FIRE INVESTIGATOR FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Fire4Investigation4-4ans-
✔✔the4process4of4determining4the4origin,4cause,4and4development4of4a4fire4or4explosion
Standard4-4ans-✔✔a4document4which4contains4mandatory4provisions
Guide4-4ans-
✔✔a4document4that4is4advisory4or4informative4in4nature4and4contains4only4nonmandator
y4provisions
NFPA49214-4ans-✔✔Guide4for4fire4and4explosion4investigations
NFPA410334-4ans-✔✔Standard4for4professional4qualifications4for4fire4investigator
NFPA410314-4ans-
✔✔Standard4for4professional4qualifications4for4fire4inspector4and4plan4examiner
NFPA4704-4ans-✔✔National4Electric4Code4(NEC)
Steps4to4investigate4a4fire4-4ans-✔✔1.4Receive4the4assignment
2.4Prepare4for4the4investigation
3.4Conduct4the4investigation
4.4Collect4and4preserve4evidence
5.4Analyze4the4incident
6.4Draw4conclusions
7.4Report
Scientific4Method4-4ans-✔✔the4systematic4pursuit4of4knowledge
Steps4to4the4scientific4method4-4ans-
✔✔1.4Recognize4of4the4need4to4use4the4scientific4method
2.4Define4the4problem
3.4Collect4Data
4.4Analyze4the4Data
, 5.4Develop4a4Hypothesis4or4Hypotheses
6.4Test4the4Hypothesis
(7.4Select4a4Final4Hypothesis)
(8.4Report)
Scene4safety4assessment4-4ans-
✔✔inspection4to4determine4whether4the4scene4is4safe4to4enter4or4what4steps4would4be4n
ecessary4to4render4the4scene4safe
What4is4the4first4thing4we4do4when4we4arrive4on4scene?4-4ans-
✔✔Scene4safety4assessment
Hypothesis4certainty4-4ans-✔✔Probable
Possible
Suspected
Fire4-4ans-✔✔a4rapid4oxidation4resulting4in4the4evolution4of4heat4and4light
Fire4Triangle4-4ans-✔✔The4three4components4required4to4initiate4combustion4-
4heat,4fuel,4and4oxygen
Fire4tetrahedron4-4ans-✔✔The4four4components4required4to4sustain4combustion4-
4heat,4fuel,4oxygen,4and4uninhibited4chemical4chain4reaction
Pyrolysis4-4ans-
✔✔decomposition4of4a4material4into4simpler4molecular4compounds4by4the4effects4of4heat
Vaporization4-4ans-✔✔heating4liquids4to4produce4ignitable4vapors
Specific4Gravity4-4ans-✔✔The4density4of4a4substance4in4comparison4to4water
What4are4the4three4states4of4matter?4-4ans-✔✔Solid,4liquid,4and4gas.
In4which4phase4does4fire4occur?4-4ans-✔✔Gas4phase.
probable4-4ans-✔✔More4likely4true4than4not4(>50%4likely).
possible4-4ans-
✔✔Feasible;4often4used4when4two4hypotheses4have4the4same4level4of4certainty.
suspected4-4ans-✔✔When4the4opinion4does4not4qualify4as4an4expert4opinion.
What4are4the4two4types4of4combustion?4-4ans-✔✔Flaming4and4smoldering/glowing.
What4are4the4characteristics4of4LPG?4-4ans-✔✔Colorless,4odorless,4non-
toxic.4Flammable4range41.54-415%.4Vapor4density41.884(will4sink).
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Fire4Investigation4-4ans-
✔✔the4process4of4determining4the4origin,4cause,4and4development4of4a4fire4or4explosion
Standard4-4ans-✔✔a4document4which4contains4mandatory4provisions
Guide4-4ans-
✔✔a4document4that4is4advisory4or4informative4in4nature4and4contains4only4nonmandator
y4provisions
NFPA49214-4ans-✔✔Guide4for4fire4and4explosion4investigations
NFPA410334-4ans-✔✔Standard4for4professional4qualifications4for4fire4investigator
NFPA410314-4ans-
✔✔Standard4for4professional4qualifications4for4fire4inspector4and4plan4examiner
NFPA4704-4ans-✔✔National4Electric4Code4(NEC)
Steps4to4investigate4a4fire4-4ans-✔✔1.4Receive4the4assignment
2.4Prepare4for4the4investigation
3.4Conduct4the4investigation
4.4Collect4and4preserve4evidence
5.4Analyze4the4incident
6.4Draw4conclusions
7.4Report
Scientific4Method4-4ans-✔✔the4systematic4pursuit4of4knowledge
Steps4to4the4scientific4method4-4ans-
✔✔1.4Recognize4of4the4need4to4use4the4scientific4method
2.4Define4the4problem
3.4Collect4Data
4.4Analyze4the4Data
, 5.4Develop4a4Hypothesis4or4Hypotheses
6.4Test4the4Hypothesis
(7.4Select4a4Final4Hypothesis)
(8.4Report)
Scene4safety4assessment4-4ans-
✔✔inspection4to4determine4whether4the4scene4is4safe4to4enter4or4what4steps4would4be4n
ecessary4to4render4the4scene4safe
What4is4the4first4thing4we4do4when4we4arrive4on4scene?4-4ans-
✔✔Scene4safety4assessment
Hypothesis4certainty4-4ans-✔✔Probable
Possible
Suspected
Fire4-4ans-✔✔a4rapid4oxidation4resulting4in4the4evolution4of4heat4and4light
Fire4Triangle4-4ans-✔✔The4three4components4required4to4initiate4combustion4-
4heat,4fuel,4and4oxygen
Fire4tetrahedron4-4ans-✔✔The4four4components4required4to4sustain4combustion4-
4heat,4fuel,4oxygen,4and4uninhibited4chemical4chain4reaction
Pyrolysis4-4ans-
✔✔decomposition4of4a4material4into4simpler4molecular4compounds4by4the4effects4of4heat
Vaporization4-4ans-✔✔heating4liquids4to4produce4ignitable4vapors
Specific4Gravity4-4ans-✔✔The4density4of4a4substance4in4comparison4to4water
What4are4the4three4states4of4matter?4-4ans-✔✔Solid,4liquid,4and4gas.
In4which4phase4does4fire4occur?4-4ans-✔✔Gas4phase.
probable4-4ans-✔✔More4likely4true4than4not4(>50%4likely).
possible4-4ans-
✔✔Feasible;4often4used4when4two4hypotheses4have4the4same4level4of4certainty.
suspected4-4ans-✔✔When4the4opinion4does4not4qualify4as4an4expert4opinion.
What4are4the4two4types4of4combustion?4-4ans-✔✔Flaming4and4smoldering/glowing.
What4are4the4characteristics4of4LPG?4-4ans-✔✔Colorless,4odorless,4non-
toxic.4Flammable4range41.54-415%.4Vapor4density41.884(will4sink).
