When to use this guide
Use this guide following any fire, near miss, false alarm, or fire system failure at your premises. The purpose of investigation is not to apportion blame — it is to identify root causes and prevent reoccurrence. Work through all six stages for any medium or high potential incident.
Stage 1 of 6
0 of 6 completed
Secure the Scene
Make safe & preserve evidence
Your first priority after any fire incident is to ensure the scene is safe and evidence is preserved. Acting quickly and carefully in the first moments determines the quality of everything that follows.
What to do at this stage
Confirm the scene has been made safe before entry — no structural risk, smoke, or residual fire
Isolate utilities if required (gas, electrics) — only via competent persons
Photograph the scene from multiple angles before anything is disturbed
Preserve failed components, damaged equipment, and physical evidence in situ
Identify and separate potential witnesses before they communicate with each other
Secure access to the area — only authorised personnel to enter
Record time, date, weather conditions, and initial observations immediately
Notify the Responsible Person and relevant management without delay
High-rise buildings: notify the Building Safety Manager immediately — they have specific statutory duties under the Building Safety Act 2022
High-rise buildings: check whether the incident must be reported to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) via the AIMS portal
Investigator's Insight
"Evidence degrades rapidly. A photograph taken in the first ten minutes is worth ten taken an hour later. Treat the scene like a forensic examination — document before you disturb. For high-rise residential buildings, fire incidents may trigger mandatory reporting obligations under the Building Safety Act 2022."
Report incidents via the AIMS online portal →In your fire risk assessment
Record the incident date, location, and initial findings in your Fire Log Book immediately.
All Stages at a Glance
Quick Reference — The SMARTER Principle
Important Disclaimer: Fire-Risk-Assessment.app is a decision-support tool. It is not a substitute for professional competency. For simple premises, the user accepts full responsibility for the accuracy of data entry. For complex premises, use of this app by a person without registered professional fire safety credentials is done at the user's own legal risk.
