Whitehall Ohio Division of Fire Fire Investigations SOP 200.1 PDF

Standard Operating Procedure Title: Fire Investigations S.O.P. - 200.1 Section: 200 – Special Programs Pages: 3 Issue Date: 01/01/2021 Approved: Revised Date: Chief Preston Moore Effective Date: 01/01/2021 1.0 Purpose: This standard operating procedure addresses fire investigations. The office...

Standard Operating Procedure Title: Fire Investigations S.O.P. - 200.1 Section: 200 – Special Programs Pages: 3 Issue Date: 01/01/2021 Approved: Revised Date: Chief Preston Moore Effective Date: 01/01/2021 1.0 Purpose: This standard operating procedure addresses fire investigations. The officer in charge of the incident can determine basic origin and cause. This procedure details the process to involve a fire investigator. 2.0 Responsibility: This Standard Operating Procedure shall pertain to all personnel in this organization. It shall be the responsibility of the department officers to implement this operating procedure. It shall be the responsibility of the department officers to train members in the application of this procedure. It shall be the responsibility of each member to know, understand and use this procedure as it applies to the situation at hand. Each member will use good judgment in the use of this procedure. 3.0 Procedures and Information: 3.1 Guideline: A) All property damage fire incidents shall have an origin and cause determination by the officer in charge. When an arson, suspected arson is known to have occurred or is suspected to have occurred, we will aggressively proceed with a complete origin and cause investigation in association with the State of Ohio Fire Marshal’s office. 1) When a fire is determined to be of an unknown origin, a suspicious fire 1 or an obvious arson fire, the Officer-In-Charge shall secure the scene. Securing the scene will reduce further damage to important investigative materials pertinent to the scene. The IC must manage the scene in order to gain control over the incident (keep the hazard from causing more damage) at the same time protecting any evidentiary material. 2) The scene shall be maintained intact as much as possible when the IC determines the fire to be of an unknown origin, a suspicious fire, an obvious arson or a fire involving a fatality. Whitehall Division of Fire personnel shall remain on the scene until the SFM Investigator arrives. If the investigator is alone, the IC shall have other on-duty personnel remain with the Investigator to render assistance if he/she requires. 3) The IC must ensure that all possible incendiary devices remain at the scene and stay in their original location so long as this does not create a safety hazard (i.e. gas cans, fuses, or any other possible incendiary devices). 4) The IC must secure the premises and/or surrounding area in order to maintain an undisturbed, secure arson scene. Overhaul shall be limited to only what is required to maintain containment of the fire. Further overhaul will be completed under direction of the Investigator. 5) The first arriving engine company should be kept on the scene, if possible, to allow the Investigator to collect initial fire scene observations from the initial response crews. 6) The IC will collect information concerning the origin and cause of the fire. (i.e. homeowners, occupants, 911 callers, video, photos, or any statements made on the scene). 7) Upon the arrival of the Arson Investigator, the IC will relinquish the origin and cause investigation to the Investigator and assist the Investigator in whatever may be required. 8) At this point, the State of Ohio will have jurisdiction on the criminal investigation of the suspicious fire. 9) The IC shall be responsible for completing the incident investigation report in the NFIRS. B) Mandatory Notification of The State of Ohio – Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigative Bureau (FEIB): 1) Any fatal fire. 2 2) Any fire with an estimate loss of equal to or greater than $500,000. 3) Any critically injured person(s) involved in any type of fire. a) The number to contact them is 1.800.589.2728, regardless of the time day or night. 3 This page intentionally left blank. 4