DAOD 4007-1, Reporting and Investigation of Fires and Incidents
Table of Contents
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:
- destructive and uncontrolled burning; or
- provision of emergency assistance by firefighters as a result of:
- an electrical discharge;
- a pressure vessel or ammunition explosion; or
- an overheat condition.
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:
- a rescue operation;
- a medical response; or
- a hazardous material response.
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:
- ascertain the causes, origin and circumstances of fires and incidents;
- estimate fire and incident losses;
- assist in fire prevention efforts; and
- 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:
- facilitate the electronic transmission and collection of statistical data on fires and incidents; and
- 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 |
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
4 |
|
5 |
|
6 |
|
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:
- as soon as practicable by phone to CFFM 4-6; and
- 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.
Fire Investigation
5.1 Any fire involving DND or CAF public or non-public property shall be investigated to:
- determine the causes and point of origin;
- estimate the property loss;
- identify the contributing factors that led to the fire and associated loss;
- determine the sequence of events that led to the ignition and spread of the fire;
- assess the effectiveness of the fire protection systems that were in place at the time of the fire; and
- 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.
Responsibility Table
6.1 The following table identifies the responsibilities associated with this DAOD:
The ... | is or are responsible for ... |
---|---|
commanders of commands |
|
commanders of a base or wing and COs of vessels |
|
CFFM |
|
senior firefighters at base or wing fire services |
|
DND employees and CAF members |
|
Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Polcies and Policy DAOD
- Fire Protection Standard, Treasury Board
- QR&O article 21.61, Investigation of a Fire
- QR&O Chapter 30, Fire Protection Services
- DAOD 4007-0, Fire Protection Services
Other References
- Access to Information Act
- Canada Labour Code, Part II, Occupational Health and Safety
- Privacy Act
- DAOD 1001-2, Informal Requests for Access to Departmental Information
- DAOD 2008-3, Issue and Crisis Management
- NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations (available in English only)
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