Fire Investigator Master For TCFP Questions And
Answers Verified 100% Correct
What are the four ways of right of entry? - ANSWER Consent
Exigent Circumstance
Administrative Search warrant
Criminal search warrant
What are the four rules of the Miranda warning? - ANSWER Right to remain silent
Any statement can be used against you
Right to an attorney
Right to have an attorney appointed if you can't afford one
- Sixth Amendment
What is spoliation? - ANSWER The loss or destruction of an object or document that is
evidence
What is demonstrative evidence? - ANSWER Any tangible evidence that you can
touch, feel, see, or smell. Any evidence that is tangible (physical).
What is documentary evidence? - ANSWER Written reports or documents relevant to
the case.
What is Testimonial evidence? - ANSWER Verbal testimony of witnesses
Fact witness VS Expert witness - ANSWER Fact witness can only testify observations
and statements of fact.
Expert witness may testify their opinion.
Daubert Rule considerations: - ANSWER Can the theory or technique be tested?
Has the theory or technique been peer-reviewed and published?
Is there a known or potential rate of error?
Has it gained general acceptance in the expert's field?
What is Arson? - ANSWER Causing unlawful and intentional damage, by fire or
explosion, to structures, vehicles, and personal property.
,What are four ways you can be exposed to chemical hazards? - ANSWER Absorption
(surface of skin)
Inhalation
Ingestion
Injection
Should you investigate a fire alone or in pairs? - ANSWER In pairs
What are some Basic Investigation Assignments for personnel? - ANSWER
Photography
Note Taking
Mapping
Diagramming
Interviewing Witnesses
Evidence Collection
What are some ways to document a scene? - ANSWER
Photographs
Video
Notes
Drawings
(sketches)
What items can cause cross-contamination at a scene? - ANSWER
Tools
Gear (boots, gloves,
etc)
Evidence
Cans
Other emergency
equipment
Characteristics of evidence: - ANSWER Physical state: Solid, liquid, gas
Characteristics: Size, shape, weight Fragility: Will it disintegrate or
break?
Volatility: Will it evaporate?
What is an accelerant? - ANSWER Any substance used to initiate or promote fire
spread.
What are the most desireable collection areas for liquid accelerants? - ANSWER
Lowest areas
Samples of porous or fiberous material
Cloth, paper, cardboard
,Seams, tears, cracks
Edges of burn patterns
Floor drains
How much space can you fill up in an evidence can? - ANSWER 2/3 of the can
What data should be included with the evidence? - ANSWER Date and time
Case #
Location
Brief description
Name of investigator
What is the difference between Gas chromatography and Mass spectrometry? -
ANSWER GC seperates mixtures into their individual components
MS further analyzes the individual components
What is the point of origin? - ANSWER Exact physical location where a heat source
and fuel come together and a fire begins.
What is the area of origin? - ANSWER The room or area where the fire began
Recommended procedure for origin determination: - ANSWER Preliminary scene
assessment
Preliminary fire spread scenario development
In-depth exterior examination
In-depth interior examination
Fire scene reconstruction
Fire spread scenario report
What is a competent ignition source? - ANSWER One that has sufficient energy,
temperature, and time to raise the first fuel to its ignition temperature.
What are the four elements of determining a fire cause? - ANSWER Ignition source
Fuel first ignited
Oxidizer present
Ignition sequence
Four features of the investigation: - ANSWER Cause of fire or explosion
Cause of damage to property
Cause of bodily injury / loss of life
Degree to which human fault contributed
Four classifications of cause: - ANSWER Accidental
, Natural
Incendiary
Undetermined
Should a fire ever be classified as "suspicious?" - ANSWER No. Suspicious is not an
appropriate term to describe the unexplained.
What is failure analysis? - ANSWER A logical, systematic examination of an item,
component, assembly, or structure and it splace and function within a system,
conducted to identify and analyze the probability, causes, and consequences of
potential and real failures.
What are hard times? - ANSWER Incidents with a known exact time. These include
dispatch times and other documented times.
What are soft times? - ANSWER Witness statements with approximate times, other
observations with approximations.
What are benchmark events? - ANSWER The foundation of the timeline. Includes
events related to cause, spread, detection, or extinguishment of the fire.
Micro VS Macro times: - ANSWER Macro can be as far as months or years before the
fire, and Micro are small and narrow parts of the timeline.
What does FMEA stand for? - ANSWER Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - a
graphical method or technique used to determine causes and effects leading to the fire.
Similar to Fault trees.
