Due Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday of Unit 4
Points: 100
Overview:
In this assignment, you will analyze a fire.
You are one of the on-call Fire Investigators for the Jamestown Municipal Fire
Department. At 10:00 AM on Tuesday April 3rd you are notified that a structure fire has
occurred at 75 South Street. You are assigned to conduct the cause and origin
investigation along with your partner Lieutenant Brady.
75 South Street is a three story, two family residential structure located in a residential
neighborhood. The dispatcher tells you the fire was in the rear of the building and it took
the Fire Department about twenty minutes to extinguish it. The dispatcher also informs
you that there is an investigator from the SafeWay insurance company responding to
the scene. SafeWay holds the insurance policy for the building.
Instructions:
• Download the PowerPoint with the fire scene photos.
• Analyze the photos to answer the questions in each part.
Part I. The Initial Investigation
1. You have been tasked with conducting a cause and origin investigation. Define
“Cause” and “Origin” and provide examples of each.
2. While responding, you and Lieutenant Brady discuss using the scientific
method to approach the investigation. What are the steps of the scientific
method?
3. You are working for the Jamestown Municipal Fire Department as a public
sector investigator. The SafeWay insurance company has sent a private sector
investigator. What are the differences between public and private sector fire
investigations?
4. Before you arrive on scene, you and Lt. Brady must ensure you are legally
entering the property to begin your investigation. There are three main ways a
CRJ344 – Fire & Arson Investigation
Fire Scene Investigation
public sector investigator can legally enter a building to begin an investigation.
Define and explain them.
5. Your safety and the safety of your partner are always the top priority. What are
some items you may wear to ensure you remain safe during the investigation?
When you arrive on scene, you will want to identify any potential hazards
present during the investigation. What are some hazards for a fire investigator
working at a residential structure fire?
Part II. The Exterior Examination
You and Lt. Brady arrive on the scene and meet with the Fire Department. The Fire
Department says a neighbor called in the fire after seeing it through her bedroom
window. Upon arrival the fire department said the whole back of the building was on fire.
They used hose lines to extinguish the fire. Review the pictures and provide answers
based on your knowledge of fire science.
6. The “Exterior South” photo shows that heat energy traveled from the house to a
nearby car, likely through radiation. Radiation is one of the three methods of
heat transfer. Name the other two methods and provide examples of each.
7. All the photos show that the fire moved well past the “Incipient Stage” which is
the first stage of fire growth. Name the other three stages of fire growth and
provide examples.
8. To determine the cause and origin of the fire, the investigator must show how
all parts of the “Fire Tetrahedron” came together. Define the four components
of the “Fire Tetrahedron”.
9. This is a “wood frame” building where the walls, floors and roof are all
constructed with wood. How does fire impact wood as oppose to noncombustible construction materials such as steel or concrete?
10. One of the gases that is produced any time organic material burns is carbon
monoxide. How does carbon monoxide impact the human body?
11. What is the definition of “Fire”?
12. You conduct your exterior survey in a clockwise fashion and then work from
areas of “least damage” to areas of “most damage”. This is a systematic
approach to fire scene documentation. Why is it important to use a consistent
systematic method when documenting a fire scene?
© 2021 Post University, Waterbury, CT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
13. Some neighbors are starting to become nosy and want to walk in the building to
see what happened. You know this could result in both “contamination” and
“spoliation”. Define these terms as they relate to fire investigation.
14. Lt. Brady suggests looking for evidence in the yard by conducting a grid search
or “gridding” the scene. Define this and explain why this method is beneficial.
15. Lt. Brady reminds you to use the methods explained in NFPA 921 standard.
What is NFPA 921 and why is it important?
Part III. The Interior Examination
After conducting a systematic exterior examination, you and Lt. Brady move to the
interior of the building. Review the photos and provide answers to the following
questions:
16. The photo labeled “Interior – Bedroom 2 – South Wall” shows a very clear “V”
burn pattern. How is a “V” burn pattern created and what information can it
provide investigators?
17. The photo labeled “Interior- Bedroom 2” shows that the wood ceiling joists have
no smoke or heat damage on them and could be called a “Protected Area”.
What is a “Protected Area” and why should fire investigators document them?
18. The photo labeled “Interior – Kitchen” shows heavy heat damage to the
cabinets near the ceiling, but almost no damage near the floor. How can this
happen?
19. “Interior – Bedroom 2” shows that the ceiling has collapsed down into the room.
“Layering” may be used to sift through this evidence. Describe this method.
20. At the conclusion of your investigation, you and Lt. Brady are able to classify
the fire as “Accidental”. Define and explain the other three possible
classifications used to categorize fires.
Requirements:
• Minimum six pages in length, excluding the Title and Reference page.
• APA format, including an in-text citation for referenced works.
• At least three resources.
Be sure to read the criteria by which your work will be evaluated before you write
and again after you write.
© 2021 Post University, Waterbury, CT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Assessment Rubric for Fire Scene Investigation Assignment
CRITERIA Deficient Needs
Improvement
Proficient Exemplary
(0-11 points) (12-15 points) (16-19 points) (20 points)
Part I. The Initial
Investigation
Does not cover
the assigned
topic; assertions
are not supported
by evidence;
paper is seriously
lacking in content
and detail.
Does not do an
adequate job of
covering the
assigned topic;
assertions are
weakly supported
by evidence.
Sufficient
coverage of the
topics; most
assertions are
supported by
evidence.
Provides in-depth
coverage of the
topics, assertions
are clearly
supported by
evidence.
(0-14 points) (15-19 points) (20-24 points) (25 points)
Part II. The
Exterior
Examination
Does not cover
the assigned
topic; assertions
are not supported
by evidence;
paper is seriously
lacking in content
and detail.
Does not do an
adequate job of
covering the
assigned topic;
assertions are
weakly supported
by evidence.
Sufficient
coverage of the
topics; most
assertions are
supported by
evidence.
Provides in-depth
coverage of the
topics, assertions
are clearly
supported by
evidence.
Part III. The
Interior
Examination
Does not cover
the assigned
topic; assertions
are not supported
by evidence;
paper is seriously
lacking in content
and detail.
Does not do an
adequate job of
covering the
assigned topic;
assertions are
weakly supported
by evidence.
Sufficient
coverage of the
topics; most
assertions are
supported by
evidence.
Provides in-depth
coverage of the
topics, assertions
are clearly
supported by
evidence.
(0-5 points) (6-7 points) (8-9 points) (10 points)
Resources No resources
included.
Includes at least 1
resource.
Includes at least 2
resources.
Includes more
than 3 resources.
Paper Length Less than one
page. Does not
meet page
requirements.
Does not meet the
minimum page
requirements.
Meets the
minimum
requirements.
Exceeds the
minimum
requirements.
Clear and
Professional
Writing and APA
Format
Errors impede
professional
presentation;
guidelines not
followed. APA
references/citation
s have significant
errors.
Significant errors
that do not impede
professional
presentation. Sev
eral errors in the
APA
reference/citation.
Few errors that do
not impede
professional
presentation. Few
errors in the APA
reference/citation.
Writing and format
are clear,
professional, APA
compliant, and
error free.
