TCFP FIRE INVESTIGATOR EXAM 2026 NEWEST EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS LATEST
VERSION (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+
Is NFPA 921 a guide or a standard? -ANSWERS-It is the Guide for Fire and Explosion
Investigations
What are the six steps of the scientific method? -ANSWERS-Recognize the need
Define the problem
Collect the data
Analyze the data
Develop a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis
What step of the scientific method is inductive reasoning? -ANSWERS-Analyze the data
What step of the scientific method is deductive reasoning? -ANSWERS-Test the hypothesis
What are the four parts of the fire tetrahedron? -ANSWERS-Fuel (reducing agent)
Heat
Oxidizing agent
Uninhibited chemical chain reaction
What kind of reaction absorbs energy, an endothermic or an exothermic reaction? -ANSWERS-
Endothermic
,What is heat transfer by direct contact called? -ANSWERS-Conduction
What is heat transfer by gas flow / air movement called? -ANSWERS-Convection
What is heat transfer by microwave energy called? -ANSWERS-Radiation
What is a fuel controlled fire? -ANSWERS-A fire that is limited by the amount of combustibles.
What is a ventilation controlled fire? -ANSWERS-A fire that is limited by the amount of oxygen.
What are the stages of fire growth? -ANSWERS-Ignition
Growth
Flashover
Fully Developed
Decay
What is a flashover? -ANSWERS-The transition phase from growth to fully developed, where all
surfaces reach ignition temperature almost simultaneously.
What is ignition of the underside of the hot gas layer called? -ANSWERS-Flameover or rollover
What factors influence flashover conditions? -ANSWERS-Size of the compartment
Height of ceiling
Ventilation
Amount of fuel
,Layout of fuel
Location of fire in the compartment
What are fire patterns? -ANSWERS-The physical manifestation of the affects of fire on materials.
What are the different types of fire patterns on the walls and ceiling? -ANSWERS-Plume
Generated patterns (often V shaped)
Ventilation generated patterns
Hot gas layer patterns (Line of demarcation)
What is spalling? -ANSWERS-The separation of chunks of concrete with explosive force caused
by the expansion of water (moisture) trapped in the concrete as it turns to steam
What is char? -ANSWERS-Pyrolized carbonaceous material
What is oxidation? -ANSWERS-Physical change in appearance of a material resulting from the
combination of oxygen.
What is alloying? -ANSWERS-Mixing two metals heated then cooled to change their properties.
Often melts at a lower temperature.
What is a clean burn? -ANSWERS-When there was enough heat to burn away all carbon
deposits (soot) on a surface leaving a "clean" surface. Occurs on non-combustible surfaces.
What is soot? -ANSWERS-Elemental carbon produced during incomplete combustion.
What is calcination? -ANSWERS-When chemically bound water is driven out of gypsum walls by
the heat of the fire.
, Does a 25 Watt light bulb expand towards the fire or pull inward away from it? -ANSWERS-Bulbs
25 watts or less pull away. Bulbs greater than 25 watts will expand towards the fire.
What causes heat shadowing? -ANSWERS-An object blocking the travel of radiated heat.
What is a dead load? -ANSWERS-The weight of things attached to the building, like flooring,
cloumns, and roof coverings.
What is a live load? -ANSWERS-A load that can move, like people, furniture, wind, water, and
snow.
What is compartmentation? -ANSWERS-Design features of a building that limit fire growth to
the room of origin.
What are the five building construction types? -ANSWERS-Type I - Fire resistant
Type II - Non combustible
Type III - Ordinary
Type IV - Heavy timber
Type V - Wood frame
What is ordinary construction? -ANSWERS-Exterior walls are masonry and frame is wood.
What is wood frame construction? -ANSWERS-Lightweight wood construction, used in
apartments, houses.
What is platform frame construction? -ANSWERS-Each floor is a seperate platform.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS LATEST
VERSION (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+
Is NFPA 921 a guide or a standard? -ANSWERS-It is the Guide for Fire and Explosion
Investigations
What are the six steps of the scientific method? -ANSWERS-Recognize the need
Define the problem
Collect the data
Analyze the data
Develop a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis
What step of the scientific method is inductive reasoning? -ANSWERS-Analyze the data
What step of the scientific method is deductive reasoning? -ANSWERS-Test the hypothesis
What are the four parts of the fire tetrahedron? -ANSWERS-Fuel (reducing agent)
Heat
Oxidizing agent
Uninhibited chemical chain reaction
What kind of reaction absorbs energy, an endothermic or an exothermic reaction? -ANSWERS-
Endothermic
,What is heat transfer by direct contact called? -ANSWERS-Conduction
What is heat transfer by gas flow / air movement called? -ANSWERS-Convection
What is heat transfer by microwave energy called? -ANSWERS-Radiation
What is a fuel controlled fire? -ANSWERS-A fire that is limited by the amount of combustibles.
What is a ventilation controlled fire? -ANSWERS-A fire that is limited by the amount of oxygen.
What are the stages of fire growth? -ANSWERS-Ignition
Growth
Flashover
Fully Developed
Decay
What is a flashover? -ANSWERS-The transition phase from growth to fully developed, where all
surfaces reach ignition temperature almost simultaneously.
What is ignition of the underside of the hot gas layer called? -ANSWERS-Flameover or rollover
What factors influence flashover conditions? -ANSWERS-Size of the compartment
Height of ceiling
Ventilation
Amount of fuel
,Layout of fuel
Location of fire in the compartment
What are fire patterns? -ANSWERS-The physical manifestation of the affects of fire on materials.
What are the different types of fire patterns on the walls and ceiling? -ANSWERS-Plume
Generated patterns (often V shaped)
Ventilation generated patterns
Hot gas layer patterns (Line of demarcation)
What is spalling? -ANSWERS-The separation of chunks of concrete with explosive force caused
by the expansion of water (moisture) trapped in the concrete as it turns to steam
What is char? -ANSWERS-Pyrolized carbonaceous material
What is oxidation? -ANSWERS-Physical change in appearance of a material resulting from the
combination of oxygen.
What is alloying? -ANSWERS-Mixing two metals heated then cooled to change their properties.
Often melts at a lower temperature.
What is a clean burn? -ANSWERS-When there was enough heat to burn away all carbon
deposits (soot) on a surface leaving a "clean" surface. Occurs on non-combustible surfaces.
What is soot? -ANSWERS-Elemental carbon produced during incomplete combustion.
What is calcination? -ANSWERS-When chemically bound water is driven out of gypsum walls by
the heat of the fire.
, Does a 25 Watt light bulb expand towards the fire or pull inward away from it? -ANSWERS-Bulbs
25 watts or less pull away. Bulbs greater than 25 watts will expand towards the fire.
What causes heat shadowing? -ANSWERS-An object blocking the travel of radiated heat.
What is a dead load? -ANSWERS-The weight of things attached to the building, like flooring,
cloumns, and roof coverings.
What is a live load? -ANSWERS-A load that can move, like people, furniture, wind, water, and
snow.
What is compartmentation? -ANSWERS-Design features of a building that limit fire growth to
the room of origin.
What are the five building construction types? -ANSWERS-Type I - Fire resistant
Type II - Non combustible
Type III - Ordinary
Type IV - Heavy timber
Type V - Wood frame
What is ordinary construction? -ANSWERS-Exterior walls are masonry and frame is wood.
What is wood frame construction? -ANSWERS-Lightweight wood construction, used in
apartments, houses.
What is platform frame construction? -ANSWERS-Each floor is a seperate platform.
