1

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2

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Structure

7,249

7,249

7,375

7,974

7,914

7,958

Motor

2,759

2,759

3,169

3,450

3,576

3,777

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2

3

 Fire Investigation is the process of determining the origin,cause and development of fire (NFPA 921)
 Fire Investigation is the process of determining the cause,

origin and circumstance of fire (Fire Services Act 1988)

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

Fire Investigation in FRDM
4
 was form in 2003 with 144 officers.
 In 2008, the role of fire Investigation become important, it form one
division called Fire Investigation Div. with 460 Officers.

Train Fire Investigator Officer◦ trained by the expert from IAAI (International Arson Association
Investigation)◦ attended course in Japan, USA, UK & Australia.

Member of IAAI.
Member of MQA (Malaysia Quality Assurance) in Forensic Science.



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Equipments at each Fire Investigation Lab
 Polimer◦ Thermal Gravimetry Analyzer (TGA),◦ Thermomechanical Analyzer (TMA)◦ Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC),
 Organic Compound◦ High Performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),◦ Automatic Thermal Desorption – Gas
chromatography and Mass Spectometer (ATDGCMS)
 Inorganic Compound◦ Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR),◦ Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission
Spectrometry (ICP-OES),◦ Ultra Violet Spectrophotometry (UV-VIS).

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6

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

To determine the cause, origin and circumstance of firesystematically and scientifically.
To prepare the investigation paper for Incendiary Fire.
To evaluate the effectiveness of operation tactic, fire prevention andenforcement of fire safety.
To determine the effectiveness of Fire Safety Installation atpremises.
To purpose any standard of fire safety installation to Malaysia
Standard.
To purpose effectiveness of fire safety campaign to public.
To advice the manufacture of electrical equipment or others
manufacture about fire safety.

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7

Section 5(1)(b) – making of investigation into cause, origin andcircumstances of fire.
 Section 45 – The Minister appoint any persons to hold an enquiry
into the cause and circumstances of any fire and action taken.
 Section 46 – taking possession of premises and other property
damaged or destroyed by fire.
 Section 47 – Unauthorized presence in premises possession whereof
has taken under Section 46 shall be guilty of an offence.


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Section 38 –Power of entry.
 Section 39 –Restriction on disclosure of information.
 Section 40 – Power to arrest without warrant person foundcommitting an offence under section 47.
 Section 41 – power of investigation.
 Section 42 – power to require attendance of witnesses Section 43 – Examination of witnesses.


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



Section 435 – Mischief by fire or explosive with intent to cause damage toamount RM50.00. Whoever commits mischief by fire or any explosive substance,
intending to cause, damage to any property to the amount of RM50.00 or upwards.
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years andshall also be liable to fine.
Section 436 – Mischief by fire or explosive with intent to destroy a house etc.
Whoever commits mischief by fire or any explosive substance, intending to cause,or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, the destruction of any building
which is ordinary used as; a place of worship, or for the administration of justice, orfor the transaction of public affairs, or for education, or art, or for public use, orOrnament, or as a human dwelling, or as a place for the custody of property.
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 20 years andshall also be liable to fine.

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

Section 438 – Punishment for the mischief described in the lastsection when committed by fire or any explosive substance.
Whoever commits mischief by fire or any explosive substance,
intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby
cause, the destruction of any building which is ordinary used as:shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to 20 years and shall also be liable to fine.

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



Using international◦ Guide Fire andExplosion Investigation
NFPA 921.
◦ Fire and Arson Scene
Evidence: A Guide for
Public Safety Personnel
by U.S. Department ofJustice.
◦ Professional guide◦ Standard –Standard
Fire Investigation guide/
direction.
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11

Scientific Method is systematic pursuit of knowledge involving
the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data
through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing ofa hypothesis (NFPA 921).

Systematic Approach is that of the scientific method, which is usedin the physical science.

BPKStep 4– Analyze the Data

Step 1 – Recognize the need

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

• A fire has occurred• The origin is unknown

Step 2 – Define the Problem•

Determine the origin

Pattern analysis.
Heat and flame vector analysis
Depth of char and calcination surveys
Arc mapping
Event sequencing.
Fire Dynamics consideration
Building construction and occupancy
consideration.

Step 3 – Collect Data••••

Basic site data
Determine pre-fire conditions
Documentation of post-fire conditions
Excavation, examination, andreconstruction of the scene -Photograph,sketch and collect evidence• Witness statements and observations• FDRM information• Alarm, detector ,and security.

