1
,FIREFIGHTER 2 FINAL STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (2025)BY DR. BEN A. HIRST
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) / QUESTION BANK
A pathological fire setter is termed a(n) .
a. Pyrophiliac
b. Pyromanic
c. Firebomber
d. Arsonist - ANSWER-b. Pyromanic
Where does the fire investigation process usually begin?
a. kitchen
b. exterior
c. the area of deepest char
d. the point of origin - ANSWER-b. exterior
What is suggested by an inverted cone burn pattern on a wall?
a. slow rate of spread
b. flashover/flameover
c. ignitable liquid poured along the base of the wall
d. strong updraft due to structural alterations - ANSWER-c. ignitable liquid poured along
the base of the wall
Why do children younger than 8 years old typically set fires?
a. curiosity
b. need for attention
c. identify the point of origin
d. establish the facts - ANSWER-a. curiosity
Which task should be preformed first when conducting a fire investigation?
a. Interview witnesses
b. Sift through debris
c. Identify the point of origin
d. Establish the facts - ANSWER-c. identify the point of origin
Which federal agency makes individual agents available to assist local jurisdictions with
fire investigations?
a. FBI
b. ATF
c. DHS
d. DOJ - ANSWER-b. ATF
Which court case ruled on the need for warrants in fire investigation?
a. Michigan v. Tyler
2
, b. Scheets v. Ada FD
c. Fortuna Fire Protection District v. Tompkins
d. Texas v. Burger - ANSWER-a. Michigan v. Tyler
A tiny quantity of physical evidence that is conveyed from one place to another is
evidence.
a. Demonstrative
b. Minute
c. Circumstantial
d. Trace - ANSWER-d. trace
Which of the following is the most likely indication of use of an ignitable liquid?
a. V-shaped burn pattern on a wall
b. pool shaped burn pattern on the floor
c. light burn damage to the floor
d. heavy charring in the area of origin - ANSWER-b. pool shaped burn pattern on the
floor
What is the goal of fire-cause investigation?
a. To eliminate the possibility of criminal intent
b. To identify how the fire started
c. To identify the party responsible for the fire
d. To establish motive and opportunity - ANSWER-b. to identify how the fire started
What is one of the common motives of arsonists listed in NFPA 921?
a. Extortion
b. Extremism
c. Peer-group status seeking
d. Boredom - ANSWER-b. extremism
Which of the following is part of the definition of arson?
a. Use of an accelerant
b. Injury or loss of life
c. Criminal intent
d. Misfeasance - ANSWER-c. criminal intent
Which term means the process of carefully looking for evidence in the debris following a
fire?
a. Debris examination
b Evidence collection
c. Digging out
d. Cold sifting - ANSWER-c. Digging out
3
, For how long can a fire department maintain control of a fire scene?
a. Until the property owners formally assume responsibility for it
b. As long as needed to complete an investigation of cause
c. Until expiration of the warrant
d. Until overhaul is complete - ANSWER-b. As long as needed to complete
an investigation of cause
An arson investigation must determine which item?
a. Ill will
b. Fiduciary interest
c. Motive
d. Sequence of events - ANSWER-d. sequence of events
According to NFPA 921, what is the term for an arsonist who sets three or more fires at
separate locations with no emotional cooling off period between fires?
a. Spree
b. Compulsive
c. Serial
d. Binge - ANSWER-a. spree
Which kind of evidence includes facts that can be observed or reported firsthand?
a. Objective
b. Testimonial
c. Observational
d. Direct - ANSWER-d. direct
Ideally, when should overhaul operations begin?
a. Upon extinguishment of the fire
b. As soon as it is safe to do so
c. After the fire investigator has examined the scene
d. After criminal activity has been ruled out - ANSWER-c. after the fire investigator has
examined the scene
Which kind of evidence is used to validate a theory or show how something could have
occurred?
a. Inferential
b. Exclusionary
c. Deductive
d. demonstrative - ANSWER-d. demonstrative
When should a fire building be turned over to the owner?
