FIRE INVESTIGATION: CAUSE AND ORIGIN
FFP 2610
COURSE DESCRIPTION
FFP 2610 Fire Investigation: Cause and Origin (3) (A.A.S./A.S.). This course is a study of the fire department's purposes and responsibility in fire investigation, including emphasis upon proper procedures and practice for arson and other types of fire investigation. Fire causes, inspections, sources of ignition, origin, spread, speed and directions flow are stressed. A study of applicable laws and pertinent evidence as they relate to illegal fires is examined.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
The student, at the successful completion of this course, should be able to:
1.Demonstrate the procedures for the inspection of stationary fire pumps according to the authority having jurisdiction.
2.Identify the requirements, need, and purpose for fire cause determination and fire investigation.
3.Given photographs, diagrams, and/or sketches, (a) identify the point of origin, (b) describe the procedure used by the authority having jurisdiction to determine the loss to structure and contents.
4.Given photographs, sketches, and/or diagrams where an incendiary fire is suspected, (a) describe how personnel would be directed to identify and preserve evidence, (b) describe how personnel would properly collect, remove, and preserve evidence, (c) describe the procedures for preliminary interviewing of witnesses and identification of suspects at the fire scene.
5.Identify the factors to be considered upon arrival on the fire scene that may indicate and incendiary fire.
6.Given an incendiary fire: (a) describe the procedures used in identifying incendiary fires, (b) describe the procedures used in locating evidence to indicate arson intent, (c) demonstrate the methods of securing and controlling the fire scene until appropriate investigative personnel arrive.
7.Given a summary of the methods most generally used by persons by setting fires, describe how the methods used by arsonists can be detected.
8.Given a summary of the motives for illegally setting fires, describe how the motives can be used by an investigator to determine a likely suspect.
9.Identify which local, regional, and/or state agency may assist in fire investigations.
10.Given a summary of the record system maintained on fire investigations, describe how the record system is used and maintained.
11.Conduct investigations to determine fire causes and factors contributing to the spread of fire, suppression of arson, and studies of fire experience.
12.Take a test (written/oral) on each academic portion of the outline.
13.Take a performance test on certain portions of the outline.
Date of Last Revision: 10/06/03
Date of Last Review: 11/1/07