What is another name for fire investigators?
Fire investigators, also known as arson investigators, perform an invaluable service to society: they determine the causes of fires, and when necessary, whether a criminal act of arson was involved. These professionals employ both the skills of a scientist and those of a detective in their investigations.
The investigation of fires involves professionals from a variety of disciplines – Fire and Rescue Service investigators, police and crime scene investigators, forensic scientists and insurers are all involved.
The Fire Investigation Officer examines and records evidence from the scene, this may include the collecting of samples of materials which may have been used to start or accelerate the fire.
Cellmark's fire scene investigators are experts at assessing and determining the ignition source, and can also offer advice on other evidence types which may assist in investigating who was involved in an incident, such as glass analysis, the examination of clothing for evidence of exposure to heat, and DNA profiling.
Most arson investigators start their careers as firefighters, and most employers prefer to hire candidates with firefighting experience. Though, candidates sometimes choose to pursue opportunities in law enforcement or emergency services, depending on the type of employment available in their area.
An arson investigator will try to determine who is responsible for setting a fire; a fire investigator will attempt to determine the cause and origin of a fire.
Specialist fire safety officers investigate fires that have resulted in the death of a person and the subsequent report is submitted to the coroner office for the inquest. Arson or malicious firing has to be investigated to assist the police in apprehending the perpetrators.
Fire and arson investigators examine the physical attributes of a fire scene and identify and collect physical evidence from the scene. This evidence is then analyzed to help determine if the cause of the fire was accidental or deliberate.
The investigators working for the SFM office are sworn law enforcement officers, with powers to make arrests, conduct searches and seizures, serve summonses, and carry firearms.
The best point to start an investigation is to collect the circumstantial evidence of the fire. Find out where the eyewitnesses' first saw the fire because it saves a lot of time and conjecture.
How do I get to seat of fire?
Structural damage can also be used to determine the seat of a fire. In some cases, buildings may collapse in a manner where the area that was initially weakened by the fire is determined to be clear. This suggests that this is the located where the first damage occurred, and therefore, it is the seat of the fire.
Tier 2 fire scene investigations are defined as complex fire and/or explosion incidents (non-terrorist) where the origin and cause is not easily established. Non- suspicious or non-crime related scene investigations may be carried out solely by FRS investigators.
- Arriving at the scene.
- Evaluating the scene.
- Documenting the scene.
- Processing evidence at the scene.
- Completing the investigation.
The investigators working for the SFM office are sworn law enforcement officers, with powers to make arrests, conduct searches and seizures, serve summonses, and carry firearms.
The best point to start an investigation is to collect the circumstantial evidence of the fire. Find out where the eyewitnesses' first saw the fire because it saves a lot of time and conjecture.
The role of fire investigation is to identify the event that brought together the combustible, the oxidizer, and the source of ignition that started the fire.