TCFP FIRE INVESTIGATOR ACTUAL EXAM LATEST
2024/2025 DETAILED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A++
combustion - ANSWER chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate
fast enough to produce heat and usually light, in form of glow or flames
conduction - ANSWER heat transfer by direct contact
convection - ANSWER heat transfer by circulation via medium, such as gas
or liquid
diffusion flame - ANSWER flame in which fuel and air mix or diffuse
together at region of combustion
energy - ANSWER property of matter manifested as an ability to perform
work, by moving an object against a force, or by transferring heat
exothermic reaction - ANSWER A reaction that releases energy in the form
of heat
fire - ANSWER rapid oxidation process / chemical reaction resulting in
evolution of light and heat in varying intensities
fire dynamics - ANSWER The detailed study of how chemistry, fire science,
and the engineering disciplines of fluid mechanics and heat transfer interact
to influence fire behavior.
fire point - ANSWER The temperature at which enough vapors are given off
to support continuous burning.
flashover - ANSWER Stage of a fire at which all surfaces and objects within
a space have been heated to their ignition temperature, and flame breaks
out almost at once over the surface of all objects in the space.
flash point - ANSWER Minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off
enough vapors at sufficient rate to support a momentary flame across its
surface.
,Fuel controlled fire - ANSWER A fire in which the heat release rate and
growth rate are controlled by the characteristics of the fuel, such as
quantity and geometry, and in which adequate air for combustion is
available.
fuel - ANSWER A material that will maintain combustion under specified
environmental conditions.
Fuel Items - ANSWER Any articles that are capable of burning.
fuel package - ANSWER A collection or array of fuel items in close
proximity with one another such that flames can spread throughout the
array.
heat - ANSWER form of energy characterized by vibration of molecules
that is capable of initiating and supporting chemical changes and changes
of state
heat flux - ANSWER The measure of the rate of heat transfer to a surface,
expressed in kilowatts
Heat Release Rate (HRR) - ANSWER The rate at which heat energy is
generated by burning.
heat transfer - ANSWER the flow of thermal energy from higher
temperature to lower temperature
neutral plane - ANSWER The line where the flow of the hot gas and cooler
air changes.
oxidizing agent - ANSWER substance that promotes oxidation during
combustion process
plume - ANSWER The column of hot gases, flames, and smoke rising
above a fire; also called convection column, thermal updraft, or thermal
column.
premixed burning - ANSWER Burning in which the fuel and oxidizer are
mixed prior to combustion, as in a laboratory Bunsen burner or a gas
,cooking range; propagation of the flame is governed by the interaction
between flow rate, transport processes, and chemical reaction.
Pyrolysis - ANSWER the decomposition of solid organic matter by heat
radiation - ANSWER heat transfer by way of electromagnetic energy
stoichiometric ratio - ANSWER The optimum ratio in a fuel air mixture at
which point combustion will be most efficient (above the LEL and below the
UEL).
temperature - ANSWER degree of sensible heat of a body as measured by
thermometer or similar instrument
thermal conductivity - ANSWER measure of amount of heat that will flow
across a unit area with a temperature gradient of 1 degree per unit of
length (W/m-K, Btu/hr-ft-F)
Thermal decomposition - ANSWER irreversable change in chemical
composition as a result of pyrolysis
thermal inertia - ANSWER The properties of a material that characterize its
rate of surface temperature rise when exposed to heat; related to the
product of the material's thermal conductivity (k), its density (ρ), and its
heat capacity (c).
Thermal runaway - ANSWER Condition in which the heat generated
exceeds the amount of heat loss within the material.
thermometry - ANSWER the study of the science, methodology, and
practice of temperature measurement
Uninhibited chemical chain reaction - ANSWER A sustained oxidation
reaction that produces sufficient excess heat to continue heating unburned
fuel, making it available for combustion.
vaporization - ANSWER The change of state from a liquid to a gas
beveling - ANSWER A fire pattern that indicates fire Direction on wood wall
studs. The bevel leans toward the direction of travel.
, calcination - ANSWER A fire effect realized in gypsum products, including
wallboard, as a result of exposure to heat that drives off free and
chemically bound water.
clean burn - ANSWER A fire effect that appears on noncombustible
surfaces after any combustible layers (such as soot, paint, and paper) have
been burned away. The effect may also appear where soot was not
deposited due to high surface temperatures.
crazing - ANSWER pattern of short cracks in glass that can either be
straight or crescent shaped and can extend through the entire thickness of
the glass
fire effects - ANSWER The observable or measurable changes in or on a
material as a result of a fire.
Fire Pattern Analysis - ANSWER The process of identifying and interpreting
fire patterns to determine how the patterns were created and their
significance.
Fire Patterns - ANSWER The visible or measurable physical changes, or
identifiable shapes, formed by a fire effect or group of fire effects.
heat shadowing - ANSWER A pattern that results from an object blocking
the travel of radiant heat from its source to a target material on which the
pattern is produced.
melting - ANSWER the physical change of a solid to a liquid by the addition
of heat
Rainbow effect - ANSWER A diffraction pattern formed when hydrocarbons
float on a surface.
smoke deposits - ANSWER Hot products of combustion that may adhere
upon collision with a surface.
spalling - ANSWER Chipping or pitting of concrete or masonry surfaces.
