ST CLAIR COUNTY FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM

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1 Organization Outline: ST CLAIR COUNTY FIRE INVESTIGATION TEAM The St Clair County Fire Investigation Team was formed in The team is comprised of trained fire and police investigators who have committed their time and skills to assist other agencies within the county (through mutual aid agreements) in conducting origin and cause investigations. The concept of the team is to provide area Incident Commanders and their investigators, investigation resources that they may not have or to add to their current resources in order to determine the most likely cause of a fire or explosion. These will be determined through effective interviews, thorough scene examinations, and tedious scene processing and follow-up. With this team, we are hoping that we are able to assist our local, state, and county in better determining our fire problem. It is also our hope that through our efforts that we are able to reduce the loss of lives, injury, and property that are lost by fire each year. The team has investigators that have been certified or tested in fire and explosion investigation and have provided their records to the Chairman of the organization for verification. The team will work under the jurisdictions IC or investigator and provide all information and material gathered while on the scene the jurisdiction they are serving. It is not the intent of the team to assume the responsibility of the scene, only to assist under the local fire official in charge of the investigation. The team has an appointed chairperson and four district leaders. District leaders are required to have a minimum of 3 years investigation experience and education to assure that they are competent in their duties. Funding for supplies and materials come from donations by local organizations through fund raising. Mission Statement: To build an organization that will provide effective and thorough origin and cause investigations to local agencies. With continued education and improvement of our skills, along with support from local agencies and organizations, we will strive to reduce the fire problem within St Clair County communities. 1

2 SCCFIT CALL OUT PROCEDURES Incident Commanders (IC) can call out the Fire Investigation Team (FIT) through St Clair County Central Dispatch. Communications will then contact that district FIT leader and advise him/her of the incident. Incident Commanders should have a phone number on-scene so the FIT leader can call to make contact with them. Once the scene information is received by the FIT leader, he/she will determine the level of response that will be brought to your location. It shall be the FIT leader s option to select and upgrade or down grade the response at any time. The following response guidelines will be used by the district FIT leader to determine who and what will respond to your location for assistance. In order to maintain custody of the scene and to assist with questions and resources, the IC shall appoint someone from their jurisdiction to stay on the scene with the FIT at all times, unless relieved by the FIT leader. If there is suspicion that the fire may have been intentionally set, please call the team early so that we can begin interviews as soon as possible. In most cases however, the team should not be called until the fire is out and the team is able to work within the fire origin. Based on the information received by the IC, one of the following levels of response will be sent to your location. LEVEL A (consists of one or more investigators with a basic level of equipment) EXAMPLES: 1. Fire with a single origin (where the fire began). 2. Homeowner or resident was on the scene at the time of the fire. 3. Information from the homeowner seems to fit the fire scenario. LEVEL B (Consist of both fire and police investigators) 1. Fire with multiple origins. 2. Homeowner or resident was not home at the time of the fire. 3. Suspicions discovered during and/or after fire attack. 4. Someone was injured due to the fire. 5. Juvenile may have been involved with setting the fire. 6. Confession LEVEL C (Consist of local, county, state, and Federal fire investigators). 1. Large dollar loss fire. 2. Explosion. 3. Fire fatality(s) or multiple injuries. 4. Meth Lab fire or similar. 2

3 SCCFIT EQUIPMENT The following list shows the investigation equipment needed to process a scene. When the FIT is called, they will bring their own equipment. If the jurisdiction can provide investigation equipment, it may be used in conjunction with the FIT equipment. BASIC: Safety Equipment Paper Consent form Flashlight(s) Work/Safety gear Identification Pens Tape Measurer Camera (Digital or 35mm) Interview forms MODERATE: Generator Portable Lights(s) Rake Shovel Evidence Labels Gas Can Extension Cord(s) Evidence Can/Jar(s) Evidence Collection items Hand Tool(s) Squeegee ADVANCED: Gas Monitor Saws-all Tool Box Casting equipment Drill w/bits Light stands Sifting frames String & Rope Photo Markers Fluorescent spray paint Ladder(s) Char meter Sump pump X-ray Cellophane Tarp Collapsible Tent Compass 100 foot tape Chalk 3

