BK 83 Fire Investigation Manual

Question 1

Who has the authority to investigate all fire is occurring within the city of Los Angeles?

Answer 1

LAFD

Question 2

What bureaus of the LAFD have the responsibility to investigate fires?

Answer 2

Bureau of emergency services BES

Bureau of fire prevention FPB

Question 3

Who in the ICS structure has the ultimate responsibility to determine the cause of all fires?

Answer 3

The incident commander

Question 4

BES has the follow up investigation responsibility of fires where the total loss is less than what amount?

Answer 4

$25,000

Question 5

The fire investigation manual is designed to assist incident commanders in what disciplines?

Answer 5

Determining fire cause and point of origin, incident indicators, how to conduct the investigation, identification and preservation of evidence, motives of the fire setter, Documentation needed for reports and records, preparation for testifying as an expert witness, arson laws, terminology used in the fire service

Question 6

What is the purpose of fire cause determination?

Answer 6

Establish our fire started and motive

Question 7

What are, by definition, combustible liquids?

Answer 7

Liquids having a flash point at or above 100°F

Question 8

What are, by definition, flammable liquids

Answer 8

Liquids having a flash point below 100°F

Question 9

What is classified as a class A fire?

Answer 9

Fire’s involving ordinary combustible fuels

Question 10

What is classified as a class B fire?

Answer 10

Fires involving liquid fuels

Question 11

What is classified as a class C fire?

Answer 11

Fires involving energized electrical equipment

Question 12

What is classified as a class D fire?

Answer 12

Fires involving combustible metals

Question 13

What three phases can most fires be divided into?

Answer 13

Growth stage, fully developed stage, Decay stage

Question 14

What is the main contributing factor for a Backdraft?

Answer 14

Induction of air into building heavily charged with smoke from a fire which has depleted the oxygen content of a building

Question 15

What is the main contributing factor for a flash over?

Answer 15

Build up of heat

Question 16

Douglas for Byrne’s at what rate?

Answer 16

1 inch in 40-45 minutes

Question 17

Hardwoods burn at what rate?

Answer 17

3/4 inch in 40 to 45 minutes

Question 18

Ballast transformers have a life expectancy of what?

Answer 18

15 years

Question 19

The average vehicle contains over how many pounds of plastic?

Answer 19

Over 300 pounds (approximately 13%)

Question 20

A properly operating catalytic converter can reach internal temperatures of what?

Answer 20

1600°F

Question 21

An improperly operating catalytic converter can reach internal temperatures of what?

Answer 21

2500°F

Question 22

What types of losses are measured for estimating the loss for Field incident reports?

Answer 22

Only direct losses

Question 23

The Field incident report F-902 is a public document and is available to the general public how many days after the incident?

Answer 23

Approximately 5 working days after the incident

Question 24

Who serves as the custodian for records for the fire department for the purposes of handling public request for FD records and has the responsibility to make certain records available to the public?

Answer 24

Arson investigation section of

Arson/counter-terrorism section ACTS