All Flashcards
What should fire investigators tools be made of
Steel
What type of question should you use in a interview
Open ended
What do you call when you make a drawing while on scene
A sketch
What do you call when you make your drawing after the investigation
A diagram
What should you include when involved in a transfer of the chain of evidence
Dates, time , and signature of anyone involved
What is the basic law of electricity that states voltage in a circuit is equivalent to the amperage multiplied by the resistance
Ohms law
When is someone considered a expert
Anyone with special knowledge or experience with respect to the subject
What is an example of a mechanical explosion
A over pressurized container of gas
What is the most critical form of communication on the part of an investigator
Written reports
Who is responsible to maintain custody and control of a scene until the investigation is complete
The fire department
What is spalling
The chipping or crumbling of concrete or masonary surface
How many PSI does a fuel injection system have
25-100 psi
What is wool
Natural fiber, with minimal fire hazards
What is the most chemically active non metal
Fluorine
What is the order to inspect a building
Outside first
As a fire investigator what area should you start investigating first
Least damaged area to most heavily damaged area
What is the most common used sketch of a fire scene
Projection plan or top view
What is spalling
Moisture capped in concrete under fire conditions that generate steam and causes loss of concrete surface
What is a plan
A graphic diagram showing a buildings layout on a horizontal plane
What is it called when prominent broken lines are drawn
Cutting lane lines used to locate the exact location of a plane of a section . 2 dots and a dash
What are drawings called used on actual site of a construction site
Working drawings
What is the most important drawing plan
Floor plan
What is the most common wood frame used today
Platform frame
What is the most common motive for arson
Profit/fraud
The documentation of the whereabouts of any item of physical evidence is called
Chain of custody
What is empirical data
Data collected based on observation or experience and is capable of being verified or known to be true
What is the level of certainty that the hypothesis can be demonstrated as FEASIBLE but can not be declared probable
Possible
In order to have spontaneous combustion what is needed
The material must be capable of SELF HEATING
Wood frame construction
What time of construction requires fire stops
Balloon Frame
What is non combustible construction
Construction that the structure itself won’t add fuel and will not directly contribute to the fire
What can be found prefire to help determine cause of fire
The inspection and maintenance records
What type of fire alarm system device is CONTINUOUS along a path
Line- Type detector
What is the wet pipe sprinkler system
Automatic with pipes containing water and water discharges immediately
Who gives the authority to investigate a fire
Police, firefighters, and fire marshals according to the law of jurisdiction
What is interrogatories?
Written questions one party serves another party . They must be answered in writing, under oath and signed by a party or their representatives
What are the 3 types of evidence (legal)
Demonstrative, documentary and testimonial
What is demonstrative evidence ?
Evidence that is first hand impressions by seeing, touching selling or hearing the evidence
What are the two ways evidence is authenticated ?
1: through witness identification
2: of by establishing a chain of custody
What are illustrative demonstrative evidence examples ?
Maps, sketches , diagrams and models
What is documentary evidence ?
Any evidence in written form
What are examples of documentary evidence ?
Sales receipt’s, invoices, bank statements , insurance policies and fire investigator reports
What is testimonial Evidence
A competent live witness speaking under oath regarding the nature, scope conducts and results of their inspections
Ex: investigators
What is a fact witness?
One who testifies not based on scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge
Ex- a neighbor who witnessed the fire and observed
What is an expert witness?
Someone with sufficient skill, knowledge, or experience in any given field
Who must except an investigator as an expert witness?
Must be excepted by the court
The rules governing admissibility of expert witness are contained in which rules?
702, 703, 704 , 705 or the rules of the particular jurisdiction
What is the Daubert challenge ?
When it’s a challenge on the reliability of an experts opinions
If a fire investigator wants to enter a hazardous environment who must they receive permission from ?
The fire incident commander
Confidential communications
Proceeded conversation and confidential statements made under the belief the speaker is only providing for the ear of the person being addressed
What is a early step in planning a interview with a potential witness
A outline on what to expect
Who maintains public record regarding probable , civil litigation and general county business
County clerk
What department maintains public records regarding criminal investigations
County sheriff department
How should you document a investigation interview
Audio or written notes
What is the NIST?
National
Institute of standards and technologies
The NIST division of fire does what
Develops , verifies and utilizes measurements and predictive methods to quantify the behavior of fire and means to reduce the impact
What is the ASTM standard in regard to
Collecting, preserving and evaluating data
What are the 3 ASTM standards that help investigators in providing them direction
E678, E860 and E1188
What is NAFI?
National association of fire investigators and designed to increase knowledge and improve the skills of the person ingaged in the investigation
What is IAAI
The international association of arson investigators … created by public and private officials to address fire and arson issues
What company is dedicated to improve professional development of fire and explosion investigators by being a global resource 
IAAI
What type of engineer can provide info regarding buildings fire alarm systems
Electrical engineer
What person has education in chemical
Processes, fluid dynamics and heat transfer
Chemical engineer
Who can provide the investigator with info concerning the building and its contents before a fire
Insurance adjuster
What is the most common type of pictures taken
Digital
When should you photo a scene
Before and during the overhaul
What is the right way to take photographs of a death
Try to photograph the body in place before removed
What upon arrival should you do to identify photographs?
Upon arrival to scene a written title sheet that shows identifying information with location, date
What should the investigators report include?
The opinions and conclusions
Who decision is it that the physical
Evidence collected be submitted to a lab?
The fire investigator
Who should initially secure or ensure the security of the fire scene of unnecessary and unauthorized intrusions
The incident commander
If you make a discovery of a artifact or evidence who should be contacted immediately
The incident commander should notify the investigator
Who is in charge of preserving evidence
Firefighters
What guide should be used in regards to the method of the collection of physical evidence
ASTM
What should accelerant testing be in accordance with
ASTM E1618
How long must the evidence be kept
Until the case is adjudicated
What is the most important hypotheses that a investigator develops
The origin of the fire
What is the overall methodology for determine the origin of a fire rely on
The scientific method
How to you get the final hypothesis
Recognize, define, collect , analyze , develop , test and then select the final hypothesis
What is the first thing the fire investigator should do when getting to a scene
Determine if it is safe to enter
What is a good tool for fire pattern analysis
Heath and flame vector analysis
What are 3 types of explosions?
Mechanical, chemical and electrical
What is a mechanical explosion
Rupture of a closed container resulting in release of pressurized gas
What is a chemical explosion
Burning of combustible fuels .
What is a electrical explosion
High energy electric arcs generating heat to cause an explosion
What should be performed prior to the removal of a body
Diagrams and sketches
When doing a diagram of a body what should be done
Outline the with chalk, tape or string so can be referred to in later stages
Who decides who the investigation site is controlled by
The entity having control at the time
When digging in a fire where do you start?
Top of pile to bottom
