SIK514 Fire Investigations

Contents and structure

The purpose of this course is to give the student an overview of the investigation discipline both from a practical and a research based point of view. A fire incident can have both natural, human and technological causes. In the aftermath of an incident, it may be quite challenging to reveal possible causes of a fire and mechanisms involved during the fire development. The student will be introduced to both industrial and civil sector fire and explosion investigations as well as the role as an expert witness in police investigations and court cases. A strong focus will be given to the learning potential from fire investigations for a safer future in the industry and the civil sector.

Learning Outcome

After completing the course, the student has the following learning outcome:

Knowledge

The student…

• knows the fire and ventilation dynamics involved in selected particularly challenging historic wildfires, civil sector and industrial fire and explosion incidents
• knows the different focus of fire and explosion investigations in fire brigades, industry, insurance companies and police force
• has knowledge about possible error traps involved in fire and explosion investigations
• knows ignition properties and fire spread mechanisms for a number of accelerants, inventory and structural materials
• knows possible collapse mechanisms in structures exposed to fires and explosions
• knows the principles of NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigation
• knows high-level tools for analysing incidents including human behaviour, responsibility, system analysis, timelines and other analytical methods
• knows the principles for testifying in the court

Skills

The student…

• can use fire and explosion dynamics to analyse historic fire and explosion incidents
• can identify possible error traps in a given investigation
• can develop a preliminary investigation plan and adjust the plan based on revealed knowledge during the course of the investigation
• can work with several hypotheses during an investigation
• can acknowledge and thus, counteract possible confirmation biases
• can identify incendiary fire signs, evidence, motivations, and detection of accelerants
• can treat interviewees with due respect and conduct unbiased and neutral interviews as well as evaluate witness credibility
• can neutrally evaluate the strength and validity of his/her own investigation
• can avoid spoliation of evidence

General competence

The student…

• can use the basic principles of fire and explosion dynamics to reveal possible ignition sources and likely fire development in case studies
• can identify impacts of materials involved, heat radiation, convection and ventilation patterns and their reciprocal influence on the fire development and burn patterns
• can put up hypotheses for the investigation and use falsification to limit the number of hypotheses
• can analyse human, technical and organizational factors that may affect the incident and hence the response in a positive or negative direction
• can discuss what could have been the consequences under slightly changed circumstances
• can make proper diagrams and incident reports
• can identify learning points from own and other investigations

Entry requirements

Successful completion of SIK508 Explosions and Industrial Fire Fire Safety and SIK509 Structural Fire Safety.

Recommended previous knowledge

Fire Science/Fire Dynamics

Teaching methods

Asynchronous/Synchronous digital lectures, herein, exercises, problem-based learning and demonstrations. Group Work and self-guidance are also used. The latter is essential in a digital course as part of a web-based master's degree.

Compulsory learning activities

To be announced.

Assessment

Part 1: Portfolio assessment, count for 50 % of the final mark.

Part 2: Digital oral exam, 20 minutes, count for 50 % of the final mark.

The students must pass both parts to pass the course.

Graded scale from A to E for pass, and F for fail.

Examination support material

Portfolio: All aids available

Oral exam: No aids available

More about examination support material