Chapter 17-Arson

_____ is the pattern of crevices on the surface of charred wood. a. Alligatoring b. Crazing c. Searing d. Spalling

a. Alligatoring

Photographing the crime scene should proceed: a. according to the order of the search. b. according to the order of importance of the evidence. c. outwardly from the point of origin of the fire. d. according to the path taken by the firemen in extinguishing the blaze.

a. according to the order of the search.

All of the following are liquids possessing excellent incendiary properties and are often used by arsonists as accelerants except: a. acetylene. b. alcohol. c. kerosene. d. turpentine

a. acetylene.

In an arson case, the prosecution must show that a burning was accomplished by: a. criminal design. b. malice. c. negligence. d. any of the above.

a. criminal design.

The Property Insurance Loss Reporting System is a computerized record of all fire losses designed to: a. detect patterns of arson. b. identify potentially vulnerable buildings. c. be a reference collection of incendiary materials. d. spot a potential arsonist before he commits his first arson.

a. detect patterns of arson.

In order to have ignition, there must be: (1) a combustible material; (2) a source of heat to raise the temperature of the fuel to the kindling point; and (3) a supply of: a. oxygen. b. hydrogen. c. nitrogen. d. gasoline.

a. oxygen.

In some jurisdictions, the term ______ is used to describe the criminal burning of property other than a dwelling. a. simple arson b. aggravated arson c. automobile arson d. incendiary fire

a. simple arson

All of the following are accidental electrical causes of fire except: a. spontaneous combustion. c. sparking. b. arcing. d. overheating.

a. spontaneous combustion.

The presence of _____ indicates that humid substances have come in contact with the hot combustible substances. a. steam b. white smoke c. grey smoke d. black smoke

a. steam

The debris at the point of origin should be studied carefully for the primary purpose of determining: a. the cause of the fire. b. the extent of the damage. c. the identity of the firesetter. d. the distance the fire travelled.

a. the cause of the fire.

All of the following are interests who may benefit economically from a fire except: a. the government, from insurance on its property. b. businesses wishing to eliminate competitors. c. contractors wishing to increase business. d. salvagers or "strippers" stealing copper pipes.

a. the government, from insurance on its property.

A careful study should be made of all _____ in the building because they are sometimes brought there by the arsonist and abandoned, thus providing a tracing clue. a. tools b. financial records c. heating appliances d. electricd appliances

a. tools

An examination of the car's accessories, such as a radio or tape deck, may indicate whether an automobile fire was deliberately set. The investigator should check to see if the radio ____ at the time of the fire. a. was removed b. was recently repaired c. was turned on d. was turned off

a. was removed

Arson is a crime committed primarily by: a. young men. b. middle-aged businessmen. c. young men and women. d. older males.

a. young men.

_____ is the pattern of thin irregular lines found in glass that has been exposed to high temperatures. a. Alligatoring b. Crazing c. Searing d. Spalling

b. Crazing

An attempted arson charge would be more appropriate than no charge or an arson charge in the following instance: a. The suspect gathered together incendiary materials. b. The suspect lit a match and the match went out c. The suspect lit a match that burned a part of a building before going out. d. The suspect ignited a fire in a building which was extinguished immediately by the fire department.

b. The suspect lit a match and the match went out

Liquids such as gasoline or ether with low flash points require at least _____ for ignition. a. heating b. a spark c. an open flame d. an oxidating agent

b. a spark

With the use of a liquid accelerant, there is often a certain amount of spillage. The investigator should search for the traces of unbumed accelerant, especially on the floor in the area ____ the point of origin. a. above b. below c. at the same level as d. at the exact location of

b. below

Burning alcohol is characterized by a _____ flame; _____ flames may indicate the presence of a petroleum product. a. red . .. blue b. blue ... red c. green ... red d. red .. . green

b. blue ... red

All of the following are common gases that can cause fires by explosion when present in an enclosed area except: a. butane. b. carbon dioxide. c. natural gas. d. propane.

b. carbon dioxide.

The task of collecting physical evidence in an arson case is complicated by the _____ of the materials. a. filthy condition b. delicate condition c. dangerous nature d. large amount

b. delicate condition

The owner's description of his automobile fire may be important to the investigator because he may unwittingly reveal: a. details of an accidental fire. b. details of a fire contrived with an inflammable material. c. inconsistencies in his description. d. a lack of understanding of automobile fires.

b. details of a fire contrived with an inflammable material.

In arson cases where there is a great dependence on circumstantial evidence, it is ____ to prove a motive. a. absolutely necessary b. especially important c. of little importance d. not necessary

b. especially important

When the investigator arrives at the scene of a suspected arson, he should do all of the following except; a. prevent unnecessary disturbance of the debris by restricting unauthorized personnel. b. halt the extinguishing of the fire, to protect the physical evidence from further damage. c. check the doors and windows of the building for evidence of a break. d. search for the location of the point of origin.

b. halt the extinguishing of the fire, to protect the physical evidence from further damage.

