Basics of Fire Cause Investigation Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 reasons why we investigate fires?

A

It is the law required by international fire code
To determine the unsafe products/procedures that may be causing/creating a danger to the community
To determine incendiary fires and investigate until the responsible party/s have been brought to prosecution

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2
Q

What is the definition of fire?

A

The rapid, self sustaining oxidation process usually accompanied by the evolution of heat and light in varying intensities

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3
Q

What is the fire tetrahedron?

A

O2
Fuel
Heat
Uninhibited chain reaction

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4
Q

What are the 3 methods of heat transfer on the power point?

A

Conduction
Convection
Radiation

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5
Q

What is conduction?

A

Heat transfer by direct contact of one body to another

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6
Q

What is convection?

A

Heat transfer by circulating medium

Can be gas or liquid

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7
Q

What form of heat transfer is most responsible for the spread of heat in structural fires?

A

Convection

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8
Q

What is radiation?

A

Heat transfer from one area to another without direct contact with the area and without any circulating hot gases to help “bathe” the area in heat
It’s in the form of energy which travels through space or materials as waves

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9
Q

What is flashover?

A

Contained fire where exposed surfaces simultaneously ignite from thermal radiation
Stage of fire when room or other area becomes heated to the point when flames flash over the entire area

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10
Q

What is backdraft?

A

An explosion or rapid burning of heated gases resulting from the introduction of O2 when air is admitted into a building heavily charged by smoke from a fire that has depleted O2 content of the building

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11
Q

What is the temperature range for the growth/incipient stage? O2 content?

A

300-600

21%

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12
Q

What is the temperature range for the free burning stage? O2 content?

A

1200-2000

18%

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13
Q

What is the temperature range for the smoldering stage? O2 content?

A

800-1000

13-15%

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14
Q

What are the 4 combustion by products listed on the powerpoint?

A

Fire gases
Heat
Flame
Smoke

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15
Q

What is the “point of origin”?

A

The place of the fire’s beginning

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16
Q

Normally, the fire cause will be found at…

A

At or very near the point of origin

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17
Q

Fires often burn ____ near the point of origin

A

Longer

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18
Q

Evidence of _____ is often recovered near the point of origin.

A

Incendiarism

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19
Q

Evidence of fire spread/direction of fire travel may be noted/confirmed after locating the ____ __ ___.

A

Point of origin

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20
Q

The point of origin may ___ or ____ the stories of owners/occupants/suspects

A

Confirm or contradict

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21
Q

Investigators must usually work ____ in relation to the fire’s travel or spread, working toward the point of origin.

A

Backwards

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22
Q

Fire cause investigation is commonly referred to as a ____ investigation

A

Backward

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23
Q

With fire cause investigation… what 2 things are you looking at on the exterior of the structure?

A

Note areas damaged by heat and smoke
Fire damage to building exterior

(Isn’t that the same thing? Whatever…)

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24
Q

Ceiling damage and floor damage may help to locate the ___ __ ___

A

Point of origin

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25
Q

What might the lack of soot (carbon) in a heavily burned area indicate?

A

The area of origin

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26
Q

You can look at structural damage from fire as an indicator of…

A

Fire’s travel

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27
Q

The depth of charring can be an indicator of travel and the point of origin.
Fire penetrates into wood 1” every ___ minutes at approx ____ degrees F

A

45 minutes

1400

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28
Q

What does light staining on glass objects indicate?

A

Limited fire or intense heat and/or rapid fire growth

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29
Q

What does heavy staining on glass objects indicate?

A

Slow fire build up or remote distance from point of origin

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30
Q

What is the exception with heavy staining on glass objects?

A

Heavy petroleum based fire load

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31
Q

What is the melting temp of aluminum?

A

1200F

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32
Q

What is the melting temp of copper?

A

2000F

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33
Q

What is the melting temp of window glass?

A

900F when exposed for 10 minutes

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34
Q

On the interior of a structure, ____ is necessary to properly determine the point of origin

A

Reconstruction

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35
Q

What are the 2 things listed on the power point under “reconstruction”?

