The UK’s Fire and Rescue Services have a legal mandate to investigate the cause of fire and the expertise accrued in the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is invaluable in helping the Police interpret fire scenes and establish the cause of a fire.

Often the cause is accidental, but it is a sad fact that the main cause of fire in our community is arson. The Fire Investigators undergo a series of training courses where they receive instruction in fire behaviour and spread, fire scene examination, forensic investigation and scene interpretation, to name but a few.

South Wales Fire & Rescue Service has a team of 15 specially trained Fire Investigation officers.  The South Wales Fire & Rescue Service Fire Investigation team is split into three levels in accordance with recommended best practice.

Level 1 - Front line Firefighters – Basic Investigation

Level 2 - Tactical Officers  - Standard Fire and Explosions Investigation

Level 3 - Specialist team of 5 dealing with incidents involving Fatal fires   and    explosions, large financial cost and high profile investigations.

What Fires does a Fire Investigator attend?

• All fatalities resulting from fires, including fires in vehicles following RTC
• All fire injuries including smoke inhalations and burns.
• Incidents involving multiple casualties and/or where injuries to casualties are likely to result in fatality
• Over 5 fire engines at any one incident
• Any incidents involving explosions.
• At the request of the Incident Commander, where the cause cannot be determined
• As required by Fire Investigation Team Leader

What do we want from an investigation?

• Incident recording system (IRS)
• Coroners report
• Statements for Criminal Investigations
• To assist in the detection and prosecution of offenders
• Public inquiry
• Support other Investigations eg
• HSE
• Trading Standards