Community Risk Management
Fire Investigation
The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 provides formal powers for our Service 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. A formal Fire Investigation Protocol now exists between our Service and 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 may be because the fire involved a
fatality, was of suspicious origin or it is believed that the cause may have learning issues
that require to be made public for the education of the population.
Fire Investigation is a potent tool to determine not just the cause of the incident but to
gain knowledge to prevent another similar occurrence. It is a fundamental tool that the Service
uses to inform the tactics and strategies that will achieve the Strategic Aim of the Fire and
Rescue Service.
Fire Investigation can provide an invaluable insight into the behaviour of
fire, and therefore useful evidence on ways to manage risks.