NTISthis.com

Evidence Guide: PUAFIR605A - Determine origin and cause of mobile property fire

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

PUAFIR605A - Determine origin and cause of mobile property fire

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Coordinate mobile fire investigation

  1. Roles and responsibilities of multi-agency and support personnel involved in a mobile property fire investigation are confirmed
  2. Cooperation with multi-agency personnel in the conduct of the investigation consistent with designated roles and responsibilities is achieved
  3. Information required by a fire investigator from multi-agency personnel is identified, sought and received
  4. Protective clothing and equipment are used in accordance with agency procedures
  5. Occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures appropriate to the incident are followed
Roles and responsibilities of multi-agency and support personnel involved in a mobile property fire investigation are confirmed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooperation with multi-agency personnel in the conduct of the investigation consistent with designated roles and responsibilities is achieved

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information required by a fire investigator from multi-agency personnel is identified, sought and received

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protective clothing and equipment are used in accordance with agency procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures appropriate to the incident are followed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secure fire scene and preserve evidence

  1. Legal obligations of fire scene investigators are adhered to throughout the investigation
  2. Methods of scene security prior to examination are implemented
  3. Procedures to monitor and log access to a fire scene are established and applied
  4. Strategies for locating, collecting and processing evidence are implemented
  5. Methods of preservation of evidence at a fire scene are implemented
  6. Scene is protected from unnecessary damage, destruction or contamination
Legal obligations of fire scene investigators are adhered to throughout the investigation

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methods of scene security prior to examination are implemented

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procedures to monitor and log access to a fire scene are established and applied

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strategies for locating, collecting and processing evidence are implemented

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methods of preservation of evidence at a fire scene are implemented

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scene is protected from unnecessary damage, destruction or contamination

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conduct scene investigation

  1. External and internal survey of scene is conducted to identify hazards and action is taken to mitigate risk
  2. Scene is reviewed to determine areas of interest and to record observation which may have a bearing on origin, cause or development of the fire
  3. Burn patterns and effects of fire suppression are identified and assessed
  4. Areas or items of evidence that have a potential bearing on origin, cause or development of the fire are identified
  5. Effects of construction and other factors on fire development and spread are identified
  6. Nature, combustibility and reactivity of materials involved in fire cause are identified and indicators of fire spread, in conjunction with other sources of evidence, are confirmed
  7. Effects of environmental conditions are assessed
  8. Effects of topographical conditions are assessed
  9. Witness information is obtained in accordance with the rules of evidence and agency requirements
  10. Significance of evidence observed is assessed and prioritised for further review
  11. Origin and cause determination options are assessed
  12. Evidence to indicate or exclude a particular cause of fire is assessed
  13. Area/likely point of origin and possible causes of fire are determined
External and internal survey of scene is conducted to identify hazards and action is taken to mitigate risk

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scene is reviewed to determine areas of interest and to record observation which may have a bearing on origin, cause or development of the fire

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burn patterns and effects of fire suppression are identified and assessed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Areas or items of evidence that have a potential bearing on origin, cause or development of the fire are identified

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effects of construction and other factors on fire development and spread are identified

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature, combustibility and reactivity of materials involved in fire cause are identified and indicators of fire spread, in conjunction with other sources of evidence, are confirmed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effects of environmental conditions are assessed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effects of topographical conditions are assessed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Witness information is obtained in accordance with the rules of evidence and agency requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significance of evidence observed is assessed and prioritised for further review

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin and cause determination options are assessed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evidence to indicate or exclude a particular cause of fire is assessed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Area/likely point of origin and possible causes of fire are determined

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collect and analyse evidence from a fire scene

  1. Appropriate sampling areas and items are identified using required sampling equipment and resources
  2. Appropriate collection techniques are applied eliminating contamination and loss of evidence
  3. Best available samples and items including control samples are collected
  4. Continuity of collected exhibits is maintained
  5. Evidence from a fire scene is analysed and processed using a range of recording and technological media
  6. Product recall and material safety data sheet databases are researched, as appropriate
  7. Findings are reported and documented according to required practice and agency policy
  8. Evidence is secured for subsequent action
  9. Investigation report is completed and forwarded to appropriate authorities/stakeholders
Appropriate sampling areas and items are identified using required sampling equipment and resources

