IFSTA Ch 29 Fire Investigations

Question 0

Company officers must not allow the ______ process to begin before the cause of the fire has been determined and any ______ protected.

Answer 0

overhaul; evidence

Question 1

One of the most important aspects of fire investigation is awareness by company officers and unit members of the importance of _______ ______.

Answer 1

preserving evidence

Question 2

Name the first step in the fire investigation process:

Answer 2

locate the point of origin

Question 3

Who may be the most important sources of information about the point of origin of the fire:

Answer 3

those who reported the fire and those who fought it

Question 4

Whether the fire is inside a structure or out in the wildland, what is an indicator of the point of origin

Answer 4

burn pattern left

Question 5

Burn patterns tend to be ______ from the point of origin and are often what shaped:

Answer 5

vertical; V-shaped

Question 6

Because the fire burns _____ at the point of origin, it is usually the area of ____ _____ ____.

Answer 6

longer; greatest fire damage

Question 7

Vehicle fires fall into one of two broad catagories:

Answer 7

1. Those that occur while the vehicle is driven

2. Those that occur while the vehicle is parked

Question 8

What are the most often causes of vehicle fires while being driven:

Answer 8

1. Mechanical malfunctions
2. Electrical malfunctions
3. Carelessness with smoking materials

Question 9

What are the common locations for vehicle fires due to mechanical malfunctions:

Answer 9

1. Engine compartment
2. Exhaust system
3. Wheel and brake systems

Question 10

For a parked vehicle fire, why would a malfunction of mechanical or electrical means not ignite while it was moving?

Answer 10

The ignition temperature was cooled due to the wind keeping temperature lower, until parked.

Question 11

In general wildland fires spreads away from the point of origin in three predictable ways:

Answer 11

1. spreads faster uphill
2. spreads faster with the wind against it
3. spreads faster in fine fuels (grass) than in heavier fuels (timber)

Question 12

The depth of char for wildland fires indicates the direction ____ ____ the fire spread

Answer 12

from which

Question 13

How are fires generally classified as (per NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations):

Answer 13

Accidental;
Natural;
Incendiary;
Undetermined

Question 14

What are fires that did not result from intentional or malicious human activity?

Answer 14

Accidental Fires

Question 15

Fires that involve human activity and are deliberately set (malicious or not) are classified as:

Answer 15

Incendiary fires

Question 16

T/F - the term suspicious should be used as a fire cause classification

Answer 16

F - if the cause cannot be determined with a reasonable certainty, it should be listed as undetermined

Question 17

What is an accidental fire that is termed as a ‘friendly fire’?

Answer 17

Intentionally set fires for a legitimate purpose, such as burning leaves and the fire gets out of control and spreads.

Question 18

Why do fatalities occur with smoking-related accidental fires?

Answer 18

The occupant, often is incapacitated by alcohol or other drugs and either falls asleep or passes out.

Question 19

What is a pyrophoric ignition?

Answer 19

The ignition temperature is gradually lowered until autoignition occurs. Such as wood framing in walls adjacent to metal fireplace boxes and flues.

Question 20

T/F - the mere presence of electrical wiring or appliances near the point of origin means that the fire was electrical in nature.

Answer 20

F - it should be considered along with other possible sources of ignition, due to the heat generated by electrical wiring and equipment

Question 21

What is the most common cause of electrical fires

Answer 21

Misuse of the electrical system by the bldg occupants (use of lightweight extension cords or zip cords and the use of a multiple-outlet device known as an octopus)

Question 22

What is the ‘most’ important thing to check during fire investigation with electrical fires?

Answer 22

The position of the power switch on any appliance found at the point of origin

Question 23

Main fuses or circuit breakers that are melted are from what type of fire?

Answer 23

Natural fires - lightning related fires

Question 24

Company level personnel and fire investigators should consider any exposed electrical wireing/equipment as ________ unless the power has been shut off by utilities

Answer 24

energized

Question 25

In determining the cause of fire identification of the circumstances and factors must be evaluated. These include but are not limited to:

Answer 25

1. Reliable ignition source
2. Material first ignited
3. The actions that brought them together

Question 26

Fire cause is the sequence of events that:

Answer 26

allowed the fuel and source of ignition to come together

Question 27

What is the most obvious difference with incendiary types of fires:

Answer 27

They are started intentionally with our without malicious intent

Question 28

List some differences between accidental or natural origin with incendiary types of fires (from the incendiary view):

Answer 28

• Use of accelerants;
• Disabled fire detection systems;
• Disabled fire suppression systems;
• Means of delayed ignition;
• Means of delaying the emergency response

Question 29

Examples of indicators that a fire was incendiary of origin include:

Answer 29

1. Timing Devices;
2. Multiple points of origin;
3. Trailers;
4. Chemicals;
5. Matches;
6. Ignitable liquids;
7. Bottles;
8. Signs of forced entry;
9. Whole bunch more….

Question 30

Inverted V-patterns suggests:

Answer 30

The use of ignitable liquids

Question 31

Fire investigation kits include:

Answer 31

Latex gloves, containers for storing evidence, tape, labels, and markers

Question 32

The crime of arson must include 4 core elements:

Answer 32

Lighting of fire, Willful intent, Malice, Property (object, item, structure must be burned)

Question 33

What is the program that provides the law enforcement community with a data-reporting and trend analysis process?

Answer 33

UCR - uniform crime reporting (similar to NFIRS)

Question 34

In 2004, an estimated _______ intentionally set structure fires were set, resulting in _____ civilian deaths.

Answer 34

36,500; 320 deaths

Question 35

During the UCR reporting period the average dollar loss associated with arson offenses was ________. Structural property arsons was averaged at _______. Mobile property was ______. Other property type was ______. Total property loss was _______.

Answer 35

$11,253; $20,818; $6,073; $2,536; $714 million

Question 36

The objective of the post-scene investigation is to develop additional information regarding the _____ and _____ of a fire.

Answer 36

origin/cause

Question 37

What are the 6 general categories for motives for adult fire setters:

Answer 37

Revenge, Vandalism, Profit (fraud), Crime concealment, Excitement (vanity), or Extremism (terrorism)

Question 38

What is the largest motive category of arson fires

Answer 38

Revenge

Question 39

Vandalism is usually the result of ________ or _______ and is commited by those who are undereducated or people with below-average intelligence.

Answer 39

boredom; frustration

Question 40

Monetary gain is the primary motivator for this motive

Answer 40

Profit or fraud

Question 41

Those who set fires and seek recognition or wish to be viewed as heroes are motivated by

Answer 41

Excitement (vanity)

Question 42

The term ‘means’ is generally used to describe the ______ used by firesetters to bring the _____ and the _____ _____ together to start the fire.

Answer 42

methods; fuel; ignition source

Question 43

Pyromania is considered as a ______ or ______ disorder that results in the setting of fires for no apparent reason.

Answer 43

mental; behavioral

Question 44

Pyromania is an impulse-control disorder. Juveniles have been categorized in three phases and ages:

Answer 44

• Under 7 set fires out of curiosity;
• Ages 8-12; psychosocial conflicts (revenge, anger, attention);
• Ages 13-18; crisis phase involves detention and arrest

Question 45

One of the most common types of Natural fire is caused by?

Answer 45

Lightning strikes

Question 46

In wildland fires the point of origin is almost always nearer the ______ of the fire than the ______.

Answer 46

Heel / head

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