Chapter 15: Fire Investigations Flashcards
A ___________ is an individual who has demonstrated the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct, coordinate, and complete investigation.
Fire investigator
The __________ is the area where the ignition source and material first ignited and actually came together.
Area of origin
To determine the area of origin, you must work from the ______ damaged area to the ______ damaged area.
Least
Most
What 3 things are critical to the overall success of the investigation process?
Identifying witnesses
Securing the scene
Noting initial seen observations
What is the 1st step in determining the area of origin?
Examining the exterior of the structure/vehicle and the surrounding area
What is the 2nd step in determining the area of origin?
Examining the interior of the structure/vehicle
What is the 3rd step in determining the area of origin?
Interviewing witnesses/first responders
What is the 4th step in determining the area of origin?
Analyzing the information gathered using the scientific method
_______, _______ and ________ from the interior of the building or ignition points on the outside can cause exterior fire damage.
Products of combustion
Fire suppression efforts
Ventilation
Fire patterns are formed on interior surfaces of the structure as a result of _______ or ________.
Direct flame contact
Exposure to heat
______, ________, or ______ can be the heat transfer method that causes a fire pattern.
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
On _________, patterns may cause surface discoloration, spalling, melting, or distortion.
Noncombustible surfaces
This fire pattern is created as a result of the plume of hot gases rising above an individual fire.
Plume-generated
This fire pattern occurs when radiant heat forms in the hot gas later during a fire before flashover.
Hot-gas layer
This fire pattern can vary widely in appearance and was created by ventilation introduced to a fire.
Ventilation-generated
This fire pattern occurs after flashover or after a fire has burned for long periods of time, in which almost all vertical and horizontal surfaces in the compartment will show signs of damage.
Suppression-generated
This fire pattern is found on combustible surfaces were there has been direct contact with or intense radiant heat. It burns away any accumulated soot or smoke deposits on the surface, leaving demarcation lines.
Clean burns
These fire patterns were created when structural components such as wood studs or trusses are exposed to flame.
Pointers or arrows
This fire pattern has no common shape in which the fire followed the path of available fuels.
Irregular patterns on floors
This is the result of fire burning down word through the floor surface above the joist.
Saddle burn
These are on the image surfaces resulting from objects shielding the surface.
Protected areas
A company officer must request a fire investigator if: (3)
Loss of life
High content loss
Indication that the incident was intentional or malicious
Measurable and visual damage from the fire, combined with the patterns created from the various heat sources involved retell the ________.
History of the fire
Proper _________ is critical to any criminal or civil legal case.
Documentation
Evidence chain of custody, complete interview reports, photographs, and certified original copies of documents must be gathered and recorded into an _________.
Incident investigation report
Vehicle fire scenes can be divided into three areas of examination:
The scene around the vehicle
Exterior of the vehicle
Interior of the vehicle
Vehicle fire scene can further be divided to make documentation analysis easier: (3)
Engine compartment
Cargo compartment
Passenger compartment
Company officers should also determine and document the vehicles _________ when it burned. It will assist you in understanding the fire patterns.
Rest angle
Re-solidified ________ can determine the vehicle’s rest angle.
Aluminum
_________ fire patterns show movement on the vehicle’s body panels, such as the hood, fenders, doors, roof, and trunk.
Radial
Radio fire patterns may appear as ‘_________’
Ripples
While examining the exterior of the vehicle, ________ of the investigator is paramount.
Safety
Vehicles should be ________ prior to entering or reaching under the vehicle.
Stabilized
Photographs should be taken of each ______ and _______.
Panel
Wheel
Engine compartment fires may spread into passenger compartment through pre-existing holes in the ________. Fires may spread at a _______ rate to the engine compartment through these same holes.
Bulkhead
Slow
While examining the remaining glass in the windshield, damage to the ________ portion indicates directional fire spread from the engine to the passenger compartment.
Lower
While examining the remaining glass in the windshield, damage to the _______ section may indicate that the fire spread from the passenger compartment into the engine compartment.
Top
Hot surfaces in the engine compartment may ignite these 3 vapors of ignitable liquids routinely founded vehicles.
Gasoline
Break fluid
Oil
The temperature of the ________ may increase substantially for the first few minutes after the vehicle has been shut off. This may be sufficient enough to ignite the vapors of a leaking liquid.
Exhaust system
From its point of origin, a wildland fire burns _______ in all directions.
Outward
Wind, topography, aspect, and fuel variations affect the fires _______ and ______ of travel.
Spread rate
Direction
_______ is a product of more complete combustion, and it appears on the exposed side of the remaining debris in a wild land fire.
White ash
If the company officer cannot determine the specific cause or the fire appears to be the result of a malicious or negligent act, a ________ should be called.
Fire investigator
A complete ignition source must have the following 3 qualities.
Temperature
Heat energy transfer to result in ignition
Time
A _______ can be complex and time-consuming when the determination of the origin and cause is not readily made during the examination of the scene.
Post-scene investigation
What are the 4 general acceptable classifications of a post scene investigation?
Accidental
Natural
Incendiary
Undetermined
The classification _________ does not involve a deliberate human act.
Accidental
The classification __________ involves lightning, storms, floods, etc.
Natural
The classification ______ means that the fire was deliberately set; the responsible party knows that the fire should not have been ignited.
Incendiary
The classification ________ means the specific cause has not been determined to a reasonable degree of probability. This may be used as an interim classification as the fire investigator is proceeding.
Undetermined
Name the 7 motives for starting a fire.
Revenge
Vandalism
Profit (fraud)
Crime concealment
Excitement
Paranoia
Extremism (terrorism)
This arson motive for starting a fire is due to a personal or professional vendetta. It is the largest category of arson. It accounts for 50% of total arson problems.
Revenge
When ______ is the motive for starting a fire, personal property is often a target. Ignitable liquids are seldom used. Normal targets include vehicles, storage rooms, outbuildings, or fences.
Revenge
________ arson fires are usually set by two or more individuals. Schools are the primary targets.
Vandalism
Monetary gain is the primary motivation for this type of arson. The goal is to do the most possible damage in the least possible amount of time. Multiple fires are usually said and ignitable liquids are commonly used. This requires significant preparation.
Profit (fraud)
This type of arson is used as a tool to destroy evidence of another crime. Is usually associate with burglary, homicide, and embezzlement. Attempt to cover burglary is most common.
Crime concealment
This type of arson fire brings satisfaction of being the one who created the situation. It provides some people with the feeling of empowerment over society. It develops as a recognizable pattern over a period of time.
Excitement
This type of arson is not a motive. It is a psychological disorder and is rare. It often involves paper products in vehicles, in alleys, or behind buildings. Individuals regularly set multiple fires within several blocks of each other.
Pyromania
This type of arson involves intent to advertise or advance the arsonist purpose. They want their group or cause to be identified as the responsible party. There is usually graffiti left at the scene and a phone call or letter to the press is common.
Extremism (terrorism)
Small children under the age of ______ years experiment with fire out of curiosity, usually resulting in accidental fires.
7
The majority of fires set result from psychological conflicts during this age range. Revenge, anger or need for attention are usually motivations.
8-13
This age range usually involves the arrest and detention of the fire setter. They commonly have a long history of playing with fire.
15-18
The majority of fire setters are_______.
Males
Company officers should be aware of the presence of the same ________ at fires and visiting the fire station.
Juveniles
