Chapter 20: Fire Origin and Cause Determination

Which would NOT be an example of physical evidence at a fire scene? 950 a. A witness' statement b. Debris from an explosion c. Damage to electrical wiring d. Tire tracks outside the structure

a. A witness' statement

What must be present in order to determine fire cause? 942 a. Ignition sequence b. Any incendiary device c. Malicious or illegal behavior d. High speed wind or air flow

a. Ignition sequence

Which duty would a fire investigator perform at a fire scene investigation? 934 a. Interviewing firefighters on scene b. Cleaning up the fire scene after the investigation c. Helping with overhaul to ensure evidence is disturbed d. Determining a fire attack strategy that will keep evidence intact

a. Interviewing firefighters on scene

Which classification of fire occurs when humans are NOT involved? 946 a. Natural b. Accidental c. Incendiary d. Undetermined

a. Natural

Lightning striking a tree and setting it on fire would be an example of a(an): 946 a. Natural fire b. Accidental c. Incendiary d. Undetermined

a. Natural fire

How should a firefighter treat evidence that he or she finds at a fire scene? 951 a. Protect it without touching or disturbing it, if possible b. Move it to a central evidence location outside of the structure c. Bring all evidence to the fire investigator or office in charge d. Attempt to clean the soot and residue, then bag the evidence

a. Protect it without touching or disturbing it, if possible

If a deceased victim is encountered during the course of an incident or during investigation,: 948 a. The victim should be left undisturbed and treated as evidence b. The victim should be covered and then transported. c. FF must leave the scene immediately and turn control over to LE d. FF must treat the scene as both a fire scene and medical incident

a. The victim should be left undisturbed and treated as evidence

When establishing a perimeter around a fire scene, the perimeter must be: 947 a. Visible and recognizable b. Marked using permanent barriers c. Continuously staffed by law enforcement d. As small as possible

a. Visible and recognizable

Which type of fuel source would require the greatest amount of heat to ignite because it must undergo pyrolysis in order to burn? 943 a. Wood b. Gasoline c. Hydrogen d. Diesel fuel

a. Wood

If someone falls asleep while smoking in bed and their house catches on fire, that would be an example of a(an): 945 a. Natural b. Accidental c. Physical d. undetermined fire

b. Accidental

Which would be potential evidence when examining the exterior of a structure for the area of origin? 937-938 a. Unlocked doors or windows b. Any indication of forcible entry c. Construction type of the building d. Signs that the building is occupied

b. Any indication of forcible entry

An occupant stating that the room smelled like propane immediately before the fire started is an example of: 948 a. Trace b. Direct c. Physical d. Circumstantial evidence

b. Direct

When trying to locate the area of origin of a ground cover fire, you must know: 940 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

b. How wind and topography can affect fire spread

Which type of fire evidence includes objects that can be inspected, such as a fuel container? 950 a. Direct evidence b. Physical evidence c. Judiciary evidence d. Circumstantial evidence

b. Physical evidence

Which would be a responsibility of a Fire Fighter II at a structural fire? 933 a. Determine the origin of a fire b. Take not of unusual fire behavior c. Brief the media about about the cause of fire d. Conduct a detailed analysis and ivestigation

b. Take not of unusual fire behavior

Evidence preservation is the responsibility of: 946 a. The fire chief b. The fire investigator c. All firefighters on scene d. Law enforcement personnel

c. All firefighters on scene

Which is an example of evidence spoliation? 952 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 d. Applying water to extinguish fire in the same compartment as area of origin

c. Altering evidence so that an insurance investigator cannot document

Documenting evidence that is removed from a fire scene is an example of preserving the: 953 a. Spoilation b. Right of entry c. Chain of custody d. Jurisdiction of evidence

c. Chain of custody

Which is the most obvious sign of fire cause? 946 a. Extent of damage b. Occurrence of flashover c. Competent ignition source d. Time between incipient and growth stages

c. Competent ignition source

Which action can firefighters take to protect evidence at the fire scene? 951 a. Perform a through overhaul b. Remove all evidence from the building c. Cover items with salvage covers or tarps d. Delay fire suppression until evidence is collected