A

Locating the proper position of items within the fire scene

Identification and use of “protected areas”

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36
Q

Reconstruction allows the investigator to do what 3 things?

A

Determine the lowest level of burning
Determine V patterns
Evaluate the fuel load and burning sequence within an area

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37
Q

What are the “three elements of fire” on the fire cause poiwer point?

A

Heat source
Fuel
An event which brings together the heat source and the fuel

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38
Q

What are the 4 sources of heat on the fire cause power point?

A

Chemical
Electrical
Mechanical
Nuclear

39
Q

What are the 4 sources of chemical heat?

A

Exothermic
Endothermic
Pyrolosis
Solution

40
Q

What are the 4 sources of electrical heat?

A

Resistance
Induction
Dialation
Arcing/sparking

41
Q

What are the 2 sources of mechanical heat?

A

Friction

Compression

42
Q

What are the 2 sources of nuclear heat?

A

Explosion

Radiation

43
Q

Accidental fires include what 4 things?

A

Acts of God
Mechanical malfunctions
Carelessness
Stupidity

44
Q

What are the 5 reasons why owners/occupants may misrepresent accidental fires?

A

May thing fire insurance will not pay off
May be embarrassed
Hope fire dept will find another cause
Afraid of being charged for fire dept response
Parents trying to cover for juveniles or children trying to cover for their parents

45
Q

What are a BUNCH of examples of accidental fires?

A
Heating equipment
Smoking
Flammable liquids
Spontaneous heating
Fireworks/explosives
Lightning
Low temp ignition
Cooking equipment
Electrical equipment
Open flames/sparks
Gas fires/explosions
Dust explosions
Wildland fires
46
Q

What are a BUNCH of indicators of incendiarism?

A

Multiple fires
Flammable accelerants
Structural damage prior to fire
Absence of all accidental fire causes
Removal of contents prior to fire
Major appliances removed prior to the fire
Absence of personal items/important papers
Location of the fire
Evidence of other crimes in the structure
Unnatural Fire spread
Excessive fire damage
Extreme heat
Entry of fire dept blocked
View into structure blocked
Injuries to occupants
Inappropriate period of time between exit of occupant and fire
Pre burned contents or second fire in same structure
Presence of burned or unburned fuel near point of origin
Fire occurring on holidays or weekends
Fire during renovations

47
Q

You cannot have an incendiary fire if you cannot eliminate all ____ ____

A

Accidental causes

48
Q

Motive is sometimes confused with ____ which is the ____ of the act

A

Intent

Deliberateness

49
Q

Motive is the ____ for setting a fire

A

Reason

50
Q

Motive is not necessary to prove the ____ ____ of the fire

A

Corpus delicti

51
Q

Investigating the _____ may help the investigator during interviews

A

Motive

52
Q

The district attorney may decline to prosecute if the motive is….

A

Not clearly understood

53
Q

Jurors may fail to find the accused guilty unless they…

A

Know/understand why the individual/s set the fire

54
Q

What are the 7 basic motives?

A
Juvenile/valdalism
Fraud/profit
Vanity/hero
Crime concealment
Spite/revenge
Civil disorders
Pyromania
55
Q

Juvenile/vandalism fires account for ___% of incendiary fires and ___% of all fires in the US

A

50%

25%

56
Q

Juvenile/vandalism fires do not include the “___ ___” fire setter

A

Fire play

57
Q

What is the definition of fraud?

A

A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain

58
Q

What are the 2 types of fraud fires?

A

Direct gain

Indirect gain

59
Q

Why are vanity/hero fires especially dangerous?

A

The fire setter believes the situation is “under control”

60
Q

Vanity/hero fire setter sets fires in order to…

A

Prove worth to employer, spouse, family, friends, self

61
Q

What are 8 types of crime concealment?