a. once the scene is reasonably safe
b. whenever the owner requests it
c. upon completion of overhaul
d. after the investigation is complete - ANSWER-d. after the investigation is complete
4
,FIREFIGHTER 2 FINAL STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (2025)BY DR. BEN A. HIRST
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) / QUESTION BANK
A pathological fire setter is termed a(n) .
a. Pyrophiliac
b. Pyromanic
c. Firebomber
d. Arsonist - ANSWER-b. Pyromanic
Where does the fire investigation process usually begin?
a. kitchen
b. exterior
c. the area of deepest char
d. the point of origin - ANSWER-b. exterior
What is suggested by an inverted cone burn pattern on a wall?
a. slow rate of spread
b. flashover/flameover
c. ignitable liquid poured along the base of the wall
d. strong updraft due to structural alterations - ANSWER-c. ignitable liquid poured along
the base of the wall
Why do children younger than 8 years old typically set fires?
a. curiosity
b. need for attention
c. identify the point of origin
d. establish the facts - ANSWER-a. curiosity
Which task should be preformed first when conducting a fire investigation?
a. Interview witnesses
b. Sift through debris
c. Identify the point of origin
d. Establish the facts - ANSWER-c. identify the point of origin
Which federal agency makes individual agents available to assist local jurisdictions with
fire investigations?
a. FBI
b. ATF
c. DHS
d. DOJ - ANSWER-b. ATF
Which court case ruled on the need for warrants in fire investigation?
a. Michigan v. Tyler
2
, b. Scheets v. Ada FD
c. Fortuna Fire Protection District v. Tompkins
d. Texas v. Burger - ANSWER-a. Michigan v. Tyler
A tiny quantity of physical evidence that is conveyed from one place to another is
evidence.
a. Demonstrative
b. Minute
c. Circumstantial
d. Trace - ANSWER-d. trace
Which of the following is the most likely indication of use of an ignitable liquid?
a. V-shaped burn pattern on a wall
b. pool shaped burn pattern on the floor
c. light burn damage to the floor
d. heavy charring in the area of origin - ANSWER-b. pool shaped burn pattern on the
floor
What is the goal of fire-cause investigation?
a. To eliminate the possibility of criminal intent
b. To identify how the fire started
c. To identify the party responsible for the fire
d. To establish motive and opportunity - ANSWER-b. to identify how the fire started
What is one of the common motives of arsonists listed in NFPA 921?
a. Extortion
b. Extremism
c. Peer-group status seeking
d. Boredom - ANSWER-b. extremism
Which of the following is part of the definition of arson?
a. Use of an accelerant
b. Injury or loss of life
c. Criminal intent
d. Misfeasance - ANSWER-c. criminal intent
Which term means the process of carefully looking for evidence in the debris following a
fire?
a. Debris examination
b Evidence collection
c. Digging out
d. Cold sifting - ANSWER-c. Digging out
3
, For how long can a fire department maintain control of a fire scene?
a. Until the property owners formally assume responsibility for it
b. As long as needed to complete an investigation of cause
c. Until expiration of the warrant
d. Until overhaul is complete - ANSWER-b. As long as needed to complete
an investigation of cause
An arson investigation must determine which item?
a. Ill will
b. Fiduciary interest
c. Motive
d. Sequence of events - ANSWER-d. sequence of events
According to NFPA 921, what is the term for an arsonist who sets three or more fires at
separate locations with no emotional cooling off period between fires?
a. Spree
b. Compulsive
c. Serial
d. Binge - ANSWER-a. spree
Which kind of evidence includes facts that can be observed or reported firsthand?
a. Objective
b. Testimonial
c. Observational
d. Direct - ANSWER-d. direct
Ideally, when should overhaul operations begin?
a. Upon extinguishment of the fire
b. As soon as it is safe to do so
c. After the fire investigator has examined the scene
d. After criminal activity has been ruled out - ANSWER-c. after the fire investigator has
examined the scene
Which kind of evidence is used to validate a theory or show how something could have
occurred?
a. Inferential
b. Exclusionary
c. Deductive
d. demonstrative - ANSWER-d. demonstrative
When should a fire building be turned over to the owner?
a. once the scene is reasonably safe
b. whenever the owner requests it
c. upon completion of overhaul
d. after the investigation is complete - ANSWER-d. after the investigation is complete
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