The legal term for the intent to do injury to another is called: a. revenge. b. malice. c. hatred. d. criminal design.

b. malice.

To satisfy the requirement of being an "inhabited dwelling" for an aggravated arson charge, the building in question: a. must have people present in it. b. must in part be used as a dwelling. c. can be a barn or storage facility. d. could be used for a dwelling.

b. must in part be used as a dwelling.

All of the following are factors that determine the rate and extent of the spread of fire in a building except the: a. weather conditions. b. plumbing system. c. the building's construction materials. d. vegetation surrounding the building.

b. plumbing system.

Where straw or a like substance has been used in a "plant" the ashes will retain its characteristic: a. texture. b. shape. c. color. d. odor.

b. shape.

Electrical switches, door bells, and short circuits in the presence of a gas or volatile fluid may be used as; a. heaters. b. sparkers. c. trailers. d. streamers.

b. sparkers.

The difficulties that may be encountered in the search of an arson scene depend primarily on: a. the extent of the investigator's knowledge and experience. b. the extent to which the building has been consumed by the fire. c. the number of investigators assigned to the case. d. the degree of assistance given by the fire department.

b. the extent to which the building has been consumed by the fire.

There is difficulty in determining the number of arson fires each year for all of the follovsdng reasons except; a. the lack of fire marshalls to investigate suspicious fires. b. the lack of interest shown by fire departments in arson cases. c. the lack of witnesses because arson is a crime of stealth. d. the lack of physical evidence because it is often consumed in the fire.

b. the lack of interest shown by fire departments in arson cases.

Arson, or the malicious burning of another's house, is considered in common law to be a crime against: a. property. b. the security of a dwelling. c. the privacy of a dwelling. d. insurance companies.

b. the security of a dwelling.

All of the following are common motives for deliberately burning an automobile except: a. to conceal evidence of a crime. b. to divert police attention from a crime happening in another location. c. to defraud an insurance company. d. as an act of vandalism.

b. to divert police attention from a crime happening in another location.

The possible points of origin of an automobile fire under the hood would include all of the following except the: a. fuel pump. b. transmission, c. carburetor. d. wiring.

b. transmission,

All of the following are types of pyromaniacs except: a. mentally deficient youths who enjoy watching fires. b. youths who pull fire alarms in order to see fire engines. c. the "hero type" who wishes to be a fireman. d. the sexual deviate who derives stimulation from setting fires.

b. youths who pull fire alarms in order to see fire engines.

All of the following are indications of arson except: a. a fire that bums exceptionally fast. b. a fire that spreads in an unusual direction. c. a fire that rises vertically until it reaches an obstacle and then travels horizontally. d. a fire that has more than one origin.

c. a fire that rises vertically until it reaches an obstacle and then travels horizontally.

For a charge of attempted arson, there must be at least ____ to carry out the intent. a. a criminal design b. a criminal motive c. an overt act designed d. the combustible materials

c. an overt act designed

The corpus delicti of the offense is established by showing that: (1) there was a burning; and (2) the fire was willfully set (criminal design). All of the following may be offered as proof of the corpus delicti except: a. the discovery of an incendiary device or plant. b. elimination of all accidental and natural causes. c. an unsupported confession of the accused. d. the testimony of arson experts.

c. an unsupported confession of the accused.

Sometimes federal prosecutors will charge an arson suspect with mail fraud (involving false insurance claims) because: a. mail fraud is often a more serious offense. b. there are more postal inspectors than fire marshalls. c. arson is a much more difficult offense to prove. d. arson often involves a conspiracy.

c. arson is a much more difficult offense to prove.

As the investigator draws closer to the point of origin, he will find the charring becoming: a. more widespread. b. more noticeable. c. deeper. d. more elongated.

c. deeper.

Because residual accelerant may be the most important physical evidence, it must be protected especially from: a. contamination. b. leakage. c. evaporation. d ignition.

c. evaporation.

Combustible material may be solid, liquid, or gas, but strictly speaking only ____ burn. a. solids b. liquids c. gases d. powders

c. gases

In an arson fire designed to destroy financial records in order to conceal evidence of embezzlement or other regularities, a common mistake the novice arsonist makes is that: a. he leaves his fingerprints on papers at the scene. b. he fails to remove insurance policies from the office. c. he fails to realize that masses of papers are usually not completely destroyed by fire. d. he fails to call the fire department in a timely fashion.

c. he fails to realize that masses of papers are usually not completely destroyed by fire.

In examining the arson crime scene, the investigator should pay special attention to the sprinkler system and the alarm devices because they: a. usually don't work. b. are usually not turned on. c. may have been tampered with, d. may have been recently repaired.

c. may have been tampered with,

All of the following are indications that a car was burnt deliberately with the use of incendiary substances except: a. the presence of burned spots on the paint. b. soot deposits on the underside of the frame. c. melted wiring. d. burned fan belt.

c. melted wiring.

