CH 20

Question 1

In order to provide information for the fire investigations, firefighters at a scene should: (933) [5.3.4]

A. interview the owner of the property.
B. interview witnesses and bystanders.
C. take note of any indications of unusual fire behavior.
D. make a list of fire department and mutual aid resources used.

Answer 1

C. take note of any indications of unusual fire behavior.

Question 2

At a fire scene, firefighters should NOT: (933-934) [5.3.4]

A. keep a written record of on-scene observations.
B. enter the scene during a fire investigation without a warrant.
C. ask permission from owners before removing evidence from the building.
D. share their opinion of the probable fire cause with media or bystanders.

Answer 2

D. share their opinion of the probable fire cause with media or bystanders.

Question 3

Which duty would a fire investigator perform at a fire scene investigation? (934) [5.3.4]

A. Interviewing firefighters on scene
B. Cleaning up the fire scene after the investigation
C. Helping with overhaul to ensure no evidence is disturbed
D. Determining a fire attack strategy that will keep evidence intact

Answer 3

A. Interviewing firefighters on scene

Question 4

The area of origin will usually contain: (936) [5.3.4]

A. evidence of arson.
B. piles of stacked materials that act as a fuel.
C. the greatest amount of damage and debris.
D. an obvious ignition source and material first ignited.

Answer 4

C. the greatest amount of damage and debris.

Question 5

Which would be potential evidence when examining the exterior of a structure for the area of origin? (937-938) [5.3.4]

A. Unlocked doors or windows
B. Any indication of forcible entry
C. Construction type of the building
D. Signs that the building is occupied

Answer 5

B. Any indication of forcible entry

Question 6

When examining the interior of a structure for the area of origin,: (938) [5.3.4]

A. work from the area of greatest damage to the area of least damage.
B. charring on the floor is the strongest indicator of area of origin.
C. work from the area of least damage to the area of greatest damage.
D. items with charring on all sides indicate that the fire was set intentionally.

Answer 6

C. work from the area of least damage to the area of greatest damage.

Question 7

When trying to locate the area of origin of a ground cover fire, you must know: (940) [5.3.4]

A. the precise time the fire started.
B. how wind and topography can affect fire spread.
C. the fire cause before determining the area of origin.
D. construction types for buildings in the affected area.

Answer 7

B. how wind and topography can affect fire spread.

Question 8

Why is it important to determine the cause of a fire? (942) [5.3.4]

A. So the homeowners or occupants can have peace of mind
B. So the owners of the property can be fined, if necessary
C. So firefighters can document which occupancies will require close supervision in the future
D. So that the unsafe behavior that caused the fire can be corrected through educational programs for the public

Answer 8

D. So that the unsafe behavior that caused the fire can be corrected through educational programs for the public

Question 9

Which characteristic must a material have to be the material first ignited? (943) [5.3.4]

A. Exist in a liquid state
B. Exist in a gaseous state
C. Far enough from windows and doors to not be disturbed by airflow
D. Close enough to the ignition source to receive energy from the ignition source

Answer 9

D. Close enough to the ignition source to receive energy from the ignition source

Question 10

Which type of fuel source would require the greatest amount of heat to ignite because it must undergo pyrolysis in order to burn? (943) [5.3.4]

A. Wood
B. Gasoline
C. Hydrogen
D. Diesel fuel

Answer 10

A. Wood

Question 11

The events that lead up to a fuel package being ignited and starting a fire are known as the: (944) [5.3.4]

A. decay stage.
B. growth stage.
C. ignition sequence.
D. combustion chain reaction.

Answer 11

C. ignition sequence.

Question 12

If someone falls asleep while smoking in bed and their house catches on fire, that would be an example of a(an) fire. (945) [5.3.4]

A. natural
B. accidental
C. incendiary
D. undetermined

Answer 12

B. accidental

Question 13

Lightning striking a tree and setting it on fire would be an example of a(an) _____ fire. (946) [5.3.4]

A. natural
B. accidental
C. incendiary
D. undetermined

Answer 13

A. natural

Question 14

Which would be classified as an incendiary fire? (946) [5.3.4]

A. Overloading an electrical circuit
B. A piece of machinery overheats
C. Setting a business on fire to collect insurance money
D. An earthquake breaking a power line, which sparks and catches a house on fire

Answer 14

C. Setting a business on fire to collect insurance money

Question 15

What factors must fire investigators identify before classifying fire cause? (946) [5.3.4]

