wiley, 2008. Print.  Read More