CHAPTER 18– Fire Cause and Determination, Fire Officer NFPA 1021 - Jones & Bartlett (Third Edition)

Question 1

1. When is the fire cause investigation conducted?
   A) After the fire has been brought under control, but is not yet extinguished
   B) After the fire is extinguished, but before the property is turned back over to the owner
   C) Within the several hours immediately after the property is turned back over to the owner
   D) After issuance of a warrant

Answer 1

Answer: B

Level: I/II
NFPA Line Item: N/A Page: 364

Question 2

2. Who is responsible for conducting the fire cause investigation?
   A) Chief fire official
   B) Incident Commander
   C) Property owner (by hiring a private agency)
   D) Officer from the first-arriving engine company

Answer 2

Answer: B

Level: I/II
NFPA Line Item: N/A Page: 364

Question 3

3. A fire’s point of origin is usually determined by .
   A) interviewing owners, witnesses, and bystanders
   B) interpreting fire pattern evidence
   C) using the Iowa volume formula
   D) chemical sampling and analysis

Answer 3

Answer: B

Level: II
NFPA Line Item: 5.5, 5.5.1
Page: 369

Question 4

4. A U- or V-shaped fire pattern is also known as .
   A) pattern inversion
   B) movement pattern
   C) wall jet
   D) day-sleeper’s fire

Answer 4

Answer: B

Level: II
NFPA Line Item: 5.5, 5.5.1
Page: 369

Question 5

5. What is the relationship between char and a fire’s point of origin?
   A) The cracklier the char, the closer that surface was to facing 90 degrees from the direction of the point of origin.
   B) The deeper the char, the closer that material was to the point of origin.
   C) Sooty char means it was far from the point or origin.
   D) There is no relationship between the two.

Answer 5

Answer: B

Level: II
NFPA Line Item: 5.5, 5.5.1
Page: 369

Question 6

6. After all investigative possibilities have been exhausted, if two or more potential causes remain, the cause of the fire should be reported as .
   A) the most likely of the potential causes
   B) under investigation
   C) undetermined
   D) unreportable

Answer 6

Answer: C

Level: II
NFPA Line Item: 5.5, 5.5.1
Page: 370

Question 7

7. What is the usual location of the ignition source relative to the point of origin?
   A) Anywhere in the fire-burned area
   B) At the opposite end of the flow path
   C) In direct contact with the point of origin
   D) At or near the point of origin

Answer 7

Answer: D

Level: II
NFPA Line Item: 5.5, 5.5.1
Page: 370

Question 8

8. What does “transmission” mean in the context of a competent ignition source?
   A) Heat energy transfer via conduction or radiation
   B) Sufficient heat energy being transmitted from the point of origin to the first exposure
   C) Actions made in preparation for the creation of the ignition source
   D) The act of changing a human intention into a physical fact of action

Answer 8

Answer: A

Level: II
NFPA Line Item: 5.5, 5.5.1
Page: 370

Question 9

9. What is the fire investigator’s primary responsibility when conducting a fire investigation?
   A) Develop a properly documented case.
   B) Determine the point of origin.
   C) Determine the identity of the arsonist.
   D) Complete the NFIRS documentation.

Answer 9

Answer: A

Level: I
NFPA Line Item: N/A Page: 365

Question 10

10. Who is responsible for preventing the contamination of evidence?
    A) Fire investigator
    B) Law enforcement
    C) Fire crews on the scene
    D) Homeowners

Answer 10

Answer: C

Level: I
NFPA Line Item: 4.5, 4.5.3
Page: 368