Step 5 – Develop a working Hypothesis•••

Initial origin hypothesis
Working origin hypothesis
Alternate hypothesis

Step 6– Test the Working Hypothesis••••

Is there a competent ignition source at the origin?
Does the origin explain the data?
Are contradictions resolved?
Does an alternate origin explain the data equallywell?

Step 7 – Select the Final Hypothesis
•
•
•

13

Area of origin
Point of origin
Origin insufficient to the determine cause
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14

Professional
Guidelines andstandard

Working
Hypothesis

Environment
Interactions

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Forensic Camera

Hydrocarbon Search
Detector

Computer simulation PyroSim

Investigation
Equipment

Portable X-ray
Machines

K-9

Stereoscopic
Microscope System
BPKPoint of Origin• the exact physical location where a heat source
and a fuel come in contact with each other and afire begins.

Source of Ignition

Cause of Fire• The circumstance, conditions, or agencies thatbrings together a fuel, ignition source, and oxidizer(such as air and oxygen) resulting in a fire.
• Fire cause be classified as• Accidental,• Incendiary, or• Natural.
BPKDetermination of the origin of the fire involves the coordination of
information derived from one or more of the following:1. Witness Information. The analysis of observation reported by persons who
witnessed the fire or were aware of conditions present at the time of the fire.
2. Fire Patterns. The analysis of effects and patterns left by the fire.
3. Arc Mapping. The analysis of the location where electrical arcing has
caused damage and the documentation of the involved electrical circuits
4. Fire Dynamics. The analysis of the fire dynamics, that is the physical andchemistry of fire initiation and growth and the interaction between the fire
and the building’s system.
5. Fire Alarm Detection. The examination of all involved fire protection
system (fire detection, fire alarm, and fire suppression system) is important indetermining if each system functioned properly, and can assist in tracking the
growth and spread of a fire.
6. Security Cameras-CCTV: Security cameras that monitor buildings may bevery useful, particularly for providing “ hard ” times.

17Primary Ignitors
1

Matches/Lighter

Others2

Torches/Candles

9

Firecrackers

Secondary Sources

10Lightning

3

Hot Object/Hot Surfaces/Welding

11

Spontaneous Combustion/ Self
Heating

4

Friction/Impact

12

Explosions

5

Chemical Reaction

13

OthersThe Role of Service & Appliances inStarting Fires6

Gas Appliances

7a) Arcsb) Short Circuit/Sparkc) Overload/Overcurrentd) Resistance Heating

8

Glowing fire (smoking, mosquito coil etc)
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Accidental

IncendiaryArson

An unplanned event that interrupts anactivity and sometimes causes injury or
damage or a chance occurrence arising fromunknown causes; an unexpected happening
due to careless, ignorance, and the like

An Incendiary fire is a fire that deliberately
set with the intent to cause the fire to occur inan area where the fire should not be.

The crime of maliciously and intentionally, or
recklessly, starting a fire.

NFPA 921, 2011 Edition
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20

The major objective of any fire scene examination is to collect data as
required by the scientific method.

Fire Pattern – the visible or measurable physical changes or
identifiable shapes formed by a fire effect or group of fire effects.
(NFPA 921, 2011).

Fire effects are the observable or measurable changes in or on
material as a result of exposure to the fire.
The collection of fire scene data requires the recognition andidentification od fire effects and fire patterns

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Fire
Effects

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Fire
Effects(Patterns
Geometry)

BPKFire Intensity versus
DurationIntensity/Duration–The total
fire damage to an object
observed after a fire is theresult of both the intensity of
the heat applied to that object
and the duration of that
exposure.

Time-Varying Conditions –Both the intensity andexposure of that heat mayvary considerably during the
fire.

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23

FIRE PATTERN ANALYSISDEMARCATIONS
1. “V” patterns
2. Calcination
SURFACE EFFECTS
3. Charring
4. Cracked glass
5. Flammable liquid burn pattern
PENETRATIONS
6. Damage to ceiling
LOSS OF MATERIAL
7. Combustible surface

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24

25

 INCENDIARY FIRE: An Incendiary fire is a fire that

deliberately set with the intent to cause the fire to occur in an area
where the fire should not be.
 INCENDIARY FIRE INDICATORS: There are a numberof conditions related to fire origin and spread that may provide
physical evidence of an incendiary fire cause.

