OG 3006 Overhaul Operations at Fire Scenes

Issued By: FIRE PREVENTION (D. Day)
Approved By: Fire Chief William H. Mosher    
Date of Issue:  2009/05/28

Forms Required:    
•    FP-155 Photo Log Form


PURPOSE: 

To provide a guideline to members of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE) while conducting overhaul operations at a fire scene.

OBJECTIVE:

Members of HRFE will follow a guideline while conducting overhaul operations which will allow for the better preservation of evidence at fire scenes. 

SCOPE:

This operating guideline applies to career and volunteer firefighters with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency. 

PROCEDURE:

 It is during overhaul operations that any remaining evidence not damaged by the fire is susceptible to being destroyed or displaced. Excessive overhaul of the fire scene prior to the documentation and analysis of fire patterns can affect the investigation, including failure to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

While firefighters have a responsibility to control and extinguish the fire, and then check for fire extension, they are also responsible for the preservation of evidence. These two responsibilities may appear to be in conflict, and as a result, it is often the evidence that is compromised during the search for hidden fire. However, if overhaul operations are performed in a systematic manner both responsibilities can be met successfully. 


Operational crews should consider the following:

1.    Photographing any burn patterns prior to conducting overhaul operations in the area.

2.    Placing a tarp on the floor prior to the removal of drywall or other interior finishes. When wet gyprock is walked upon it is transformed into a wet sludge like paste which makes processing fire debris and evidence at floor level very difficult. Placing a tarp on the floor will not only help preserve evidence at floor level, it will also help prevent tracking this paste like material throughout the rest of the structure. 

3.    Partial removal of drywall from an area leaving fire patterns intact. I.E.; make an inspection hole to check for fire extension rather than pulling the entire wall covering.

4.    Removal or partial removal of drywall from the unaffected side (wall in adjoining room). This will enable proper overhaul to take place while leaving the fire pattern(s) intact.

5.    If a decision is made to remove items from the structure for extinguishment (I.E. smoldering mattress etc.) it is imperative that crews carefully observe the item’s original position found, as the item will be required to be placed back in its original position in order to reconstruct the scene during the fire investigation phase. Consideration should be given to photographing the item in place prior to moving it.

6.    When a fire investigator is on scene and time permits, the investigator should examine and document the area prior to the beginning of extensive overhaul operations.

Other On-scene Precautions:

1.    When tasked to isolate the power within a structure the firefighter should do so by turning off the main switch or circuit breaker. Breakers for individual circuits should be left in their original position found in order to document the circuits which were affected during the fire.

Note: Once a tripped circuit breaker has been switched to the “Off” position it is impossible to place it back in the “tripped” position as found. This is due to a design feature in the breaker.

2.    Personnel should refrain from repositioning control knobs and operating switches on any fire damaged equipment, appliance, or utility service. These components are often constructed of plastics which become very brittle when subjected to high heat levels. Touching or moving the control will often cause them to crumble of fall apart making to very difficult and sometimes impossible to determine their pre-fire position.

3.    Refuelling of petroleum powered equipment or tools should be done outside the perimeter of the fire scene. Petroleum powered equipment should never be refuelled inside of a structure. This practice will contaminate the scene and destroy the admissibility of evidence samples collected at the scene.

RELATED POLICIES/ OPERATING GUIDELINES:

•    P-203 Investigations
•    OG 4015 Garbage Container Fires
•    OG 4019 Technical Rope Rescue

OPERATING GUIDELINE REVIEW:

This operating guideline shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to the guideline for overhaul operations at fire scenes.