All of the following are especially useful methods of detecting the traces of accelerant in a burned building except: a. looking for spillage or evidence of deep charring. b. using a hydrocarbon vapor detector or "sniffer." c. screening unbumt accelerant by attempting to light it d. using a dog trained to identify accelerants.

c. screening unbumt accelerant by attempting to light it

After establishing the corpus delicti, it is necessary to show that the accused committed the act with criminal intent. All of the following can be used as evidence except: a. articles associating the suspect with the scene such as tools or clothing. b. actions of the suspect demonstrating unfriendly relations with the owner of the building. c. suspicion by the owner that the suspect committed the crime. d. absence of any effort by the suspect to extinguish the fire.

c. suspicion by the owner that the suspect committed the crime.

The investigator should provide the laboratory expert, examining the physical evidence in an arson case, all of the following pieces of information except: a. the type and construction of the burned building. b. a list of chemical agents used in extinguishing the fire. c. the cleaning and maintenance schedule of the building. d. the photographs and sketches indicating the points at which the evidence was collected.

c. the cleaning and maintenance schedule of the building.

When investigating a suspected arson in a commercial building, all of the following people should be interviewed extensively on their observations, whereabouts, and suspicions except: a. the security personnel and the firemen extinguishing the blaze. b. the employees and other occupants of the building. c. the customers doing business with the company, d. the owner of the company.

c. the customers doing business with the company,

A camcorder is especially useful at the scene of a suspected arson in progress not only for documenting the development of the fire but also for recording: a. the suspected origin of the fire, b. the entrance ways and exits of the building. c. the face of the arsonist who may be in a crowd of observers. d. the extent of the damage from the fire.

c. the face of the arsonist who may be in a crowd of observers.

Some substances such as sodium, potassium, and calcium chloride generate intense heat on contact with: a. air. b. oxygen. c. water, d. fire.

c. water,

Fire characteristicly bums upward and outward in a ____ shaped pattern from the point of origin. a. "A" b. "L" c. "U" d. "V

d. "V

______ is produced by either incomplete combustion or by burning a petroleum based product such as rubber, tar, coal, or turpentine. a. Steam b. White smoke c. Grey smoke d. Black smoke

d. Black smoke

_____ is the chipping, flaking, and discoloration of concrete or brick due to intense heat. a. Alligatoring b. Crazing c. Searing d. Spalling

d. Spalling

To achieve the element of burning required for an arson offense, part of the structure must: a. be burned to the ground. b. show visible flames. c. be at least slightly damaged. d. be heated to the point of ignition.

d. be heated to the point of ignition.

A search for fingerprints should be made, giving special attention to: a. door jambs. b. fire alarm boxes. c. window sills. d. containers for accelerants

d. containers for accelerants

Experience has shown that five motives predominate in arson cases: (1)economic gain; (2) concealment of a crime; and all of the following except: a. revenge, for reasons of jealousy and hatred. b. intimidation, such as gang members do to shop owners. c. pyromania, the uncontrollable urge to set fires. d. demonstration or display of fire-making ability.

d. demonstration or display of fire-making ability.

It is ______ to accomplish the total loss of a vehicle from an automobile fire that was not set deliberately with an accelerant. a. easy b. extremely easy c. difficult d. extremely difficult

d. extremely difficult

The Molotov cocktail in the crude form of a soda bottle filled with ____ and a streamer of cloth or paper are the favorite incendiary device of rioters. a. natural gas b. nitroglycerine c. alcohol d. gasoline

d. gasoline

Turpentine, alcohol, kerosene, and gasoline are among the accelerants that have a characteristic: a. appearance. b. color. c. feel. d. odor.

d. odor.

Certain solids, called ______, give off oxygen on decomposition thus aiding combustion. a. combustibles b. inflammables c. incendiary agents d. oxidizing agents

d. oxidizing agents

A ____ is a general term given to any device that is designed to ignite combustible material sometime after the initiating action. a. heater b. sparker c. streamer d. plant

d. plant

A(n) ____ may be made out of candlewick, rope, or cloth saturated with an inflammable liquid. They are strung from room to room to provide a path for the fire. a. accelerant b. heater c. sparker d. streamer

d. streamer

When investigating a suspected arson of a commercial building, the most important person to ask the security personnel to identify would be: a. the person who discovered the fire. b. the person who turned in the alarm. c. the first fireman to enter the building to put out the fire. d. the last person to leave the building.

d. the last person to leave the building.

All of the following are indications from the contents of a building that a fire in that building had been planned except: a. the removal of articles of value or of sentimental significance. b. the removal of insurance policies. c. account books arranged in a tented fashion on the desk. d. the loss of the lives of people trapped in the building.

d. the loss of the lives of people trapped in the building.