BPKIncendiary Device➲

Books of paper matches

ExoticAccelerants➲

Delay devices➲

Electricity initiated systems orappliances

Unusual Fuel
Load orconfiguration➲

Fire Bombs➲

Paraffin wax-sawdust

Presence of
Ignitable Liquid in
Area of Origin.
Multiple Lines

Existing or History ofcode violations

Timed opportunities.
Fires During Severe
Natural Conditions
Fire Department
unavailable.

IncendiaryFire Working
Hypothesis

Over insurance.

Trailers

Lack of Expected
Fuel Load or
Ignition Sources

Owner With Fires
at Other Property

Burn injuries.
Potential Indicators Not Directly Related to
combustionRemote locations with view blocked or obscured
Fire near service equipment & appliance.

Removal or replacement of contents Prior to fireAbsence Of personal items prior to fire
Entry blocked or obstructed
Sabotage to structure of fire protection systems

Damage to fire-resistive assemblies

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Evidence of othercrimes,or concealment
Indicators ofFinancial Stress.

Assessment of Fire
Growth and Damage

27

ELECTRICAL FIRE: A fire directly caused by the flow of electric
current or by static electricity, if it is not due to normal, purposive heatingproduced by an electrical device.
Latter types of fires should be categorized as ‘accidental contact of
combustibles with a heat source.’

BPKBeads are characterized

by the distinct andidentifiable line ofdemarcation between themelted bead and theadjacent unmelted portionof the conductor. Fig. (c),(a), Fig. (b), Fig. 2(c),(a) Arc Damage to 18 AWG Cord by
Arcing Through the Charred Insulation.

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Fig. (a) : Copper Conductors Severed
by Arcing Through the Charred
Insulation

Fig. (b) : Copper Conductors Severed
by Arcing Through the Charred
Insulation with a Large Bead Welding
the two Conductors together

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Fig : Stranded Copper Conductors
Severed by Arcing Through theCharred Insulation with the Strands
Terminated in Beads.

BPKFig (a) : Spot Arc Damage to 14
AWG Conductor Caused by Arcing
Through the Charred Insulator

Fig (b) : Arc Damage to 18
AWG Cord by Arcing
Through the Charred
Insulation.

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Fig. (a): Overheated Connection on
208 V 3-Phase Fuse Terminal.
Fig. (b): Overheated Connections
Two-Pole Circuit Breakers

BPKFig. (c): Overheated Connection on
240 V dryer Outlet.

Fig. (d): Overheated Connection on
120 V Duplex Outlet

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Fig. (b) :Aluminum Conductor Severed by
Overcurrent showing Offsets

BPK5) Effects Not Caused by Electricity
Fig. (a) :Copper Conductors Fire-Heatedto the Melting Temperature, Showing
Regions of Flow of Copper, Blisteringand surface Distortion

Figure (b) : Fire Melting ofStranded Copper Wire

Figure (c) :Another Example Fire
Melting of Stranded Copper Wire
BPK

These physiological effects are generally categorized into thefollowing areas (Purser 2002):-◦ Toxic gases. Toxic gas inhalation causes confusion, respiratory tract
injuries, loss of consciousness or asphyxiation◦ Heat transfer. Heat irritates exposed skin and respiratory tracts,
causing pain and varying degrees of burn injuries or hyperthermia.

◦ Visibility. Optical opacity of the smoke and irritants produce impaired
vision as the distribution of thick smoke descends toward the floor throughrooms, staircases and hallways.

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36




First-degree burns involve only reddening of skin.
Second-degree burns involve damage to the epidermis withblistering and sloughing. These are sometimes referred to as partial-thickness
burns. Since the germinative layer of the dermis remains, such burn willusually heal from their entire surface, usually without grafts.



Third-degree burns are called full thickness burns because the dermis
is damaged and the wound will heal from the edges only and will require
grafting.



Fourth-degree burns Full-thickness burns can also include those inwhich the skin is destroyed, exposing muscle and even bones beneath
DeHaan, 2007

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37

Fire Investigator(Fire Investigation Officer)
NFPA 1033

1) Scene Examination :inspecting and evaluating the fire scene, or
evidence of the scene if the scene is no longer available, so as to determine
the area or point of origin, source of ignition, material(s) ignited, and act or
activity that brought ignition source and materials together and to assess thesubsequent progression, extinguishment and containment of the fire.

2) Documenting the scene :diagramming the scene, photographing andtaking field notes to be used to compile a final report.

3) Evidence Collection /Preservation :using proper physical and legal
procedures to retain evidence required within the investigation.

