By Daniel Vecchiolla
In 2019, there were 354,400 residential building fires.1 That is more than 350,000 scene size-ups and initial company operations. It’s no wonder there are countless books, articles, and classes created each year specifically for those topics. However, few courses cover the very important topic of the first-arriving company and the critical role they have in aiding the investigation or being the fire investigator. Fire investigations might not have the same intoxicating effect as being first on scene, but you’re failing your community if you don’t think it’s a priority.
Consider that there were 3,704 fire-related deaths in 2019, an increase of 24.1% since 2010.2 Imagine if we just saved one of those individuals by performing a proper fire investigation that led to a change in conditions. Wouldn’t we all say it’s worth it? There’s a reason all those fires started, and it’s up to us to figure it out so we can eradicate those issues. That may sound like an oxymoron considering we want to be on fires, but if we eliminate our self-interest, providing first-class service to our community and saving their lives is our primary mission.
Fire Investigations
For fire investigations, fire departments either have a designated fire investigator or a company or chief officer who conducts the investigation. Considering only 35.3 percent of departments across the nation have a fire investigation/fire cause determination specialized service,3 fire service personnel should not overlook the importance of proper training and knowledge on this topic.
(1) The improper disposal of cooking material caused the fire in this dumpster. After using the grill, an employee discarded charcoal ash into the dumpster. This was determined only after multiple interviews with workers at the grocery store. It important to conduct interviews with bystanders and witnesses for an all-encompassing approach to an investigation. As a first-line investigator, this mishap offers you an opportunity for fire prevention education and reinforcement. (Photos by author.)
Fire departments have three main incident priorities when they arrive on scene: life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation. To accomplish these objectives, they may use horizontal or vertical ventilation to change interior conditions, forcible-entry techniques involving hand or mechanical tools to gain access, and fire suppression tactics to mitigate the hazard. Although they need to perform these actions to significantly enable them to accomplish their objectives, these actions can also significantly damage the structure during operations.
Firefighting and Preserving the Fire Scene: Finding the Balance
The first-arriving and subsequent units typically don’t consider the damage they cause at the scene to mitigate a fire or to perform a rescue, but they should. Any unnecessary damage to the structure could hinder the investigation by altering the scene or compromising valuable evidence. “The responsibility for the preservation of the fire scene and physical evidence does not lie solely with the fire investigator, but should begin with arriving firefighting units or police authorities.”4 Compromising the fire scene or evidence can lead the fire investigation down an unnecessary path or to a potential “undetermined” fire investigation report.
Some fire departments are proactive and dispatch a fire investigator on the emergency call. In that case, the fire investigator at the scene can gather valuable information as fire suppression is happening. “The investigator can benefit from observing the suppression activities of the firefighters, because these can alter the course and intensity of a fire as well as cause unusual burn patterns.”5 Unfortunately, most fire investigators are not present on the initial call while operations are taking place, so gathering as much information as possible and passing that on to the fire investigator will assist their investigation moving forward.
While waiting for the fire investigator to get on scene, the initial company officer need not be a certified fire investigator with extensive training to identify fire origin and cause or to gather and identify critical evidence. In some circumstances, fire scenes are straightforward with a clear cause and origin. However, there are fire scenes that require extra attention and evidence gathering. If any potential evidence is found, it should be marked and protected.
If you are the initial unit on scene, as first-hand witnesses, the company officer and crew members can provide valuable information. They should inform the investigator of the fire’s location on arrival, the direction in which it was spreading, its general behavior, any persons or vehicles seen in or leaving the area, weather conditions, the condition of locks and gates, and damage or abnormal conditions.
With information on ventilation access points, forcible-entry operations, and overall fire suppression tactics, the investigator can determine the fire flow path and burn patterns, whether the scene was secure for first-arriving units, and whether there are single or multiple points of origin. Units on scene must relay to the investigator the actions they took so that the investigator may document and use that information in his investigation.
(2) When investigating fires involving multiple vehicles, always start from the least damaged and work your way toward the most damaged. The middle vehicle was the primary vehicle that initiated the fire. The video from a nearby security camera determined this finding; the burn patterns corroborated it. Use all available resources when determining the cause of the fire.
The Initial Company as the Fire Investigator
Since most United States fire departments do not have a primary fire investigator, it is up to the company or chief officer to properly determine the fire origin and cause. Understanding the principles and guidance in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1033, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator (2022 ed.), and NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations (2021 ed.), is paramount in systematically assessing the fire scene, giving you the optimal training and skills to conduct a proper investigation. Consider using an easy sports analogy to remember—NFPA 921 is the playbook for fire investigations, whereas NFPA 1033 is the rule book. In NFPA 1033 (2022 ed.), the investigator is obligated to remain current in the subjects listed as “requisite knowledge” related to fire investigations. The subjects are as follows:
- Fire science: fire chemistry, thermodynamics, fire dynamics, and explosion dynamics.
- Fire investigation: fire analysis; fire investigation methodology and technology; evidence documentation, collection, and preservation; and failure analysis and analytical tools.
