Modules
086 Investigate the scene of fire or explosion
Scope
This module concerns the conduct of an investigation at the scene of a fire or explosion. This may include any or all of the following three levels of investigation:
Level 1 - FDR1
Level 2 - comprehensive fire investigation report
Level 3 - scientific investigation (as a team member)
This will include:
Identification, location and recording of source of ignition or explosion
Identification of possible causes
Identification of hazards and risks (structural and scene preservation)
Analysis of effects of fire-fighting on the scene
Identification, packaging, labelling and relevant transport of items and samples from the scene
Skill Objectives
Analytical skills
The ability to review information from a range of sources, consider multiple factors and variables and generate options to assist with identification of cause and effect
Diagnostic skills
The ability to gather and review data and identify possible causes based on understanding of the behaviour of fire and materials involved
Data collection
The ability to gather data visually, photographically and through interview, using other expertise as appropriate to obtain sufficient level of detail and breadth
Knowledge Objectives
Fire growth, development, movement of smoke, heat and transfer of heat through structures
Construction of buildings and dangerous or hazardous structural features
How to reconstruct a scene using plans, witness descriptions and appraisal of scene itself
How to assimilate evidence of debris layering, broken glass and other visual elements before conducting search
Importance of and methods of ensuring evidence is not disturbed - the implications of disturbed evidence
How to identify the effects of fire fighting on the structure and fire spread
Signs of ignition or centre of explosion - possible ignition sources relevant to the investigation and data collected
Sources of flammable substances
Debris layering patterns and their interpretation in respect of locating the seat of a fire
Burn patterns and their implications for locating primary or secondary seat of fire
Chemistry of fire and physics of heat transfer
Effects of explosions and explosive forces on a structure
Relevant National Occupational Standards
Relevant Personal Skills
Acting Assertively
maintains beliefs, commitments and effort in spite of set backs or opposition
takes a leading role initiating action and making decisions
takes personal responsibility for making things happen
Behaving ethically
complies with legislation, industry regulation, professional and organisational codes
Communicating
listens actively, asks questions, clarifies points and rephrases others' statements to check mutual understanding
presents difficult ideas and problems in ways that promote understanding
Conceptualising
uses own experience and evidence from others to identify problems and understand situation
Focusing on results
maintains a focus on objectives
prioritises objectives and schedules work to make best use of time and resources
Relating to others
identifies and resolves causes of conflict or resistance
keeps others informed about plans and progress
Searching for information
actively encourages the free exchange of information
challenges the validity and reliability of sources of information
establishes information networks to search for and gather relevant information
identifies a range of elements in, and perspectives on a situation
identifies implications, consequences or causal relationships in a situation
makes best use of existing sources of information
seeks clarity of information in ambiguous situations
seeks information from multiple sources
Taking Decisions
focuses on facts, problems and solutions
produces a variety of solutions before taking a decision
reconciles and makes use of a variety of perspectives when making sense of a situation
takes decisions which are realistic for the situation
Scope
This module concerns the conduct of an investigation at the scene of a fire or explosion. This may include any or all of the following three levels of investigation: Level 1 - FDR1 Level 2 - comprehensive fire investigation report Level 3 - scientific investigation (as a team member) This will include: Identification, location and recording of source of ignition or explosion Identification of possible causes Identification of hazards and risks (structural and scene preservation) Analysis of effects of fire-fighting on the scene Identification, packaging, labelling and relevant transport of items and samples from the scene
Skill Objectives
Analytical skills The ability to review information from a range of sources, consider multiple factors and variables and generate options to assist with identification of cause and effect Diagnostic skills The ability to gather and review data and identify possible causes based on understanding of the behaviour of fire and materials involved Data collection The ability to gather data visually, photographically and through interview, using other expertise as appropriate to obtain sufficient level of detail and breadth
Knowledge Objectives
Fire growth, development, movement of smoke, heat and transfer of heat through structures
Construction of buildings and dangerous or hazardous structural features
How to reconstruct a scene using plans, witness descriptions and appraisal of scene itself
How to assimilate evidence of debris layering, broken glass and other visual elements before conducting search
Importance of and methods of ensuring evidence is not disturbed - the implications of disturbed evidence
How to identify the effects of fire fighting on the structure and fire spread
Signs of ignition or centre of explosion - possible ignition sources relevant to the investigation and data collected
Sources of flammable substances
Debris layering patterns and their interpretation in respect of locating the seat of a fire
Burn patterns and their implications for locating primary or secondary seat of fire
Chemistry of fire and physics of heat transfer
Effects of explosions and explosive forces on a structure
Relevant National Occupational Standards
Relevant Personal Skills
| Acting Assertively | maintains beliefs, commitments and effort in spite of set backs or opposition |
| takes a leading role initiating action and making decisions | |
| takes personal responsibility for making things happen | |
| Behaving ethically | complies with legislation, industry regulation, professional and organisational codes |
| Communicating | listens actively, asks questions, clarifies points and rephrases others' statements to check mutual understanding |
| presents difficult ideas and problems in ways that promote understanding | |
| Conceptualising | uses own experience and evidence from others to identify problems and understand situation |
| Focusing on results | maintains a focus on objectives |
| prioritises objectives and schedules work to make best use of time and resources | |
| Relating to others | identifies and resolves causes of conflict or resistance |
| keeps others informed about plans and progress | |
| Searching for information | actively encourages the free exchange of information |
| challenges the validity and reliability of sources of information | |
| establishes information networks to search for and gather relevant information | |
| identifies a range of elements in, and perspectives on a situation | |
| identifies implications, consequences or causal relationships in a situation | |
| makes best use of existing sources of information | |
| seeks clarity of information in ambiguous situations | |
| seeks information from multiple sources | |
| Taking Decisions | focuses on facts, problems and solutions |
| produces a variety of solutions before taking a decision | |
| reconciles and makes use of a variety of perspectives when making sense of a situation | |
| takes decisions which are realistic for the situation |
