IAAI CFI Certification Exam Complete Study & Practice Bank |
2025/2026 Verified Edition | Full Exam Coverage with 100%
Correct Answers | Guaranteed Pass Review Guide
1. What is the primary goal of fire investigation?
A. Arrest the suspect
B. Recover insurance money
C. Determine the origin and cause
D. Assist law enforcement
Answer: C
Explanation: The core objective is to determine the origin and cause of
the fire.
2. Which NFPA standard guides fire investigations?
A. NFPA 101
B. NFPA 1033
C. NFPA 921
D. NFPA 70
Answer: C
Explanation: NFPA 921 provides a systematic approach to fire
investigations.
3. What is the scientific method’s first step in fire investigation?
A. Testing
B. Hypothesis formulation
C. Data collection
D. Analysis
Answer: C
Explanation: The first step is collecting data about the fire incident.
4. Which is NOT a fire ignition source?
A. Smoking materials
B. Electrical arcing
C. Gasoline
D. Friction
, Answer: C
Explanation: Gasoline is a fuel, not an ignition source.
5. Who has the legal responsibility to determine the fire’s cause?
A. Insurance adjuster
B. Fire department
C. Fire investigator
D. Police detective
Answer: C
Explanation: The fire investigator determines origin and cause.
6. A “point of origin” is defined as:
A. Place where the most damage occurred
B. Area with least fire activity
C. Specific location where the fire began
D. Entry point of the arsonist
Answer: C
Explanation: The point of origin is the exact place where the fire started.
7. What is spalling evidence of?
A. Arson
B. Accelerant use
C. High heat exposure
D. Chemical reaction
Answer: C
Explanation: Spalling indicates rapid heating of a surface, often concrete.
8. What is the minimum qualification level for fire investigators per
NFPA 1033?
A. Bachelor's degree
B. Certified technician
C. Basic fire training
D. High school diploma
Answer: D
Explanation: NFPA 1033 requires at least a high school education.
9. The “flash point” of a liquid is:
A. Temperature at which it evaporates
B. Temperature it auto-ignites
C. Lowest temperature it produces vapors to ignite
D. Boiling point
Answer: C
Explanation: Flash point is the lowest temp at which a liquid gives off
vapor to ignite.
10. Fire patterns are most useful in identifying:
A. Electrical failures
B. Structural weaknesses
C. Fire origin
, D. Accelerants
Answer: C
Explanation: Fire patterns help locate the fire’s origin.
11. What is “char depth” used to determine?
A. Fuel type
B. Fire duration
C. Fire origin
D. Accelerant use
Answer: B
Explanation: Deeper char may indicate longer fire duration.
12. Which of the following is a sign of arson?
A. V-pattern
B. Alligatoring
C. Multiple points of origin
D. Heat shadows
Answer: C
Explanation: Multiple origins may suggest intentional ignition.
13. Which document sets the standard for fire investigator qualifications?
A. NFPA 921
B. NFPA 1033
C. ASTM E860
D. ICC Code
Answer: B
Explanation: NFPA 1033 outlines investigator qualifications.
14. What is the role of “negative corpus” in fire investigation?
A. It supports arson evidence
B. It’s a method of analysis
C. It’s discouraged in NFPA 921
D. It proves accidental cause
Answer: C
Explanation: NFPA 921 discourages the use of negative corpus
(assuming cause due to absence of evidence).
15. A competent ignition source must be:
A. Capable of igniting any material
B. Present at origin only
C. Capable of igniting the material in question
D. Portable
Answer: C
Explanation: It must be capable of igniting the specific fuel.
16. Arc mapping is used to:
A. Detect accelerants
B. Map firefighter movement
C. Determine fire spread
, D. Trace electrical faults
Answer: D
Explanation: Arc mapping is used to trace electrical activity/faults.
17. Which is NOT part of the fire triangle?
A. Heat
B. Oxygen
C. Fuel
D. Smoke
Answer: D
Explanation: The fire triangle consists of heat, fuel, and oxygen.
18. What accelerant is most commonly found in arson?
A. Diesel
B. Charcoal
C. Gasoline
D. Propane
Answer: C
Explanation: Gasoline is a common accelerant due to its availability and
volatility.
19. Which term refers to the tendency of a fire to move upward?
A. Lateral spread
B. Horizontal growth
C. Convection
D. Conduction
Answer: C
Explanation: Convection causes upward fire spread.
20. Chain of custody ensures:
A. Firefighter safety
B. Evidence integrity
C. Scene safety
D. Code compliance
Answer: B
Explanation: Chain of custody maintains the integrity of evidence.
21. Which factor does NOT affect fire spread?
A. Wind
B. Structural materials
C. Weather
D. Color of smoke
Answer: D
Explanation: Smoke color doesn’t directly influence fire spread.