2024/2025 DETAILED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A++
combustion - ANSWER chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate
fast enough to produce heat and usually light, in form of glow or flames
conduction - ANSWER heat transfer by direct contact
convection - ANSWER heat transfer by circulation via medium, such as gas
or liquid
diffusion flame - ANSWER flame in which fuel and air mix or diffuse
together at region of combustion
energy - ANSWER property of matter manifested as an ability to perform
work, by moving an object against a force, or by transferring heat
exothermic reaction - ANSWER A reaction that releases energy in the form
of heat
fire - ANSWER rapid oxidation process / chemical reaction resulting in
evolution of light and heat in varying intensities
fire dynamics - ANSWER The detailed study of how chemistry, fire science,
and the engineering disciplines of fluid mechanics and heat transfer interact
to influence fire behavior.
fire point - ANSWER The temperature at which enough vapors are given off
to support continuous burning.
flashover - ANSWER Stage of a fire at which all surfaces and objects within
a space have been heated to their ignition temperature, and flame breaks
out almost at once over the surface of all objects in the space.
flash point - ANSWER Minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off
enough vapors at sufficient rate to support a momentary flame across its
surface.
,Fuel controlled fire - ANSWER A fire in which the heat release rate and
growth rate are controlled by the characteristics of the fuel, such as
quantity and geometry, and in which adequate air for combustion is
available.
fuel - ANSWER A material that will maintain combustion under specified
environmental conditions.
Fuel Items - ANSWER Any articles that are capable of burning.
fuel package - ANSWER A collection or array of fuel items in close
proximity with one another such that flames can spread throughout the
array.
heat - ANSWER form of energy characterized by vibration of molecules
that is capable of initiating and supporting chemical changes and changes
of state
heat flux - ANSWER The measure of the rate of heat transfer to a surface,
expressed in kilowatts
Heat Release Rate (HRR) - ANSWER The rate at which heat energy is
generated by burning.
heat transfer - ANSWER the flow of thermal energy from higher
temperature to lower temperature
neutral plane - ANSWER The line where the flow of the hot gas and cooler
air changes.
oxidizing agent - ANSWER substance that promotes oxidation during
combustion process
plume - ANSWER The column of hot gases, flames, and smoke rising
above a fire; also called convection column, thermal updraft, or thermal
column.
premixed burning - ANSWER Burning in which the fuel and oxidizer are
mixed prior to combustion, as in a laboratory Bunsen burner or a gas
,cooking range; propagation of the flame is governed by the interaction
between flow rate, transport processes, and chemical reaction.
Pyrolysis - ANSWER the decomposition of solid organic matter by heat
radiation - ANSWER heat transfer by way of electromagnetic energy
stoichiometric ratio - ANSWER The optimum ratio in a fuel air mixture at
which point combustion will be most efficient (above the LEL and below the
UEL).
temperature - ANSWER degree of sensible heat of a body as measured by
thermometer or similar instrument
thermal conductivity - ANSWER measure of amount of heat that will flow
across a unit area with a temperature gradient of 1 degree per unit of
length (W/m-K, Btu/hr-ft-F)
Thermal decomposition - ANSWER irreversable change in chemical
composition as a result of pyrolysis
thermal inertia - ANSWER The properties of a material that characterize its
rate of surface temperature rise when exposed to heat; related to the
product of the material's thermal conductivity (k), its density (ρ), and its
heat capacity (c).
Thermal runaway - ANSWER Condition in which the heat generated
exceeds the amount of heat loss within the material.
thermometry - ANSWER the study of the science, methodology, and
practice of temperature measurement
Uninhibited chemical chain reaction - ANSWER A sustained oxidation
reaction that produces sufficient excess heat to continue heating unburned
fuel, making it available for combustion.
vaporization - ANSWER The change of state from a liquid to a gas
beveling - ANSWER A fire pattern that indicates fire Direction on wood wall
studs. The bevel leans toward the direction of travel.
, calcination - ANSWER A fire effect realized in gypsum products, including
wallboard, as a result of exposure to heat that drives off free and
chemically bound water.
clean burn - ANSWER A fire effect that appears on noncombustible
surfaces after any combustible layers (such as soot, paint, and paper) have
been burned away. The effect may also appear where soot was not
deposited due to high surface temperatures.
crazing - ANSWER pattern of short cracks in glass that can either be
straight or crescent shaped and can extend through the entire thickness of
the glass
fire effects - ANSWER The observable or measurable changes in or on a
material as a result of a fire.
Fire Pattern Analysis - ANSWER The process of identifying and interpreting
fire patterns to determine how the patterns were created and their
significance.
Fire Patterns - ANSWER The visible or measurable physical changes, or
identifiable shapes, formed by a fire effect or group of fire effects.
heat shadowing - ANSWER A pattern that results from an object blocking
the travel of radiant heat from its source to a target material on which the
pattern is produced.
melting - ANSWER the physical change of a solid to a liquid by the addition
of heat
Rainbow effect - ANSWER A diffraction pattern formed when hydrocarbons
float on a surface.
smoke deposits - ANSWER Hot products of combustion that may adhere
upon collision with a surface.
spalling - ANSWER Chipping or pitting of concrete or masonry surfaces.
