IAAI CFI Study Questions and Answers (2024/2025)

Combustible Liquid - Correct answer-A liquid with a flash point ABOVE 100F 12.5 - Correct answer-If the current flowing out from an electrical panel is 12.5 amps, and it then flows through an electrical load of 1500 watts, what is the amperage of the remaining current flow of the return circuit? 1000 - Correct answer-If a hair dryer draws 8.3amps (in a home with 120-volt service), what is the wattage? *Power (P) = current (I) x voltage (V) Watts = amps x volts 1987 - Correct answer-The year of the first edition of NFPA 1033 1.5 times - Correct answer-The recommended distance for securing the perimeter of a blast scene *That is, the distance from the furthest debris 1100°F - Correct answer-What temperature in the upper gas layer causes the onset of Flashover? 1960°F - Correct answer-The temperature at which copper melts 2 W/cm2 - Correct answer-The measurement of the radiant heat flux (from gas layer to the floor) that indicates the onset of flashover 240 volts - Correct answer-The voltage between the two hot wires at the service entrance cables in most single-family residences in the United States (single-phase service with three wires) 3 years - Correct answer-The revision cycle for NFPA 921 (timespan) 350°F - Correct answer-The flash point of power steering fluid 35-70 p.s.i. - Correct answer-In high-pressure fuel-injected vehicles, this is the typical range of pressure that is used to pump fuel from a fuel tank 5 and 17 - Correct answer-The lower explosive and upper explosive limit of natural gas (methane)? 680°F - Correct answer-The ignition temperature of power steering fluid Fuel - Correct answer-Any substance that can undergo combustion Act or Omission - Correct answer-Two factors or situations leading to a fire that may show the nature of the incident responsibility. Additional Investigative Recommendations - Correct answer-This concept should not be included in a summary report of findings. Admiralty Law - Correct answer-A law that may govern the fire investigation of a boat After-market Equipment - Correct answer-A type of device in a vehicle, which can cause an electrical overload to factory installed wiring Alive and Breathing - Correct answer-Evidence of smoke or soot in the lungs, bronchi, and trachea is one of the most significant factors in confirming that, at the time of the fire, the victim was WHAT? All Team Members - Correct answer-Those who have the responsibility for monitoring safety conditions at the fire or explosion scene 1220°F - Correct answer-The melting temperature of aluminum Aluminum-to-pavement sparks - Correct answer-Which one of these is NOT considered a competent ignition source? Metal-to-metal sparks, Aluminum-to-pavement sparks, Metal-to-pavement sparks, Motor bearing sparks Heat Release Rate - Correct answer-A meaningful analysis of a fire requires an understanding of the fire growth, the total heat released, and WHAT? Arc-fault circuit interrupter - Correct answer-What does he term AFCI stand for? And, the "A" specifically represents what? ASTM - Correct answer-The organization that develops standard methods for testing materials Auto-ignition - Correct answer-Initiation of combustion by heat but without a spark or flame Backdraft - Correct answer-A deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion Backdraft - Correct answer-An explosion caused by a combination of combustible materials heated to the ignition point and a sudden introduction of oxygen to support combustion Backfire Flame Arrestor - Correct answer-A boat device that owners fail to keep clean, which is a frequent cause of engine compartment fires on boats Ballast - Correct answer-A device on a fluorescent light fixture that transforms the voltage from normal household voltage to a higher voltage Battery - Correct answer-The starter motor draws its energy from this source Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - Correct answer-The burden of proof in a criminal trial Bimetallic Thermostats - Correct answer-The component that controls temperature in many heat-producing appliances BLEVE - Correct answer-This may occur when the vapor pressure of a liquid exceeds atmospheric pressure *And this is the most common mechanical explosion Boiling Point - Correct answer-The temperature or point at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the external pressure applied Bonding - Correct answer-The process of electrically connecting two or more conductive objects Bottom Passenger Side of the Windshield - Correct answer-Most engine fires typically penetrate the interior compartment at this location of the vehicle Brass Prongs (male ends) - Correct answer-An investigator can closely examine this component of a cord to determine if it was plugged into a receptacle Calcination - Correct answer-The chemical and physical changes that occur in gypsum wallboard surfaces during a fire Carbon Monoxide - Correct answer-A narcotic gas that one might be exposed to in the fire Carbon Monoxide - Correct answer-The levels of this toxin dissipate over time after removal from the fire environment. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - Correct answer-This toxic condition does NOT cause a cherry-pink coloration to the skin of the fire victim and is NOT visible on all skin types Carburetor Backfire - Correct answer-This occurrence is the most common open-flame ignition source in non-fuel injected vehicles Ceiling jet - Correct answer-When the fire plume reaches the ceiling of a room and moves laterally along the ceiling Christmas Tree - Correct answer-An item in the home that burns at a peak HRR of kW, which is hotter than a pool of gasoline or a polyurethane chair Clean Burn - Correct answer-This occurs when intense radiated heat or direct flame contacts a surface during the fire, burning away deposits Collapsed Furniture Springs - Correct answer-This is a fire effect to furniture that does NOT provide the investigators with clues concerning the type of ignition source, but can show fire spread and intensity Color - Correct answer-A fire characteristic that is NOT necessarily an accurate indicator of the flame temperature Color Codes - Correct answer-This feature distinguishes the heat-sensitive bulbs of sprinkler heads from each other Combustion - Correct answer-A chemical process of oxidation, which occurs at a rate fast enough to produce heat and usually light in the form of either a glow or a flame Compartmentation - Correct answer-A building design feature that aims to limit the fire to its origin. Competent Ignition Source - Correct answer-Located at the origin, these should be considered individually during the development of a cause hypothesis Complete PPE - Correct answer-This should be donned when dealing with hazardous chemicals Conduction - Correct answer-An example of heat transfer, when the heating of a steel beam to an unexposed part of a building results in a fire in that location Connection Points - Correct answer-Overheating on a circuit is most likely to occur at this location on a circuit Joint Investigation - Correct answer-Consensus agreement between interested parties should be developed prior to the commencement of WHAT? Crazing - Correct answer-Complicated patterns in glass Crime Scenes - Correct answer-A type of scene or circumstances, in which fires do NOT always destroy all physical evidence Current (amperage) - Correct answer-A factor in OHM's law that can be calculated if you know resistance and voltage Deductive Reasoning - Correct answer-The reasoning in the scientific method used to test an hypothesis Deductive Reasoning - Correct answer-The reasoning process of moving from generalizations to particular assertion (*"Reduce to Deduce" *Test hypothesis ("deduce") *Test based on known facts *More confident assertion than induction) Demonstrative Evidence - Correct answer-Type of evidence consisting of tangible items *as opposed to Testimonial Evidence or Documentary (written) Evidence Depth of Char - Correct answer-A burn pattern analysis that is MORE useful for evaluating fire spread, rather than length or intensity of burning Differential - Correct answer-All voltages are _________________, which means that a battery or DC generator creates a potential difference that can force charge through a wire Diffusion Flame Burning - Correct answer-The ordinary sustained burning mode in most fires Document and Carefully Move - Correct answer-By taking these two steps, an investigator can obtain the manufacturer's name, model & serial numbers, manufacture date, and any warnings on an appliance, determined to be in the area of fire origin Documentary Evidence - Correct answer-What type of evidence is an investigator's report? Documentation - Correct answer-A key method used by investigators when an appliance is determined to be in the area of origin, particularly the positioning of all controls and components. DOT Standards - Correct answer-The standards that gas cylinders must conform to (Dept. of Transportation) Dual Element Fuses - Correct answer-Types of fuses that have one element for overloads and another element for short circuits Dust Explosion - Correct answer-A particular type of an explosion that does NOT often result in pronounced seats of explosion Dust Explosion - Correct answer-An explosion that most often occurs in confined areas of relatively wide dispersal, where combustible dust can accumulate in sufficient quantity to support a propagating reaction. Engine Oil Analysis - Correct answer-This analysis may be performed to determine the pre-fire condition of the engine and to establish possible motive for the destruction of the vehicle. Evidence - Correct answer-The fire scene itself needs to be considered as WHAT? Evidence Collection - Correct answer-The