Elements and Performance Criteria

Evidence must include
Video tapes, audio tapes, drawings, photographs, plans, manifests, documents, personal notes, physical evidence, debris, soil.

Investigative procedures must include
Canvass witnesses, conduct examinations, advise and cooperate with other agencies, take notes and photographs, make sketches and maps, collect and secure physical evidence, collect, collate and analyse information, conduct interview, prepare reports, produce information.

Evidence preservation must include
Chain of evidence recording, tagging secure encasements, log of events.

Packaging of evidence may include
Non-lined tins, non-leaching bags, glass receptacles, gas sampling equipment, rigid and non-rigid receptacles.

Causes of fire may include
Electrical origin, gas explosion, gas, accidental or deliberate nature, motor vehicles, flammable liquids, chemical, mechanical defect, lightning, environmental or natural occurrences, matches and lighters, smoking, spontaneous combustion.

Liaison with specialist personnel may include
Laboratory technicians, forensic specialist, insurance investigators, medical examiners, lawyers, crime scene police, arson squad, other relevant authorities.

Protocols for giving evidence must include
Court procedures, court practices, pre-court briefings, rules of evidence.

Review of information may include
Incidence mapping, databases, journals, correspondence, Internet, inter-organisation activities, intra-organisation activities.

Post investigation documentation may include
Statements, proformas, photographs, tape recordings.

Critical aspects of evidence
It is essential for this unit that competence is demonstrated in:
securing the scene and preserving the evidence
determining the point of origin and cause of fire
distinguishing between fires that are caused deliberately or accidentally, negligently and naturally lit
collecting evidence in accordance with legislative requirements

Interdependent assessment of units
Pre-requisite units:
PUALAW001A Protect and preserve incident scene
Co-requisite units:
Nil

Underpinning knowledge
Factors affecting fire behaviour; security of the scene/scene contamination and preservation; examination of the fire scene; determining point of origin by deductive evidence; collection of physical evidence; distinguishing between fires that are accidentally, negligently and deliberately or naturally lit; matching evidence to proof of point and offence provisions; differences between fire conditions; fatality and criminal involvement procedures; role of expert witnesses; motives of the fire setter, legal implications of evidence collection and legislative requirements.

Underpinning skills
Communication, handling of dangerous goods and hazardous substances, cooperation with community groups, evidence packaging techniques, demonstrated evidence gathering techniques, conducting briefings, cooperating with other organisations and community groups.

Resource implications
Required fire investigation equipment and resources;
real or simulated test fire sites (forest/rural).
Training building with appropriate fire investigation training rooms, fire crews and pumpers, thermal detection equipment, appropriate protective equipment, classrooms equipped with computers and appropriate training aids, text and reference materials, and appropriate role play scripts for the appropriate personnel (police, barristers, solicitors, forensic scientist, insurance adjustors and investigators).

Consistency in performance
Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.

Context of assessment
On the job or use of simulations or exercises to demonstrate competence in the unit. Verbal or written questions may be used to support the gathering of evidence.