TCFP FIRE INVESTIGATOR LATEST EXAM 2024/2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A++
What is a trailer? - ANSWER Anything used to spread fire from one area to
another.
Does a volatile liquid found in a bedroom prove an incendiary fire? -
ANSWER No it only indicates an incendiary fire.
What is the velocity of a high order explosion? - ANSWER 3300
feet/second
Low order explosions are characterized by? - ANSWER A pushing effect,
large broken (shattered) pieces.
What are the different types of explosions? - ANSWER Mechanical,
electrical, chemical, nuclear.
An over-pressurization of a container is an example of what type of an
explosion? - ANSWER Mechanical.
What are the secondary effects of an explosion? - ANSWER Reflection of
the blast waves, focusing of the blast energy, and shielding.
What is business interruption insurance? - ANSWER It reimburses the
insured for loss of income due to a fire.
What type of bomb requires the victim to do something to trigger the
device? - ANSWER An action bomb, ie booby trap.
What type of bomb requires no action to trigger it? - ANSWER Time bomb.
What are the effects of negative blast pressure? - ANSWER The negative
blast pressure phase is less powerful but last longer than the positive
pressure phase. It may conceal the area of origin and/or cause secondary
damage.
Why is fire scene photograph difficult? - ANSWER The lack of lighting.
,What is the most commonly used sketch at a fire scene? - ANSWER Floor
plan sketch.
What method of photograph should be used when documenting a fire
scene? - ANSWER From least to most damage.
What are the plotting methods to document a fire scene? - ANSWER
Rectangular, transecting base lines and triangulation.
What does a pugilistic attitude indicate? - ANSWER A high heat fire Wthat
had nothing to due with the cause of death.
Absence of CO2 in the blood stream of a body located in a fire scene may
indicate what? - ANSWER The person was dead prior to the fire.
What increases the toxicity of CO2? - ANSWER Alcohol, barbiturates,
smoking other drugs.
Which is worse a light concentration of CO2 over long duration or a heavy
concentration or a short duration? - ANSWER They are equally bad.
CO2 bond to hemoglobin how much faster than O2? - ANSWER 210 time
faster.
Soot in the trachea may indicate what? - ANSWER The person was alive
during the fire.
During a civil action based on fraud by the insured what does not have to
be proven. - ANSWER That the fire was caused by arson.
How long do you have to provide proof of loss to an insurance company? -
ANSWER 60 days.
What is the best method to deliver evidence to the lab? - ANSWER Hand
delivery.
What is link analysis used for? - ANSWER Link analysis complies and
organizes data, allows for targeting of suspects and assists in case
management. Link analysis also graphically promotes clarity of
relationships between individuals, businesses and property.
,When is evidence subject to the most contamination? - ANSWER During
the collection process.
What could happen if there is a break in the chain of custody for evidence?
- ANSWER The evidence could be thrown out.
What should you do before moving evidence? - ANSWER Identify it,
photograph/document it and record it (Notes or sketches)
When collecting a sample what else should you do? - ANSWER Collect a
control sample.
Where can a death certificate be obtained? - ANSWER The State Health
Department.
Where can you obtain a description of the property? - ANSWER The
County Assessor's Office
Where can you obtain corporate charter of corporate officer information. -
ANSWER The Secretary of State's Office
Any information obtained during an interview must be? - ANSWER
Evaluated and checked for accuracy.
What should you do before an interview? - ANSWER Develop and prepare
questions before hand.
What interview approach should you use with an uncooperative person. -
ANSWER An indirect approach.
What is an interrogation? - ANSWER The questioning of a person who is
reluctant to make a full disclosure of information that is in his/her
possession.
Why might a person be reluctant to speak with an investigator? - ANSWER
Fear of self involvement, inconvenience, or resentment or hatred towards
officials.
What is an admission? - ANSWER A verbal acknowledgement of guilt.
, What is a confession? - ANSWER A signed statement acknowledging guilt.
What is a fault tree analysis? - ANSWER An analytical technique used to
test for reliability, maintainability and safety analysis.
