a gear worn by firefighters during

emergency fire operation. This

ensemble includes protection for the
eyes, head, hands, feet, and body.
Protective Clothing for Structural Firefighting

Protective Structural for Wildland Firefighting

Protective Clothing for a Hazardous Material Incident

Firefighter coat and pants

Boots

Gloves

A hood to protect the head from heat

A firefighter helmet for head protection

A pull-down protective visor and googles for eye

protection
is a device that provide the
user with an additional supply
of air or breathing protection.
An SCBA typically has three main components:
1. A high-pressure tank (e.g., 2200 psi to 4500 psi);
2. A pressure regulator
3. An inhalation connection (mouthpiece, mouth mask or
face mask), connected together and mounted to a
carrying frame.
1. Closed Circuit
2. open Circuit
1. Face piece - an assembly that fits onto the face of the
person using the breathing apparatus, forming a tight seal to
the face and transmitting air or oxygen to the user.
Parts of Face Piece:
a) head harness e) Nose cup
b) Flexible tube f) Speech diaphragm
c) Exhalation valve g) Pressure relief valve
d) Lens
2. Regulator - A device that is used to control the pressure of
air coming from the cylinder.
Types:
a) Demand type regulator
b) Positive pressure type
Regulator Parts:
a) Alarm
- Whistle - By-Pass Valve
- Bell - Gauge
- High Pressure Hose
3. Air Cylinder
Parts:
a) Pressure gauge
b) Control valve
4. Back Pack or Sling Pack - Designed to hold the unit
securely and comfortably on the water.
 Fire Investigation
• point out the main features of fire investigation
• basis for fire prevention program
• an in depth- analysis of what sequences of events enable a fire to start,
enabled it to spread, and how and where it was controlled (e.g.
firefighting, structural design, lack of fuel) can help prevent future fire
• includes the observations of everyone involved at the fires scene
particularly the firefighters who respond and able to shed light on the
nature of the fire, its progress, and so forth.
 Fire investigation is
concerned with the
following:
• Cause - that which made the fire start; and
• Reason - that which led to the cause of a fire (motive leading
to the action)
Four General Classes of
Fire Causes:
1. Natural Fire - fire caused naturally without human
intervention or aid; such as lighting, spontaneous ignition,
mecahnical malfunction of equipment.
2. Accidental Fire - Fire causes where human action is involved
directly or indirectly. i.e. a). Careless disposal of smoking
materials; b) workers using welding-cutting equipment
3. Arson - fire cause as a result of the wilful and criminal action
of some persons, i.e., incendiary fire.
4. Unknown fire - fires which are not classified as to cause.

Three General Classification of Fire:

1. Innocent fire - e.g. natural and accidental fire
2. Incendiary fire - e.g. arson cases
3. Unknown fire - e.g. fire of unknown causes
 Person/s Responsible to
Examine and Inspect the Fire
Scene (American Setting)
1. Fire Marshal
2. Fire Chief
3. Assistant Chief for Technical Service
4. Fire Inspector responsible for the specific building
5. Senior Fire Officer at the fire scene
6. Photographer
7. Utilities Personnel (particularly electrician)
 Fire Investigation and
Evidence Kit
• Special clothing such as: coverall, gloves, boots used to
protect uniform;
• Flashlight and electric lantern;
• Measuring tape and small ruler for making
measurements;
• Labels (grummed and stringed) used to identify items;
• New or sterile glass with rubber airtight seals used for
the collection of samples;
• Envelopes, boxes, plastic bags, metal cans used for the
collection (assorted sizes) used for the collection of
samples.
Basic Steps in a Fire Scene
Examination/Investigation
• Search systemically - make a plan, have in mind what
you will look for, the way you will look, and what you
will do with each item found and collected. Be thorough,
complete, and orderly
• Observe - use your eyes, ears, nose, and camera if it
possible to note the conditions. Observe the fire and the
spectators.
• Take photograph - the camera records more details
than the naked eye. Establish visual reference through
numerous photographs.
Photograph each area several times during the various
phases of investigation. Infrared photography may prove
extremely valuable since it is sensitive to differences in
heat.
• Work by the Process of Elimination - establish a
checklist and check off each item. Settle one item
before attempting another if possible. Avoid
backtracking.
• Check and Verify - Do not assume or take for granted.
Don’t jump to conclusions.
• Take Note - write down all the details
• Draw diagrams - amplify notes with diagram decipting
locations of incidents described.
Areas to Conduct Fire Investigation
1. Exterior - Determine where the fire vested first by
comparing burn char, smoke, and heat patterns
around windows, doors, and roof.
Look for the following:
• exterior points of origin:
• unusual burn patterns of flammable liquid;
• Tools and flammable liquid containers;
• Footprints and scuff marks at suspected points of
entry.
2. Interior - Conduct a cursory examination or
general survey of the entire structure of interior for
the extent of fire damage. Establish the class of fire
duration (brief or long) and the approximate burn
time by checking the following:
• Window glass condition;
• Depth of wood char, at or in close proximity to the
point of origin;
• Penetration of fire restrictive wall covering by fire;
• Electric clock that has been stopped by fire
damage.
• Note the time stopped and compare with alarm
time. The time factors should be estimated and
considered as approximate only.
Steps on How to Determine the Point of
Origin
1. Examine the entire interior of the building and
determine which room or areas has recieve the
most severe fire.
• this will be the area where the fire burned
extensively or the longest and will very likely be
where it originated.
2. Determine the level or origin within the room by
examining and comparing the bottom side of the
tables, shelves, and chairs.
3. Examine the ceiling and look for the following
patterns: a) fire penetration and b) heaviest fire
exposure
4. Examine the light bulbs within the room. The side
of the bulbs which is initially exposed to heat begin to
swell or bulge and lose shape st about 900 degrees F
when exposed to heat for 10 minutes or more actually
point to the area of fire origin.
5. Examine walls within the room and look for fire
patterns or fire cones.
• Fires generally burn fire patterns on wall as a result
of heat transfer upward and outward, leaving
corresponding through convection and radiation.
• The steepness or relative pitch of the angle seen on
the fire cone is indicative of the type of burning, e.g.
Smoldering or Flaming
 Debris
Examine the fire debris and the floor in the following manner:
• Conduct a detailed search of the debris, examining it layer
by layer until the floor is reached;
• Completely clean the floor on all debris and char dust. The
floor and floor covering should be clean enough to
observe and photograph the significant burn and char
patterns and should be dry.
• Carefully reconstruct and replace furnishings and other
articles in their original positions by using burn patterns
and corresponding protected areas.
• Examine the floor coverings and floor for significant
patterns.
 Furnishing
Examine fire damaged furnishing such as: upholstered
furniture couches, chairs, beds, etc.
Two (2) General Types of Burn Pattern
• Burn pattern that involves a surface burning of the
item. This pattern is indicative of the presence of a
smouldering source of ignition. Examination of
supporting springs will disclose that tension still
exists.
• Burn patterns involving deep penetration of one
portion with corresponding collapse of springs and
frame destruction.
 Types of Furnishing

• Upholstered furniture;
• Television sets and table radios;
• Drapes and curtains;
• Kitchen range
 Arson Indicators:

Accelerants - substances that promote combustion

(gasoline)
Igniters - substances or devices used to start fires,
such as match.
 Burn Indicators:

• are visible evidence of the effects of heatinng or

partial burning

Common Burn/Pattern Indicators:

1. Alligatoring - charred wood that gives it the

apperance of alligator skin.
 Types:
• Large, rolling blisters indicate rapid, intense heat;
• Small, flat alligatoring indicates slow, less intense heat
2. Crazing - the formation of irregular cracks in glass due to rapid, intense
heat, possibly caused by a fire accelerant.
3. The Depth of Char/Charring - indicates the length of burn (how deeply wood
is burned) and fire ‘s point of origin
• an exposure of elevated temperatures in which a material undergoes
chemical decomposition that drives off gases, water vapor, and various
pyrolysis products as smoke.
• char shrinks as it forms, and develop cracks and blisters.
4. Line of Demarcation - A boundary between charred and uncharred material.
• A puddle-shaped line of demarcation on floors or rugs can indicate use of a
liquid fire accelerant. In a cross section of wood, a sharp, distinct line of
demarcation indicates a rapid, intense fire
5. Fusion/Melting - the change in formation of metals, glass or plastic due to
being exposed to high temperatures.
6. Spalling - The breaking off of surface pieces of concrete or brick because of
intense heat.
• brown stains around the spall indicate use of an accelerant
 Point of Origin
• is established by finding the area with the deepest char, alligatoring
and usually the greatest destruction. More than one point of origin
indicates arson.
• knowing the fire's point of origin helps to establish how the fire
spread and whether it followed a normal burning pattern. The more
extensive the destruction, the more difficult it is to determine the
fire's point of origin.
 Fire Report
The contents of the fire report may contain the following information:
1. time of incident;
2. location of incident;
3. size and nature of fire;
4. fire involvement;
5. fire department plant response;
6. injuries and fatalities;
7. time fire extinguished;
8. most probable cause;
9. follow-up and corrective action required.
 Types of Fire/Arson
Investigation
• Basic Investigation Purposes:
1. to determine what property was damage;
2. what the causes and reasons were;
3. the number and extent of injuries or fatalities; and
4. the recommended corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