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appropriate collection techniques are applied eliminating contamination and loss of evidence

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best available samples and items including control samples are collected

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuity of collected exhibits is maintained

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evidence from a fire scene is analysed and processed using a range of recording and technological media

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product recall and material safety data sheet databases are researched, as appropriate

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Findings are reported and documented according to required practice and agency policy

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evidence is secured for subsequent action

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigation report is completed and forwarded to appropriate authorities/stakeholders

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

apply safe work practices at a fire scene

collect and maximise the potential evidentiary value of physical evidence

identify area/point of origin and possible cause of fire

apply evidence and forensic scientific principles to assess possible area/point of origin and causes.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time and across a range of workplace and/or simulated situations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in the workplace and in a simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

legislation, policy, procedures and protocols relating to gathering and managing evidence

case studies and workplace scenarios to capture the range of causes likely to occur for which evidence needs to be gathered and managed.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this unit may include a combination of:

case studies

demonstration

observation

questioning

scenarios

authenticated evidence from the workplace.

Required Skills and Knowledge

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

apply methods and techniques to identify, document, collect, handle, transport and store evidence

apply scientific method to mobile property investigation

assess and investigate a scene externally and internally

clearly articulate and justify findings

collect and handle exhibits and items of interest

conduct witness interviews

identify potential hazards

identify potential ignition sources and follow processes for elimination of cause

interpret fire indicators

interpret fire scene

maintain scene security log

manage fire scene examination

package and preserve evidence to avoid damage (spoliation) or contamination

present evidence

present findings

record information appropriately and accurately

record scene and photographs

take notes to support the recording of information

take photographs with written explanations

take videos with narrative and explanations

write reports

Required Knowledge

common causes of fire (accidental, chemical, electrical, incendiary, natural, negligence, mechanical)

local/state/territory court requirements for investigations and recording of findings

methods, techniques and equipment for handling and storing evidence to preserve and avoid damage or contamination

OHS legislation and its application

packaging, labelling and storing evidence for transport

potential ignition sources, their identification and process of elimination

principles of investigation based on scientific method

relevant Australian Standards and international standards

rules of evidence

safety precautions required for mobile fire investigations

Range Statement

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Agencies may include:

Coroner

Electrical authorities

Forensic scientists

Gas authorities

Insurance investigators and assessors

Other statutory authorities

Peak bodies

Support personnel may include:

Government and private forensic chemists

Insurance investigators and assessors and construction companies

Statutory bodies

Technical specialists

Mobile property fire incidents may include:

Aircraft

Caravan and campervan fires

Farm machinery

Marine craft

Motor vehicle fires

Trains/trams

Truck and bus fires

Causes of fire may include:

Chemical reaction

Electrical wiring

Engine fire

Fuel line and systems

Fuel types/mixtures

Incendiary devices (commercial, manufactured devices for other purposes, home-made, industrial, military)

Mechanical failure/damage

Transmission fire

Witnesses may include:

Emergency services personnel

Members of statutory agencies

Members of the public

Owners/occupants

Origin and cause determination must include:

Analysing

Identification of origin

Interpretation

Processing

Vehicle indicators:

accidental

arcing

arson

friction

heating from conduction, convection and radiation

impact damage

incipient

manufacturing faults

melt rates

overload

oxidation of metal

paint work

radial

repair faults

spring compression

vapour explosion

Sampling equipment and resources may include:

Accelerant detecting canine

Field-based sampling devices e.g. photo ionisation detectors

Appropriate collection techniques may include:

Mobile property relocation to workshop for further analysis (car carriers, marine salvage, low loaders)

Preservation of evidence

Search techniques

Security of environment

Recording and technological media may include:

Audio

Computers

Log books

Note taking

Photography (digital, multimedia, closed circuit television [CCTV], other media images)

Sketches

Video