Fire Cause Determination

Scope

This Operational Guideline covers determining the cause or causes of fires.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Guiding Principles

• All firefighters/officers should make a note of anything that might assist determining the cause of a fire and advise it to the Officer In Charge (OIC). These might typically include:
  • Suspicious activities or persons at, or leaving, the scene;
  • Fire conditions on arrival (what’s involved, fire intensity, smoke, flames, odours);
  • Fire behaviour during the fire (rate and direction of spread, unusual behaviour);
  • Signs of forced entry prior to emergency services arrival, multiple points of ignition or evidence of accelerants, or items that appear to be out of place;
  • Statements or comments by occupiers or onlookers; and
  • A consistent pattern of fires.
• Until a suspected cause opinion is given by the OIC to FireCom, overhaul activities are to be confined to preventing re-ignition, and making the area safe for authorised entry. Every effort is to be made to preserve the scene, especially the point of origin, as intact as possible for investigation.
• If a fire involved a fatality or serious injuries, or was suspicious and involved or threatened significant property, the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) are to be immediately called.
• The OIC or the District Duty Operations Officer (DDOO) may request the attendance of an Authorised Fire Investigator (AFI) to determine the cause of the fire. This should normally be done if significant property has been lost or was threatened, or where it they may be helpful to assist a NSWPF investigation. AFIs may be contacted via FireCom.
• AFIs are to operate in compliance with the appropriate Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Police and Fire Services.
• In other cases, the OIC should determine the probable point of origin of the fire, the probable cause of ignition and the probable type of material first ignited.

Special Considerations

Nil.

Related Information

• MOU – Police and Fire Services
• Service Standard 3.1.9 Fire Investigation