4 SCCFIT Policy TITLE: Professional Demeanor and Participation PURPOSE: To assure that all members on the team remain proficient in their skills and carry a positive attitude that reflects positively on the St Clair County Fire Investigation Team. NARRATIVE: As a member of the SCCFIT team, you will be responding to many locations outside of your normal working environment. This requires you to remain positive and carry yourself professionally. Sometimes when we are outside of our normal environment it is easy to act and function as we always do without knowing the audience that is amongst us. The key is to have fun, help others, and learn as we go, while showing the county that we are a professional team. If we do this and continue our education as a team, we will become a very beneficial team to the county, which will reflect greatly upon us. ACTION: The continued display of unprofessionalism may lead to suspension and/or dismissal from the team. Both the Chairperson and Team Leaders of the team will review each case on a case by case basis. 4

5 SCCFIT Policy TITLE: Safety / Right to Know PURPOSE: To assure that all investigators are aware of the hazards of fire investigations and that the proper wearing of safety equipment will greatly reduce or eliminate those hazards. NARRATIVE: Conducting fire investigations can be very dangerous. It is known that the products of combustion remain on the fire scene even after the fire is out, which places the fire investigators health at risk. There are also many other hazards such as, unstable building construction, sharp edges and objects, hazardous gases, and alike. These hazards can cause immediate and delayed physical injury and shall be minimized by the wearing proper safety equipment. Equipment should include, by not be limited to, air purifying respirator, eye protection, head protection, and hearing protection when needed. Each member of the team shall provide their own equipment while operating within the fire origin. ACTION: All members will use their best judgment on which piece(s) of equipment will be used for each incident. If equipment is available on scene, an air quality test shall be conducted to determine the level of carbon monoxide, oxygen, and other gases are within the fire scene PRIOR to conducting an investigation. 5

6 SCCFIT Policy TITLE: Membership / Qualifications PURPOSE: To assure that a minimum level of professional training in the field of fire investigation is established within the team and that training in that field, as well as related fields, are maintained. NARRATIVE: Conducting an origin and cause investigation requires both technical and practical training. Because of the complexity of some of the cases that the SCCFIT team will be responding to, and the fact that we want Incident Commanders to feel comfortable with whoever arrives on their scene, a basic level of training is required to become a member of the team. These qualifications are a minimum and further training in the field is strongly encouraged. Memberships in organizations such as the Michigan Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and alike, allow members of the team to receive further training and information within the field that can greatly benefit the investigation practices of the team. Membership requirements shall be submitted to the chairperson of the SCCFIT. Applications will be submitted to the membership for acceptance based on the information provided on the application as well as background. In order to become an Active Member of the SCCFIT you must have one of the following in order to be working within the area of origin of a fire investigation. 1. Fire Investigation Basic 80hr class 2. A Completed Membership Application with your Fire/Police Chief signature approving you as an Active Member of this team. 3. Other related education and/or experience that may equal the following. It is encouraged that those who intend to remain active in the fire investigation field become certified through a national organization such as the International Association of Arson Investigations (IAAI) or the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI). 6

7 For those that do not meet the qualifications for membership but have specific skills that may benefit the team, may apply for Participative Membership. This level of membership would allow the applicant to come to the fire scenes to assist in a particular area such as a photographer, drafter, evidence technician, interrogator, excavation operator, coroner, heavy equipment operator, engineers, lawyers, etc. These skills would greatly benefit the team by using their knowledge and tools to process a scene. It would also allow us to use them as a training tool to enhance our active membership s skills. Again, a formal application shall be completed and sent to the Chair of the Team. 7

8 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP St Clair County Fire Investigation Team Name: Address: City: State: Residence Phone Number: Cell Phone Number: Pager Phone Number: Address: Agency: Applying for: ٱ Active Membership ( Police, Fire, Private Investigator etc.) ٱ Participative Membership (Photographer, Surveyor, Evidence Technician etc.) Position: ٱ Fire Investigator ٱ Police/ Sheriff Investigator ٱ Other: Describe Qualifications (Please submit copies of certificates and/or class transcripts for your file): I understand that as a member of the St Clair County Investigation Team that I may be working with sensitive and/or confidential information. I understand that it is my duty to maintain this information on a Need-to-know basis and that it shall only be shared with those closely involved in the case. I also understand that it is my role to present a positive image towards others while working on the St Clair County Investigation Team and agree to do so. Fire/Police Chief Signature: Date: Fire/Police Chief Print Name: Applicant Signature: Date; Approval Signature: Date of Membership Position: 8