c. Cover items with salvage covers or tarps

Who is in charge of conducting an in-depth analysis of the fire scene and fire cause evidence? 934 a. PIO b. Fire Fighter II c. Fire investigator d. City code enforcement

c. Fire investigator

The events that lead up to a fuel package being ignited and starting a fire are known as the: 944 a. Decay stage b. Growth stage c. Ignition sequence d. Combustion chain reaction

c. Ignition sequence

What factors must fire investigators identify before classifying fire cause? 946 a. Scope of damage, insurance, injuries sustained b. Ignition source, exposures, FF tactics used c. Ignition source, material first ignited, ignition sequence d. Building construction classification, exposures, ignition source

c. Ignition source, material first ignited, ignition sequence

In a structure fire, searching for the area of origin begins: 936 a. At the same time as fire attack b. As soon as a trained investigator arrives c. On the exterior and moves to the interior of the structure d. On the interior of the structure and moves to the exterior

c. On the exterior and moves to the interior of the structure

Which action should be carefully conducted, because it can cause destruction or contamination of evidence at a fire scene? 951 a. Rescue b. Size up c. Overhaul d. Rehab

c. Overhaul

Which is a responsibility of a Fire Fighter II concerning evidence at a fire investigation? 947 a. Briefing the press about the cause of fire b. Determining 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

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

Which would be classified as an incendiary fire? 946 a. Overloading an electrical current 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

c. Setting a business on fire to collect insurance money

In order to provide information for the fire investigations, firefighters at a scene should: 933 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

c. Take note of any indications of unusual fire behavior

The area of origin will usually contain: 936 a. Evidence of arson b. Piles of stacked materials that act as fuel c. The greatest amount of damage and debris d. An obvious ignition source and material first ignited

c. The greatest amount of damage and debris

When examining the interior of a structure for the area of origin,: 938 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 set was intentionally

c. Work from the area of least damage to the area of greatest damage

To be secure, a fire scene must have: 947 a. A fire investigator present b. Law enforcement personnel present c. Two types of outside boundaries to prevent unauthorized access d. A recognizable perimeter and someone to maintain that perimeter

d. A recognizable perimeter and someone to maintain that perimeter

Which statement describes how evidence should be handled at a fire investigation? 951 a. Firefighters are not responsible for any kind of evidence documentation b. Evidence should not be bagged and removed from the fire scene as quickly as possible c. Evidence should be moved to central location in the structure so that is easy to analyze d. Any firefighter who handles evidence becomes part of the chain of custody for that evidence

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

Which characteristic must a material have to be the material first ignited? 943 a. Exist in liquid state b. Exist in 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

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

Which action could be considered illegal at a fire scene? 952 a. Fire department personnel searching for evidence during the course of investigation b. A homeowner denying the fire department the right of entry c. LE 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 reentering without probable cause without a warrant

d. Fire department personnel giving up control of the scene, but then reentering without probable cause without a warrant

How large should the perimeter outside a structure fire be? 947 a. A minimum of 100 ft in every direction b. A minimum of 250 ft in every direction c. Large enough to surround the building in any adjacent exposure buildings d. Large enough to surround the building and all potential evidence outside the building

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

At a fire scene, firefighters should NOT: 933-934 a. Keep a written record of on scene observations b. Enter the scene during a fire investigation without a warrant c. Ask permission from home owners before removing evidence d. Share their opinion of the probable fire cause with media or bystanders

d. Share their opinion of the probable fire cause with media or bystanders

Why is it important to determine the cause of a fire? 942 a. So the homeowners or occupants can have peace of mind b. So the owners of the property can be fined c. So FF can document which occupancies will require close supervision d. So that the unsafe behavior that caused the fire can be corrected through educational programs for the public

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

When searching for the area of origin, firefighters must always: 936 a. Wait until the scene has been cleared of debris b. Be accompanied by a fire investigator or LE officer c. Carry rubber gloves and plastic bags in case they find any fire cause evidence d. Wear PPE and respiratory protection until the atmosphere is determined to be safe

d. Wear PPE and respiratory protection until the atmosphere is determined to be safe