4) Interview :obtaining information regarding the overall fire investigation fromothers through verbal communication.

5) Post-Incident Investigation : investigation of all factors beyond the fire
scene at the time of the origin and cause determination.

6) Presentation: the presentation of findings to those individuals not involvedin the actual investigations.
BPK

2013
39
4,448 61.9%
38
0.5%

1
2

Residential
Hotel

3
4

Hostel/Boarding
School79152

5Higher Learning Inst.

0.4%

6

Hospital / Clinic

26
36

7

Office

8
9

2015

2014
4,552
44

63.8%
0.6%

4,642

67.4%

41

0.6%

59
122

0.8%

75

1.1%

1.7%

119

1.7%

0.4%

19

0.3%

0.5%

25
44

0.6%

34

0.5%

302

4.2%

297

4.2%

224

3.3%

Shop

830

11.5%

735

10.3%

699

10.1%

Shopping Complex

53

0.7%

35

0.5%

41

0.6%

10 Place of Assembly
11 Storage

62

0.9%

39

0.5%

60

0.9%

228

3.2%

268

3.8%

268

3.9%

12 Factory
13 Petrol Station

439

6.1%

398

5.6%

392

5.7%

9

0.1%

15

0.2%

6

0.1%

14 Special structure
15 Others

37

0.5%

29

0.4%

34

0.5%

448

6.2%

472

6.0%

3.4%

TOTAL

7,187

236
6,890

1.1%
2.1%

7,134

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39

NO

SOURCE OF IGNITION

2013
%

40

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Lightning
Matches/Lighter
Gas Equipment
Fireworks/Firecrackers
Spontaneous Combustion – self heating
Electrical - Arcs
Electrical-Sparks/Short Circuit
Electrical-Overcurrent/Overload
Electrical-Resistance Heating
Electrical
10 Friction
11 Open Flame (Pelita/Lilin/Obor)
12 Glowing fire
13 Explosion
14 Chemical Reaction
15 Hot Surface
16 Others
17 Undetermined
TOTAL

2014

74
1,058
1,026
37
19
702
2,487
494
217
3,900
72
158
396
31
24
263
117
12
7,187

1.0%
14.7%
14.3%
0.5%
0.3%
9.8%
34.6%
6.9%
3.0%
54.3%
1.0%
2.2%
5.5%
0.4%
0.3%
3.7%
1.6%
0.2%

2015
%

%

42 0.6%
46 0.7%641 9.0% 558 8.1%
1,461 20.5% 1,622 23.5%
21 0.3%
12 0.2%
12 0.2%
15 0.2%
1,281 18.0% 988 14.3%
1,876 26.3% 2,123 30.8%
419 5.9% 405 5.9%
361 5.1% 281 4.1%
3,937 55.2% 3,797 55.1%
60 0.8%33 0.5%
254 3.6% 245 3.6%
386 5.4% 340 4.9%
11 0.2%
4 0.1%
14 0.2%
12 0.2%
186 2.6% 148 2.1%
80 1.1%34 0.5%29 0.4%
17 0.2%
40 6,890
BPK
7,134

41

No

Cause of Fire

2012

2013

%

2014

%

2015
%

%

1

Natural

148

2.4

93

1.30

54

0.8

61

0.9

2

Accidental

5,652

91.3

6,655

92.6

6,666

93.4

6,471

93.9

3

Incendiary

355

5.7

427

5.9

385

11.7

341

5.0

4

Undetermined

37

0.6

12

0.2

29

0.4

17

0.2

TOTAL

6,192

7,187

7,134

6,890

BPK

41

42

BPK

43

BPK

LPK 2LAPORAN PENYIASATAN KEBAKARAN BAGI KESSENGAJA DIBAKAR(Incendiary Fire)[ Seksyen 5(1)(b) ]Akta Perkhidmatan Bomba 1988

KETERANGAN AM:: ……………. 1.2.Bil. Kejadian:
……………
1.3.
Tarikh Kebakaran: ……………… 1.4.Tarikh Siasatan :…………..
Nama dan Alamat Premis/kenderaan Kejadian : …………….
…………………………………………………………………………
……...
……………………………..………………………………………...
1.1.

1.5.

Bil. Siasatan

TUJUAN PENYIASATAN KEBAKARANKETERANGAN PREMIS/KENDERAAN:KRONOLOGI KEJADIAN DAN KEADAAN KEBAKARANPENEMUANKETERANGAN SAKSIDOKUMENTASIPENDAPAT/KESIMPULAN

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45

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