WILDLAND FIRE INVESTIGATION

• Use local resources as much as possible. Include qualified resources from local fire departments and counties. • Whenever possible, use local Type 3 Overhead teams to manage fires beyond initial attack. • Where applicable, build fireline at night—hold during day. • Develop Cost-Share Agreements to support county and state strategic and tactical policies. Write a Cost-Share Agreement as specific as possible to identify cost to the counties and state. • Use aerial resources in a judicial manner. Consider other less costly resources that could safely accomplish the same objectives. • Provide financial oversight to Overhead Teams. Request assistance from the Fire Management Work Unit as needed. • Review Fire Resource Orders to determine effective use of suppression and support resources. • As the fire progresses, evaluate county and/or the State responsibilities and values at risk. • End the county and/or state financial involvement as soon as reasonably possible. • When the fire is controlled, declare it controlled. • Manage the resources, including the overhead team. Release them as soon as possible to reduce cost. Do not allow the cost of resources held for other purposes other than the needs of the fire to be billed to the county or state. • Aggressively pursue cost recovery on human caused fires.

WILDLAND FIRE INVESTIGATION

GENERAL The Division is committed to determining the cause of all human-caused fires and to recovering suppression costs and pursuing criminal action when appropriate. As such, it is critical that a thorough “long-form” investigation be completed for all human-caused fires where the responsible party may be located. For all other fires, a “short form” investigation should be completed. Both the “short” and “long” form can be found on the FFSL Enterprise Forms page under Fire, (https://ffsl.link/EnterpriseForms) - for QR code see 7.5 on page 192. Although initial attack personnel may not possess the skills to conduct investigations, they may complete short forms and may also play a very important role in establishing patterns. Successful pursuit of criminal and civil actions based upon a wildland fire investigation is often commensurate with information received by eyewitnesses and initial attack personnel. Successfully solving serial or spree arson cases is only possible if there is thorough data collection on the fires involved. Recognizing that initial attack personnel are primarily concerned with suppression actions, they need to also be aware of things that will be helpful to subsequent fire investigations. The following is a list of items that must be recognized and observed by initial attack personnel which will greatly assist with investigation efforts.

DIRECTION Watch for vehicles that are leaving the area or parked near the fire. Record vehicle license numbers and descriptions along with physical descriptions of occupants. Call vehicle descriptions and plate numbers over the radio so dispatch can record them.

Make note of any vehicles, equipment, adults or children you observe in the origin area. A digital camera or cell phone camera is a quick and reliable way to collect information while responding. Be aware of any activities that may be going on in the area; such as camping, children playing, parties/meetings, use of fireworks, construction activity, hunting/target shooting, etc.

AFTER ARRIVING AT THE FIRE Request a qualified fire investigator if you think you need one. When making the decision to order an investigator or not, consider the suppression costs, fire size, impacts to the public and any criminal elements. Observe how the fire is burning: Record wind direction and speed, relative humidity, color of smoke, flame lengths, flame color, etc. Take photos! If an investigator is not ordered, complete a “short form” investigation submission.

PROTECT THE ORIGIN AREA!! This is critical for any follow-up investigation. • Do not apply water to the origin area until it has been released by investigators. • Do not allow any vehicle or foot traffic to enter a suspected origin area. • If the origin area has been impacted by initial attack forces before you arrive, do what you can to protect it after you arrive. • There may still be important evidence and burn indicators which can be obtained and utilized. Use flagging to exclude anyone (including firefighters) from entering the origin and assign someone to maintain its integrity. • Do not touch any evidence (unless it’s in jeopardy), but make note of anything suspicious and inform investigators. • Be aware of smells such as gunpowder, petrochemicals, etc. • Get names, phone numbers, and addresses of witnesses, when possible and record witness statements using the Statement of Witness Form. • Record any other information that you think may be useful in an investigation.