Fire Investigation
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The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 provides the Service with powers for us to investigate the cause of ignition and the reasons for subsequent fire spread. In the case of deliberate fires, the lead Authority will ultimately be the Police, directed by the Procurator Fiscal and supported by the Service’s dedicated Fire Investigation Team.
We have a formal Fire Investigation Protocol with Northern Constabulary, which maximises resources, expertise, efficiency and quality of service provision.
All incidents are subject to basic fire investigation, however on a number of occasions a more detailed examination is required. This investigation will be directed by any or all of the following:
- if the fire resulted in a serious casualty or fatality,
- was of suspicious origin
- it is believed that the cause may have learning outcomes that require to be made public for community education and/or establishing best practice.
Fire Investigation can provide an invaluable insight into the behaviour of fire, and therefore useful evidence on ways to manage identified risks. It is a potent tool to determine not just the cause of the incident but to gain knowledge to prevent other similar occurrences. In addition, it is a fundamental skill that we use to inform the tactics and strategies that will achieve our Service Strategic Aims.
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