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DAOD 4007-1, Reporting and Investigation of Fires and Incidents

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Definitions
  3. Overview
  4. Reporting
  5. Investigation
  6. Responsibilities
  7. References

1. Introduction

Date of Issue: 1998-05-29

Date of Modification: 2011-08-04

Application: This DAOD is a directive that applies to employees of the Department of National Defence (DND employees) and an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Amed Forces (CAF members).

Supersession: CFAO 30-2, Fire Reporting and Investigation

Approval Authority: Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment (ADM(IE))

Enquiries: Canadian Forces Fire Marshal (CFFM)

2. Definitions

fire (incendie)

Any occurrence involving:

incident (incident)

Any occurrence, other than a fire, that requires action by firefighters to prevent or minimize loss of life, personal injury or loss of property, and includes any provision of emergency assistance by firefighters for purposes of:

3. Overview

Purpose

3.1 The purpose of this DAOD is to implement the Fire Protection Standard of the Treasury Board in the DND and the CAF, and to ensure that all fires and incidents are properly reported and investigated.

3.2 Standard reports and investigations enable the DND and the CAF to:

  1. ascertain the causes, origin and circumstances of fires and incidents;
  2. estimate fire and incident losses;
  3. assist in fire prevention efforts; and
  4. compile statistical data.

3.3 Reporting requirements under this DAOD are in addition to the requirements under QR&O article 21.61, Investigation of a Fire, and DAOD 2008-3, Issue and Crisis Management.

Integrated Fire Service Management and Reporting

3.4 The Integrated Fire Service Management and Reporting (IFSMR) application is used by the CFFM to:

  1. facilitate the electronic transmission and collection of statistical data on fires and incidents; and
  2. record details related to emergency assistance by firefighters.

Categories of Fires and Incidents Table

3.5 The following table sets out the six categories of fires and incidents for purposes of this DAOD:

Category Any fire or incident ...
1
  • in which the DND or the CAF suffer a public or non-public property loss and at least one of the following applies:
    • the loss is equal to or greater than $100,000;
    • a fatality or serious personal injury occurs;
    • an arson or other criminal act is suspected or known to have occurred;
    • there is a resulting loss of non-defence property, including the property of a tenant on a defence establishment; or
    • the fire or incident is expected to create or has created significant media interest.
2
  • in which the DND or the CAF suffer a public or non-public property loss equal to or greater than $5,000 but less than $100,000.
3
  • in which the DND or the CAF suffer a public or non-public property loss of less than $5,000.
4
  • in which DND and CAF fire fighting resources are involved in providing fire fighting or other emergency assistance for a fire or incident involving non-defence property that is either on or off a defence establishment.
5
  • involving any other incident, including:
    • a false alarm; or
    • a stand by.
6
  • involving a brush or grass fire that would not fall into another category.

4. Reporting

Reporting Process Table

4.1 The following table describes the three steps normally followed when reporting a fire or incident:

Step Action
1 Identification of the category of the fire or incident.
2 Initial notification of the fire or incident to National Defence Headquarters and CFFM (see the Initial Notification block).
3 Submission of the detailed report (see the Follow-on with Detailed Report block).

Initial Notification

4.2 A Category 1 fire or incident shall be reported:

  1. as soon as practicable by phone to CFFM 4-6; and
  2. within 12 hours from the start of the response by the IFSMR, facsimile or e-mail to the applicable command and the CFFM during normal working hours, or the Canadian Forces Integrated Command Centre at any other time.

4.3 A Category 2, 3 or 4 fire or incident shall be reported within three working days by the IFSMR, facsimile or e-mail to the applicable command and the CFFM.

Initial Notification Format

4.4 All initial notifications shall use the format provided in the IFSMR. The subject line of initial notifications shall contain the category and a brief description of the fire or incident being reported. The following table describes how the information for submission of initial notifications shall be made if there is no access to the IFSMR:

Use ... to submit initial notification for ...
A date, time and location of the fire or incident.
B description of property involved.
C causes if known.
D in the case of a fire, probable or known point of origin.
E description of extent of the fire or incident.
F estimated public or non-public property loss.
G estimated non-defence property loss.
H number of fatalities.
I number of persons with serious injuries.
J description of actual or probable media involvement.
K name, position and telephone number of the person co-ordinating the investigation.
L any other pertinent information.

Follow-on With Detailed Report

4.5 The IFSMR shall also be used for the completion of all detailed reports. A detailed report shall be submitted within 30 days from the date of the initial notification of a fire or incident.

4.6 Excluding a Category 5 incident, all completed reports shall be forwarded for signature through the chain of command to the applicable commander of the base or wing, or the commanding officer (CO) of a vessel, unless another signing authority has been designated by the commander or CO. Comments by the commander or CO or other authority in the chain of command not having access to IFSMR shall be inputted by the senior firefighter at the base or wing fire services prior to the report being closed at the local level.

4.7 All photographic and other evidence in respect of a fire or incident shall be kept at the local level for a period of 10 years.

5. Investigation

Fire Investigation

5.1 Any fire involving DND or CAF public or non-public property shall be investigated to:

  1. determine the causes and point of origin;
  2. estimate the property loss;
  3. identify the contributing factors that led to the fire and associated loss;
  4. determine the sequence of events that led to the ignition and spread of the fire;
  5. assess the effectiveness of the fire protection systems that were in place at the time of the fire; and
  6. prepare a report of the investigation.

5.2 Regardless of whether the fire suppression activities are carried out by the DND and the CAF or an outside agency such as a municipal fire service, all fires involving DND or CAF public or non-public property shall be investigated by either the CFFM or the senior firefighter at the base or wing fire services.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard

5.3 All fire investigations shall be carried out in accordance with the applicable procedures, as determined by the CFFM, set out in the current edition of the NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. Assistance from the military police shall be requested if a criminal act is known or suspected to have been committed.

Request for a Copy of the Report of an Investigation

5.4 Any request for a copy of the report of an investigation of a fire or incident shall be forwarded to the CFFM for action in accordance with DAOD 1001-2, Informal Requests for Access to Departmental Information.

6. Responsibilities

Responsibility Table

6.1 The following table identifies the responsibilities associated with this DAOD:

The ... is or are responsible for ...
commanders of commands
  • ensuring that base and wing commanders comply with this DAOD.
commanders of a base or wing and COs of vessels
  • ensuring that all fires and incidents are reported and properly investigated; and
  • unless another signing authority has been designated, signing off all completed fire and incident reports (excluding Category 5).
CFFM
  • investigating Category 1 fires and incidents, or a fire or incident of any other category if the CFFM considers investigation by the CFFM to be appropriate;
  • supporting senior firefighters at base and wing fire services on investigations if adequate resources are not available at their level;
  • monitoring all incoming fire and incident reports for accuracy and completeness; and
  • submitting statistical reports as required.
senior firefighters at base or wing fire services
  • investigating all Category 2 and 3 fires and incidents, or requesting assistance from the CFFM through the applicable command fire marshal if adequate resources are not available at the base or wing; and
  • investigating a Category 1 fire or incident if directed to do so by the CFFM.
DND employees and CAF members
  • reporting fires and incidents regardless of size, significance or time discovered (i.e. after the fact) to the local fire service.

7. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Polcies and Policy DAOD

Other References

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