A. Scope of damage, insurance, injuries sustained
B. Ignition source, exposures, firefighting tactics used
C. Ignition source, material first ignited, ignition sequence
D. Building construction classification, exposures, ignition source

Answer 15

C. Ignition source, material first ignited, ignition sequence

Question 16

Which is the most obvious sign of fire cause? (946) [5.3.4]

A. Extent of damage
B. Occurrence of flashover
C. Competent ignition source
D. Time between incipient and growth stages

Answer 16

C. Competent ignition source

Question 17

Which is a responsibility of a Fire Fighter II concerning evidence at a fire investigation? (947) [5.3.4]

A. Briefing the press about the cause of the fire
B. Determining which evidence is admissible in court
C. Restricting access to the scene in order to protect evidence
D. Detaining bystanders who may have information about evidence

Answer 17

C. Restricting access to the scene in order to protect evidence

Question 18

How large should the perimeter outside a structure fire be? (947) [5.3.4]

A. A minimum of 100 feet (30 m) in every direction from the building
B. A minimum of 250 feet (75 m) in every direction from the building
C. Large enough to surround the building and any adjacent exposure buildings
D. Large enough to surround the building and all potential evidence outside the building

Answer 18

D. Large enough to surround the building and all potential evidence outside the building

Question 19

When establishing a perimeter around a fire scene, the perimeter must be: (947) [5.3.4]

A. visible and recognizable.
B. marked using permanent barriers.
C. continuously staffed by a law enforcement officer.
D. as small as possible, with room to expand if necessary.

Answer 19

A. visible and recognizable.

Question 20

If a deceased victim is encountered during the course of an incident or during the investigation,: (948) [5.3.4]

A. the victim should be left undisturbed and treated as evidence.
B. the victim should be covered and then transported as soon as possible.
C. firefighters must leave the scene immediately and turn control over to law enforcement.
D. firefighters must treat the scene as both a fire scene and a medical emergency incident.

Answer 20

A. the victim should be left undisturbed and treated as evidence.

Question 21

An occupant stating that the room smelled like propane immediately before the fire started is an example of evidence. (948) [5.3.4]

A. trace
B. direct
C. physical
D. circumstantial

Answer 21

B. direct

Question 22

Which would NOT be an example of physical evidence at a fire scene? (950) [5.3.4]

A. A witness’ statement
B. Debris from an explosion
C. Damage to electrical wiring
D. Tire tracks outside the structure

Answer 22

A. A witness’ statement

Question 23

Which statement describes how evidence should be handled at a fire investigation? (951) [5.3.4]

A. Firefighters are not responsible for any kind of evidence documentation.
B. Evidence should be bagged and removed from the fire scene as quickly as possible.
C. Evidence should be moved to a central location in the structure so that it is easy for the fire investigator to analyze.
D. Any firefighter who handles evidence becomes part of the chain of custody for that evidence.

Answer 23

D. Any firefighter who handles evidence becomes part of the chain of custody for that evidence.

Question 24

Which action can firefighters take to protect evidence at the fire scene? (951) [5.3.4]

A. Perform a thorough overhaul
B. Remove all evidence from the building
C. Cover items with salvage covers or tarps
D. Delay fire suppression until evidence is collected

Answer 24

C. Cover items with salvage covers or tarps

Question 25

Which action should be carefully conducted, because it can cause destruction or contamination of evidence at a fire scene? (951) [5.3.4]

A. Rescue
B. Size-up
C. Overhaul
D. Rehabilitation

Answer 25

C. Overhaul

Question 26

Which is an example of evidence spoliation? (952) [5.3.4]

A. Covering evidence with cardboard or tarps
B. Accidentally walking over suspicious footprints at the scene
C. Altering evidence so that an insurance investigator cannot document it
D. Applying water to extinguish fire in the same compartment as the area of origin

Answer 26

C. Altering evidence so that an insurance investigator cannot document it

Question 27

Which action could be considered illegal at a fire scene? (952) [5.3.4]

A. Fire department personnel searching for evidence during the course of the fire investigation
B. A homeowner denying the fire department the right of entry after the fire scene has been relinquished
C. Law enforcement officers informing a suspect of his or her Miranda rights at the scene of a fire investigation
D. Fire department personnel giving up control of the scene, but then re-entering without probable cause without a warrant

Answer 27

D. Fire department personnel giving up control of the scene, but then re-entering without probable cause without a warrant