Fire Investigator - master for TCFP test
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Is NFPA 921 a guide or a standard? - ANSWER-It is the Guide for Fire and
Explosion Investigations
What are the six steps of the scientific method? - ANSWER-Recognize the need
Define the problem
Collect the data
Analyze the data
Develop a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis
What step of the scientific method is inductive reasoning? - ANSWER-Analyze the
data
What step of the scientific method is deductive reasoning? - ANSWER-Test the
hypothesis
What are the four parts of the fire tetrahedron? - ANSWER-Fuel (reducing agent)
Heat
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,Oxidizing agent
Uninhibited chemical chain reaction
What kind of reaction absorbs energy, an endothermic or an exothermic reaction? -
ANSWER-Endothermic
What is heat transfer by direct contact called? - ANSWER-Conduction
What is heat transfer by gas flow / air movement called? - ANSWER-Convection
What is heat transfer by microwave energy called? - ANSWER-Radiation
What is a fuel controlled fire? - ANSWER-A fire that is limited by the amount of
combustibles.
What is a ventilation controlled fire? - ANSWER-A fire that is limited by the
amount of oxygen.
What are the stages of fire growth? - ANSWER-Ignition
Growth
Flashover
Fully Developed
Decay
What is a flashover? - ANSWER-The transition phase from growth to fully
developed, where all surfaces reach ignition temperature almost simultaneously.
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,What is ignition of the underside of the hot gas layer called? - ANSWER-
Flameover or rollover
What factors influence flashover conditions? - ANSWER-Size of the compartment
Height of ceiling
Ventilation
Amount of fuel
Layout of fuel
Location of fire in the compartment
What are fire patterns? - ANSWER-The physical manifestation of the affects of
fire on materials.
What are the different types of fire patterns on the walls and ceiling? - ANSWER-
Plume Generated patterns (often V shaped)
Ventilation generated patterns
Hot gas layer patterns (Line of demarcation)
What is spalling? - ANSWER-The separation of chunks of concrete with explosive
force caused by the expansion of water (moisture) trapped in the concrete as it
turns to steam
What is char? - ANSWER-Pyrolized carbonaceous material
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, What is oxidation? - ANSWER-Physical change in appearance of a material
resulting from the combination of oxygen.
What is alloying? - ANSWER-Mixing two metals heated then cooled to change
their properties. Often melts at a lower temperature.
What is a clean burn? - ANSWER-When there was enough heat to burn away all
carbon deposits (soot) on a surface leaving a "clean" surface. Occurs on non-
combustible surfaces.
What is soot? - ANSWER-Elemental carbon produced during incomplete
combustion.
What is calcination? - ANSWER-When chemically bound water is driven out of
gypsum walls by the heat of the fire.
Does a 25 Watt light bulb expand towards the fire or pull inward away from it? -
ANSWER-Bulbs 25 watts or less pull away. Bulbs greater than 25 watts will
expand towards the fire.
What causes heat shadowing? - ANSWER-An object blocking the travel of
radiated heat.
What is a dead load? - ANSWER-The weight of things attached to the building,
like flooring, cloumns, and roof coverings.
What is a live load? - ANSWER-A load that can move, like people, furniture, wind,
water, and snow.
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 4
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Is NFPA 921 a guide or a standard? - ANSWER-It is the Guide for Fire and
Explosion Investigations
What are the six steps of the scientific method? - ANSWER-Recognize the need
Define the problem
Collect the data
Analyze the data
Develop a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis
What step of the scientific method is inductive reasoning? - ANSWER-Analyze the
data
What step of the scientific method is deductive reasoning? - ANSWER-Test the
hypothesis
What are the four parts of the fire tetrahedron? - ANSWER-Fuel (reducing agent)
Heat
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1
,Oxidizing agent
Uninhibited chemical chain reaction
What kind of reaction absorbs energy, an endothermic or an exothermic reaction? -
ANSWER-Endothermic
What is heat transfer by direct contact called? - ANSWER-Conduction
What is heat transfer by gas flow / air movement called? - ANSWER-Convection
What is heat transfer by microwave energy called? - ANSWER-Radiation
What is a fuel controlled fire? - ANSWER-A fire that is limited by the amount of
combustibles.
What is a ventilation controlled fire? - ANSWER-A fire that is limited by the
amount of oxygen.
What are the stages of fire growth? - ANSWER-Ignition
Growth
Flashover
Fully Developed
Decay
What is a flashover? - ANSWER-The transition phase from growth to fully
developed, where all surfaces reach ignition temperature almost simultaneously.
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2
,What is ignition of the underside of the hot gas layer called? - ANSWER-
Flameover or rollover
What factors influence flashover conditions? - ANSWER-Size of the compartment
Height of ceiling
Ventilation
Amount of fuel
Layout of fuel
Location of fire in the compartment
What are fire patterns? - ANSWER-The physical manifestation of the affects of
fire on materials.
What are the different types of fire patterns on the walls and ceiling? - ANSWER-
Plume Generated patterns (often V shaped)
Ventilation generated patterns
Hot gas layer patterns (Line of demarcation)
What is spalling? - ANSWER-The separation of chunks of concrete with explosive
force caused by the expansion of water (moisture) trapped in the concrete as it
turns to steam
What is char? - ANSWER-Pyrolized carbonaceous material
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 3
, What is oxidation? - ANSWER-Physical change in appearance of a material
resulting from the combination of oxygen.
What is alloying? - ANSWER-Mixing two metals heated then cooled to change
their properties. Often melts at a lower temperature.
What is a clean burn? - ANSWER-When there was enough heat to burn away all
carbon deposits (soot) on a surface leaving a "clean" surface. Occurs on non-
combustible surfaces.
What is soot? - ANSWER-Elemental carbon produced during incomplete
combustion.
What is calcination? - ANSWER-When chemically bound water is driven out of
gypsum walls by the heat of the fire.
Does a 25 Watt light bulb expand towards the fire or pull inward away from it? -
ANSWER-Bulbs 25 watts or less pull away. Bulbs greater than 25 watts will
expand towards the fire.
What causes heat shadowing? - ANSWER-An object blocking the travel of
radiated heat.
What is a dead load? - ANSWER-The weight of things attached to the building,
like flooring, cloumns, and roof coverings.
What is a live load? - ANSWER-A load that can move, like people, furniture, wind,
water, and snow.
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 4