22. What is a key component of a fire scene diagram?
A. Victim’s name
B. GPS coordinates
C. Scale and legend
2025/2026 Verified Edition | Full Exam Coverage with 100%
Correct Answers | Guaranteed Pass Review Guide
1. What is the primary goal of fire investigation?
A. Arrest the suspect
B. Recover insurance money
C. Determine the origin and cause
D. Assist law enforcement
Answer: C
Explanation: The core objective is to determine the origin and cause of
the fire.
2. Which NFPA standard guides fire investigations?
A. NFPA 101
B. NFPA 1033
C. NFPA 921
D. NFPA 70
Answer: C
Explanation: NFPA 921 provides a systematic approach to fire
investigations.
3. What is the scientific method’s first step in fire investigation?
A. Testing
B. Hypothesis formulation
C. Data collection
D. Analysis
Answer: C
Explanation: The first step is collecting data about the fire incident.
4. Which is NOT a fire ignition source?
A. Smoking materials
B. Electrical arcing
C. Gasoline
D. Friction
, Answer: C
Explanation: Gasoline is a fuel, not an ignition source.
5. Who has the legal responsibility to determine the fire’s cause?
A. Insurance adjuster
B. Fire department
C. Fire investigator
D. Police detective
Answer: C
Explanation: The fire investigator determines origin and cause.
6. A “point of origin” is defined as:
A. Place where the most damage occurred
B. Area with least fire activity
C. Specific location where the fire began
D. Entry point of the arsonist
Answer: C
Explanation: The point of origin is the exact place where the fire started.
7. What is spalling evidence of?
A. Arson
B. Accelerant use
C. High heat exposure
D. Chemical reaction
Answer: C
Explanation: Spalling indicates rapid heating of a surface, often concrete.
8. What is the minimum qualification level for fire investigators per
NFPA 1033?
A. Bachelor's degree
B. Certified technician
C. Basic fire training
D. High school diploma
Answer: D
Explanation: NFPA 1033 requires at least a high school education.
9. The “flash point” of a liquid is:
A. Temperature at which it evaporates
B. Temperature it auto-ignites
C. Lowest temperature it produces vapors to ignite
D. Boiling point
Answer: C
Explanation: Flash point is the lowest temp at which a liquid gives off
vapor to ignite.
10. Fire patterns are most useful in identifying:
A. Electrical failures
B. Structural weaknesses
C. Fire origin
, D. Accelerants
Answer: C
Explanation: Fire patterns help locate the fire’s origin.
11. What is “char depth” used to determine?
A. Fuel type
B. Fire duration
C. Fire origin
D. Accelerant use
Answer: B
Explanation: Deeper char may indicate longer fire duration.
12. Which of the following is a sign of arson?
A. V-pattern
B. Alligatoring
C. Multiple points of origin
D. Heat shadows
Answer: C
Explanation: Multiple origins may suggest intentional ignition.
13. Which document sets the standard for fire investigator qualifications?
A. NFPA 921
B. NFPA 1033
C. ASTM E860
D. ICC Code
Answer: B
Explanation: NFPA 1033 outlines investigator qualifications.
14. What is the role of “negative corpus” in fire investigation?
A. It supports arson evidence
B. It’s a method of analysis
C. It’s discouraged in NFPA 921
D. It proves accidental cause
Answer: C
Explanation: NFPA 921 discourages the use of negative corpus
(assuming cause due to absence of evidence).
15. A competent ignition source must be:
A. Capable of igniting any material
B. Present at origin only
C. Capable of igniting the material in question
D. Portable
Answer: C
Explanation: It must be capable of igniting the specific fuel.
16. Arc mapping is used to:
A. Detect accelerants
B. Map firefighter movement
C. Determine fire spread
, D. Trace electrical faults
Answer: D
Explanation: Arc mapping is used to trace electrical activity/faults.
17. Which is NOT part of the fire triangle?
A. Heat
B. Oxygen
C. Fuel
D. Smoke
Answer: D
Explanation: The fire triangle consists of heat, fuel, and oxygen.
18. What accelerant is most commonly found in arson?
A. Diesel
B. Charcoal
C. Gasoline
D. Propane
Answer: C
Explanation: Gasoline is a common accelerant due to its availability and
volatility.
19. Which term refers to the tendency of a fire to move upward?
A. Lateral spread
B. Horizontal growth
C. Convection
D. Conduction
Answer: C
Explanation: Convection causes upward fire spread.
20. Chain of custody ensures:
A. Firefighter safety
B. Evidence integrity
C. Scene safety
D. Code compliance
Answer: B
Explanation: Chain of custody maintains the integrity of evidence.
21. Which factor does NOT affect fire spread?
A. Wind
B. Structural materials
C. Weather
D. Color of smoke
Answer: D
Explanation: Smoke color doesn’t directly influence fire spread.
22. What is a key component of a fire scene diagram?
A. Victim’s name
B. GPS coordinates
C. Scale and legend
