FIRE INVESTIGATION

On 1st January 1988 West Sussex Fire & Rescue appointed five Station Officers to carry out specialist Fire Investigation tasks within the county.

West Sussex Fire & Rescue has a policy that all fires within the county should be investigated. These investigations are carried out at all levels and may only involve the Officer in Charge of the first appliance investigating the cause of the fire and completing a standard fire report (FDR1) form for Home Office returns.

At present, a specialist Fire Investigation Officer is automatically mobilised to all fires involving the attendance of four or more appliances, confirmed persons reported and fatal fires, fires within West Sussex County Council premises, at the request of the Officer in Charge, and to all incidents where there is a recall within 24 hours.

A specialist Fire Investigation Officer will either complete a full Fire Investigation Report or a standard memo giving a summary of the details for future reference.

Liaison between other agencies such as the Police, Forensic Service Laboratories and also liaison with insurance investigators is very important in maintaining good co-operation and ensuring that all skills from each authority are used to their best advantage.

The specialist Fire Investigation Officer carries a variety of equipment to enable him to protect, record and excavate the scene of an incident. The Officer is equipped with a wide angled lens stills camera and he also has use of a video camera.

Once a Fire Investigation Report has been completed, it is held at Headquarters for further reference.

If the fire is of suspicious nature and is being investigated by the Police, a copy of the report will be sent to them to be placed on file.

Fire Investigation Officers are summoned to court to provide evidence based on their experience and findings at an incident.

Interviews are also conducted with insurance companies to assist them in finding out the full details relating to an incident and may have an effect on any claims made by the insured.

To promote the work of the Fire Investigation Officer lectures are given to Stations and also other agencies, Videos, colour slides and also exhibits gained from incidents are presented.

Since 1988 Fire Investigation Officers have investigated hundreds of incidents. Many have involved loss of life and serious damage to property, a large number of those have been attributed to deliberate ignition.

Some Fire Investigation Officers have been involved in incidents involving deaths of suspicious nature and subsequently provided evidence in court relating to murder charges.

Fire investigation within West Sussex is a team effort. The actions and observations of Fire-fighters arriving first on the scene are very important.

Fire investigation at an early stage is essential.

Without the co-operation of Fire-fighters, the task of a Fire Investigation Officer would be much more difficult. Therefore the philosophy of "Observe and Preserve" has been instilled in all Fire-fighters within West Sussex.

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