A
Destruction of books/records
Distraction for criminal activity
Arson for escape
Arson to conceal murder
Murder/suicide by arson
Crime to conceal arson (staged burglary)
Drug addicts and arson
62
Q

Spite/revenge is the most ___ type of fire

A

Deadly

63
Q

Spite/revenge fires have the largest ___ ___ ___ and the largest ___ ___

A

Loss of life

Property loss

64
Q

Spite/revenge fires are initiated by what 3 things?

A

Hatred
Jealousy
Uncontrolled emotions

65
Q

Spite/revenge fires are commonly referred to as ____ ____

A

Lover’s fire

66
Q

Spite/revenge fire setters frequently do what 2 things to their fireground?

A

Disable fire protection systems

Blocks exiting

67
Q

Civil disorder is when fire is used as a ____

A

Weapon

68
Q

What are the 2 results of a civil disorder fire?

A

Destruction of property

Impression that group activity involves many people

69
Q

Power of suggestion is the ____ ____

A

Snowball effect

I don’t know what this means

70
Q

What is the definition of pyromania?

A

The uncontrollable urge to start fires

May or may not be interconnected with sexual desires/gratifications

71
Q

There has been very little ____ ____ in recent years when it comes to pyromania

A

Comprehensive research

72
Q

What is the rarest of all 7 motive types?

A

Pyromania

73
Q

What are 6 fire cause indicators before arrival?

A
Weather
Time of day/day of week
Barricades/obstructions to fire scene
Color of smoke and flames
Persons/vehicles leaving the scene
Blacked out or boarded windows
74
Q

What are a BUNCH of indicators of fire cause upon arrival?

A
Multiple fires in the same structure
Condition of doors and windows
Open file cabinets
Open safe
Missing/lack of stock
Unusual odors
Structural damage to assist spread
Civilians who appear at multiple scenes
Location of fire
Plants and trailers
Evidence/containers/unburned accelerant residue
75
Q

What does the international fire code say about causes of fires?

A

The fire chief or his designate shall investigate the cause of all fires within the jurisdiction

76
Q

ARS title 13 chapter 17 defines damage…

A

As any physical or visual impairment of any surface

77
Q

What court does reckless burning go to?

A

City/civil court

78
Q

What court does arson go to?

A

Superior court

79
Q

What court does arson of federal property go to?

A

Federal court

80
Q

To obtain an arson conviction, the prosecutor must be able to prove what 3 things?

A

There was a fire and damage occurred
The accused is responsible for setting the fire
The accused had intent to do harm

81
Q

What does FIG mean?

A

Fire Incendiary Guilty

82
Q

What is burden of proof for Civil? Criminal?

A

Preponderance of the evidence

Beyond a reasonable doubt

83
Q

What are the 2 types of search warrants?

A

Administrative

Criminal

84
Q

Security of the fire scene is the responsibility of…

A

Every fire fighter and begins the moment the fire dept arrives

85
Q

What 4 amendments limit investigations?

A

4th
5th
6th
14th

86
Q

What is the 4th amendment about?

A

Search and seizure

87
Q

What is the 5th amendment about?

A

Cannot be compelled to incriminate against his/herself

88
Q

What is the 6th amendment about?

A

Right to legal representation and a public and speedy trial

89
Q

What is the 14th amendment about?

A

Due process applicable to all states

90
Q

What is the plain view doctrine?

A

Officer must have legal authority to be where he/she is when the evidence is observed
Evidence must be in plain sight

91
Q

What are the 4 benchmark cases in fire cause investigation?

A

Tyler vs Michigan
Clifford vs Michigan
Miranda vs AZ
Escobedo vs CA

92
Q

What are the miranda rights?

A

Rights that a suspect must be informed of in certain situations

93
Q

When must an officer inform a suspect of their miranda rights?

A

When the suspect is put into custodial care AND the officer intends to question the suspect

94
Q

What are the 4 TFD guidelines for fire cause?

A

Keep your sup. informed of things you see/hear
Stay alert/observant
Don’t say arson over the radio
Avoid giving detailed info of investigation over the radio