- Fire scene safety: hazard recognition, evaluation, and basic mitigation procedures; hazardous materials, and safety regulations.
- Building systems: types of construction, fire protection systems, electricity and electrical systems, and fuel gas systems.
The fire investigator also follows NFPA 921, not as a standard but as a guide. NFPA 921 is designed to produce a systematic, working framework for an effective fire and explosion investigation and origin and cause analysis.4 In NFPA 921, the scientific method is the preferred systematic approach to use in investigating a fire.
For fire officers, conducting an investigation is a required duty under NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications: “Determine the point of origin and preliminary cause of a fire, given a fire scene, photographs, diagrams, pertinent data, and/or sketches, to determine if arson is suspected so that law enforcement action is taken.”6
Any company or chief officer in charge of conducting fire investigations should be familiar with and knowledgeable in NFPA 1033 and 921. Unfortunately, not all fire officers receive specialized training or advanced training in fire investigation. The training they receive may be elementary or does not meet the standards of NFPA 1033 and 921.
(3) If possible during an investigation, safely remove the contents of the room of origin—after thoroughly photographing the room and its contents—and recreate the scene outside. This will provide a better view of the room. Use cones to identify evidence as key markers in the room.
The authority having jurisdiction ultimately decides what training is acceptable for the fire investigator. However, if an investigator is involved with a case that proceeds to court, a lawyer or judge may verify that the investigator is NFPA 1033 and NFPA 921 compliant so his opinion can be used regarding the case. “Both documents are effective tools at trial to support an expert’s opinion or to challenge the credibility or weight of the opinion through cross-examination.”7
Considering that some fire officers have zero or minimal formal fire investigation education, knowledge of current standards and guides on fire investigation, or up-to-date continuing education hours, they may not qualify as an expert, and their opinion cannot be used in a court of law.
In jurisdictions where the company and chief officer are the primary fire investigators, it is critical to seek out certification courses in line with NFPA 1033 and 921. Fire investigation certification courses range from 40 to 160 hours. This can be incredibly challenging for volunteer firefighters, who typically do not have the same flexibility as paid firefighters or have time constraints with attending a comprehensive class that may last several weeks.
The Importance of a Good Fire Investigation
The importance of adequately investigating, documenting, and reporting every fire cannot be understated, considering it’s an integral part of the department’s community risk reduction mandate. Departments must first know what causes fires in the community to know what prevention strategies and programs they should offer the community. They can then evaluate the collected data for patterns and trend analysis and use that information collected from each fire investigation to prioritize the community’s needs. Identifying the target hazards and the audience provides departments with a first step in establishing preventive measures and fire and life safety education programs, evaluating and updating firefighting tactics, and updating and enforcing building codes.
Putting It All Together
Each individual who has a role in conducting an investigation should constantly seek out training opportunities. First, look for courses in your local municipality, then venture out for other options. The National Fire Academy offers entry-level courses from its two-day Fire Investigation: First Responders class to a more comprehensive 10-day on-campus Fire Investigation: Essentials class. The International Association of Arson Investigators provides an online learning platform, CFItrainer.net, a more accommodating training environment for individuals who cannot make it to an in-person class. It also offers the Fire Investigation Technician (FIT) designation and Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) certification, both of which provide acknowledgment from an independent body that an individual is competent and current in his field.
Overall, the initial company is more than just the unit conducting a fire attack or performing a primary search for victims. They are the firsthand witnesses; evidence collectors; scene preservers; and, ultimately, fire investigators. Their role helps identify and assess the primary hazards in the area they serve and provides valuable information for the development and strategies needed to improve the safety and wellness of the community. After all, our principal responsibility as firefighters and fire investigators is to keep the public safe.
EndNotes
1. United States Fire Administration. “Residential Building Fire Trends (2010-2019),” 6 April 2021. [Online]. Available: https://bit.ly/3nGiFl9. [Accessed 2 July 2021].
2. T.D. Hewitt and W. J. McKenna, “NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033 In Court,” October 2008. [Online]. Available: https://bit.ly/3wbxCQ0. [Accessed 5 July 2021].
3. National Fire Protection Association. NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications (2020 ed.).
4. National Fire Protection Association. NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations (2021 ed.).
5. J.D. DeHaan and D.J. Icove, Kirk’s Fire Investigation, (eighth ed.) New Jersey: Pearson, 2018.
6. United States Fire Administration. “U.S. Fire Statistics.” 29 June 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/#tab-2\ . [Accessed 13 July 2021].
7. United States Fire Administration. “National Fire Department Registry Quick Facts,” 24 June 2021. [Online]. Available: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/registry/summary. [Accessed 26 June 2021].
DANIEL VECCHIOLLA is a Virginia-certified fire investigator and a captain for Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire. He began his fire service career with the Chesapeake (VA) Fire Department, serving for four years. He transitioned into the Department of Defense system five years ago and is stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in public administration from Old Dominion University. He received his Fire Officer designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, for which he serves as a peer reviewer.