process of photographing an item, then collecting, tagging and putting it in a log Evidence Collection and Documentation - Correct answer-The importance of this fire investigative practice is no different in wildfire investigations, compared to structural fires. Evidence Custodian - Correct answer-The person at a fire scene who manages various aspects of the evidence collection process, including an evidence log and evidence bagging, tagging, preservation and storage Exigent Circumstances - Correct answer-The justification used to enter a property in order to extinguish a fire Final Hypothesis - Correct answer-Also known as "Conclusions" Fire Death Team - Correct answer-A team comprised of a homicide detective, medical examiner, and fire investigator Fire Dynamics Analysis - Correct answer-A type of analysis used to predict fire phenomena and characteristics of the environment Fire Effects - Correct answer-Observable or measurable changes in or on a material as the result of a fire Fire Growth Rate - Correct answer-Once a fuel is ignited in a motor vehicle, any additional fuels contained in the vehicle have significant effect on WHAT fire factor? Fire Intensity - Correct answer-In a wildland fire, this fire characterisic is indicated by the degree of damage to the wildland fuel Fire Origin - Correct answer-This investigative determination is based on witness information, fire patterns, arc mapping, and fire dynamics Fire Scene Access - Correct answer-The fifth and sixth amendments DO NOT answer questions regarding constitutional protections in relation to WHAT fire investigation aspect? (4th amendment issue) Fire Scene Reconstruction - Correct answer-Recreating pre-fire positions of contents Fire-rated Door - Correct answer-This type of door must be used when installed in a fire-rated wall. First or Second Degree Burns - Correct answer-This is the typical extent of thermal injuries sustained from an explosion flame front, due to the very short duration. Flame Spread Rating - Correct answer-A system used to rate a material's flame spread potential. *And these are the categories: Class A: Flame spread index 0-25 Class B: Flame spread index 26-75 Class C: Flame spread index 76-200 Flammable Gases - Correct answer-This type of fuel can only be ignited by a spark or pilot flame over specific ranges of gas concentration Flammable Liquid - Correct answer-A liquid with a flash point below 100*F Flash point - Correct answer-The characteristic of an appropriate mixture of vapor-to-air, which will cause it to ignite when subjected to an ignition source Flash Point - Correct answer-A specific fuel characteristic, which will have little or no significance when the fuel is released in a spray form. Flashover - Correct answer-In this phenomenon, the radiant ignition of exposed combustible materials is key Flashover - Correct answer-This phenomenon will occur in a compartment with a low ceiling and fire on the floor, before the same fire in a room with high ceilings Flashover - Correct answer-This fire phenomenon is not really a consideration for wildfires Floor Assemblies - Correct answer-These construction features are tested for fire spread from below, but NOT from above Forced and Natural - Correct answer-The two mechanisms of convection heat transfer Freedom of Information Act - Correct answer-This law allows fire investigators to gain information, in most states Fuel - Correct answer-Any substance that can undergo combustion Fuel load - Correct answer-Total quantity of combustible contents of a building, space, or fire area (expressed in heat units or the equivalent weight in wood) Fuel System - Correct answer-This system in a vehicle has the following sequence of components: Fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel injector/carburetor, manifold, and cylinders. Fuel-controlled Burning - Correct answer-Type of burning that occurs in the early stages of a compartment fire Remote Area - Correct answer-The location where firefighters should re-fuel all gaspowered equipment (away from the fire scene) Government Institute - Correct answer-NFPA is not this type of institute Guide - Correct answer-NFPA 921 is this type of document Guidelines - Correct answer-The information presented in NFPA 921 establishes WHAT? Hazards - Correct answer-Biological, chemical, physical, and radiological are examples of this concept that fire investigators should be aware of when investigating a fire scene Header - Correct answer-The first cutting unit on a combine Heat flux - Correct answer-The measure of the rate of heat transfer to a surface Heat of Combustion - Correct answer-The amount of heat released during complete combustion, which is considered a constant for a specific fuel (Generally considered a material property and therefore a constant for a specific fuel) Heat of Ignition - Correct answer-The heat energy that brings about ignition