• Technical Investigation
It is an in-depth investigation to determine more specific details of
the cause and effects, and to establish necessary corrective action.
Reasons in Conducting
Technical Investigation
1. there is suspicion of arson in connection with any fire;
1. there is suspicion of negligence or violation of regulations;
2. the cause of any fire is undetermined (to establish the most probable
cause);
3. there is evidence of negligence or mismanagement in the fire
suppression or rescue operation,
4. loss of life or disabling as a result of fire.
 Arson Investigation
• The direct result of the basic or technical investigation or it may be
brought about from outside knowledge.

Character Traits of Qualified Arson Investigator

1. He should possess knowledge of investigative techniques;

2. He should have an insight of human behavior;
3. He should have a first hand knowledge of the chemistry of fire and its
behavior;
4. He should be resourceful.
Photographing the Fire Scene
• The use of photographs to document of the evidence and to support the
observations, opinions and the investigators wish to make as to the cause of the fire
will support the investigator's findings.
• also provides evidence which would counter counteract arguments of alternative
causes of the fire which might be suggested at a later date.
• useful for jogging the investigator's memory at the time of writing the report or
before appearing in court
• provide a pictorial representation which is easily understood and evaluated.
Photographing the Exterior
1. From all sides or at least to opposite corners of the building to show the overall
degree of fire damage and the locations of the various entrances and windows.
2. The location of the building to neighboring building or fire fighting access areas;
3. Any object which may be material to the circumstances of the fire;
4. Type of tracks, footprints and the location of explosion debris are photographed in
close details, as welis from a distance
Photographing the Interior
1. All rooms and areas inside the building affected by the fire, the photographs should
be sequentially presented in a report from the areas of least damage to the areas of
greatest damage, or to the area of fire origin, if this is not the area of greatest
damage.
2. The peripheral areas where the fire had not originated;
3. The area of fire origin should be photographed before excavation will commence
and again photograph should be taken during excavation, if the process has yielded
points of interest;
4. At areas where an accelerant is suspected, the areas of localized damage to the
floor as well as the overhead damage should be photographed;
5. The burn patterns at doorways should be photograph to show the spread of the fire
between rooms. The burn patterns on the walls in hallways normally show the room
from which the fire originated and the direction of spread of the fire:
6. Appliances suspected of causing the fire should be photographed from a distance
and in close up in the location where they were found. The remains should be taken
outside to allow closer inspection and be photographed in sunlight or later at the
laboratory.
Points of Entry and Security
of Building
1. The doors should be first photographed in the position in which they were found. If
the door was found closed then both sides of the door should be photographed
2. The burn patterns and soot deposits around the door and the door frame should be
photographed as they normally ascertain the position of the door at the time of the
fire:
3. Any parts of the door or lock which may have been dislodged as a result of some type
of forced entry should be photographed at the location where they were found and
later reconstructed at their original position
 On Windows
1. The position at the time of the fire should also be determined and the evidence used
for such an evaluation should be photographed;
2. The position of the window frames in the case of a sliding aluminum window;
3. The position of the falling glass could both indicate the position of the window at
the time of the fire,
4. The smoke and heat patterns above a window can also indicate the position of the
window at the time of the fire should also be photographed;
5. The window locks should also be recovered and photographed.
 Photography in Arson
Investigation
1. Show the areas in which the fire started or was set.
2. Help identify spectators. An arsonist often remains to watch the fire.
3. Provide information about the speed of combustion and direction of spreading.
4. Show the progressive stages of burning and fire fighting from various angles, If it
possible keep a record of the time each picture was taken.
5. Help investigators determine the type of material/s burning This is where the use of
color film is recommended.
6. Give particular attention to the most burned charred areas. The structure should be
photographed from all sides or angles to show the damaged areas.