Mathmatical and Engineering models for fire investigation: - ANSWER Heat Transfer
models
Flammable gas Concentrations
Hydraulic Analysis (sprinkler failure)
Structural analysis
Egress analysis
Fire dynamis (fire growth)
What is a BLEVE? - ANSWER Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
What are the basic types of explosions? - ANSWER Mechanical
Chemical
Nuclear
Answers Verified 100% Correct
What are the four ways of right of entry? - ANSWER Consent
Exigent Circumstance
Administrative Search warrant
Criminal search warrant
What are the four rules of the Miranda warning? - ANSWER Right to remain silent
Any statement can be used against you
Right to an attorney
Right to have an attorney appointed if you can't afford one
- Sixth Amendment
What is spoliation? - ANSWER The loss or destruction of an object or document that is
evidence
What is demonstrative evidence? - ANSWER Any tangible evidence that you can
touch, feel, see, or smell. Any evidence that is tangible (physical).
What is documentary evidence? - ANSWER Written reports or documents relevant to
the case.
What is Testimonial evidence? - ANSWER Verbal testimony of witnesses
Fact witness VS Expert witness - ANSWER Fact witness can only testify observations
and statements of fact.
Expert witness may testify their opinion.
Daubert Rule considerations: - ANSWER Can the theory or technique be tested?
Has the theory or technique been peer-reviewed and published?
Is there a known or potential rate of error?
Has it gained general acceptance in the expert's field?
What is Arson? - ANSWER Causing unlawful and intentional damage, by fire or
explosion, to structures, vehicles, and personal property.
,What are four ways you can be exposed to chemical hazards? - ANSWER Absorption
(surface of skin)
Inhalation
Ingestion
Injection
Should you investigate a fire alone or in pairs? - ANSWER In pairs
What are some Basic Investigation Assignments for personnel? - ANSWER
Photography
Note Taking
Mapping
Diagramming
Interviewing Witnesses
Evidence Collection
What are some ways to document a scene? - ANSWER
Photographs
Video
Notes
Drawings
(sketches)
What items can cause cross-contamination at a scene? - ANSWER
Tools
Gear (boots, gloves,
etc)
Evidence
Cans
Other emergency
equipment
Characteristics of evidence: - ANSWER Physical state: Solid, liquid, gas
Characteristics: Size, shape, weight Fragility: Will it disintegrate or
break?
Volatility: Will it evaporate?
What is an accelerant? - ANSWER Any substance used to initiate or promote fire
spread.
What are the most desireable collection areas for liquid accelerants? - ANSWER
Lowest areas
Samples of porous or fiberous material
Cloth, paper, cardboard
,Seams, tears, cracks
Edges of burn patterns
Floor drains
How much space can you fill up in an evidence can? - ANSWER 2/3 of the can
What data should be included with the evidence? - ANSWER Date and time
Case #
Location
Brief description
Name of investigator
What is the difference between Gas chromatography and Mass spectrometry? -
ANSWER GC seperates mixtures into their individual components
MS further analyzes the individual components
What is the point of origin? - ANSWER Exact physical location where a heat source
and fuel come together and a fire begins.
What is the area of origin? - ANSWER The room or area where the fire began
Recommended procedure for origin determination: - ANSWER Preliminary scene
assessment
Preliminary fire spread scenario development
In-depth exterior examination
In-depth interior examination
Fire scene reconstruction
Fire spread scenario report
What is a competent ignition source? - ANSWER One that has sufficient energy,
temperature, and time to raise the first fuel to its ignition temperature.
What are the four elements of determining a fire cause? - ANSWER Ignition source
Fuel first ignited
Oxidizer present
Ignition sequence
Four features of the investigation: - ANSWER Cause of fire or explosion
Cause of damage to property
Cause of bodily injury / loss of life
Degree to which human fault contributed
Four classifications of cause: - ANSWER Accidental
, Natural
Incendiary
Undetermined
Should a fire ever be classified as "suspicious?" - ANSWER No. Suspicious is not an
appropriate term to describe the unexplained.
What is failure analysis? - ANSWER A logical, systematic examination of an item,
component, assembly, or structure and it splace and function within a system,
conducted to identify and analyze the probability, causes, and consequences of
potential and real failures.
What are hard times? - ANSWER Incidents with a known exact time. These include
dispatch times and other documented times.
What are soft times? - ANSWER Witness statements with approximate times, other
observations with approximations.
What are benchmark events? - ANSWER The foundation of the timeline. Includes
events related to cause, spread, detection, or extinguishment of the fire.
Micro VS Macro times: - ANSWER Macro can be as far as months or years before the
fire, and Micro are small and narrow parts of the timeline.
What does FMEA stand for? - ANSWER Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - a
graphical method or technique used to determine causes and effects leading to the fire.
Similar to Fault trees.
Mathmatical and Engineering models for fire investigation: - ANSWER Heat Transfer
models
Flammable gas Concentrations
Hydraulic Analysis (sprinkler failure)
Structural analysis
Egress analysis
Fire dynamis (fire growth)
What is a BLEVE? - ANSWER Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
What are the basic types of explosions? - ANSWER Mechanical
Chemical
Nuclear