What is a fact? - ANSWER Observations that have been made or could be
made repeatedly of consistently by different observers.
What is a hypothesis? - ANSWER A tentative explanation or theory that
needs more information to be confirmed or denied. Must be tested by
careful and serious challenges.
What is the average age of a juvenile fire setter? - ANSWER 5 to 9 years of
age.
What is the minimum age to be certified to stand trial as an adult? -
ANSWER 12 years of age.
What is motive? - ANSWER The reason for starting a fire.
What is Intent? - ANSWER the deliberateness of starting a fire.
What motive is commonly used by Police or Firefighters? - ANSWER
Vanity (Hero)
What motive is the deadliest type? - ANSWER Revenge or spite
What is fraud? - ANSWER A deliberate deception for unfair gain.
Is pyromania a motive? - ANSWER No it is a mental state.
Any information released to the public must be? - ANSWER Accurate and
reliable.
Who usually completes a preliminary report? - ANSWER The officer in
charge.
How should investigative reports be arranged? - ANSWER In chronological
order.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A++
What is a trailer? - ANSWER Anything used to spread fire from one area to
another.
Does a volatile liquid found in a bedroom prove an incendiary fire? -
ANSWER No it only indicates an incendiary fire.
What is the velocity of a high order explosion? - ANSWER 3300
feet/second
Low order explosions are characterized by? - ANSWER A pushing effect,
large broken (shattered) pieces.
What are the different types of explosions? - ANSWER Mechanical,
electrical, chemical, nuclear.
An over-pressurization of a container is an example of what type of an
explosion? - ANSWER Mechanical.
What are the secondary effects of an explosion? - ANSWER Reflection of
the blast waves, focusing of the blast energy, and shielding.
What is business interruption insurance? - ANSWER It reimburses the
insured for loss of income due to a fire.
What type of bomb requires the victim to do something to trigger the
device? - ANSWER An action bomb, ie booby trap.
What type of bomb requires no action to trigger it? - ANSWER Time bomb.
What are the effects of negative blast pressure? - ANSWER The negative
blast pressure phase is less powerful but last longer than the positive
pressure phase. It may conceal the area of origin and/or cause secondary
damage.
Why is fire scene photograph difficult? - ANSWER The lack of lighting.
,What is the most commonly used sketch at a fire scene? - ANSWER Floor
plan sketch.
What method of photograph should be used when documenting a fire
scene? - ANSWER From least to most damage.
What are the plotting methods to document a fire scene? - ANSWER
Rectangular, transecting base lines and triangulation.
What does a pugilistic attitude indicate? - ANSWER A high heat fire Wthat
had nothing to due with the cause of death.
Absence of CO2 in the blood stream of a body located in a fire scene may
indicate what? - ANSWER The person was dead prior to the fire.
What increases the toxicity of CO2? - ANSWER Alcohol, barbiturates,
smoking other drugs.
Which is worse a light concentration of CO2 over long duration or a heavy
concentration or a short duration? - ANSWER They are equally bad.
CO2 bond to hemoglobin how much faster than O2? - ANSWER 210 time
faster.
Soot in the trachea may indicate what? - ANSWER The person was alive
during the fire.
During a civil action based on fraud by the insured what does not have to
be proven. - ANSWER That the fire was caused by arson.
How long do you have to provide proof of loss to an insurance company? -
ANSWER 60 days.
What is the best method to deliver evidence to the lab? - ANSWER Hand
delivery.
What is link analysis used for? - ANSWER Link analysis complies and
organizes data, allows for targeting of suspects and assists in case
management. Link analysis also graphically promotes clarity of
relationships between individuals, businesses and property.
,When is evidence subject to the most contamination? - ANSWER During
the collection process.
What could happen if there is a break in the chain of custody for evidence?
- ANSWER The evidence could be thrown out.
What should you do before moving evidence? - ANSWER Identify it,
photograph/document it and record it (Notes or sketches)
When collecting a sample what else should you do? - ANSWER Collect a
control sample.
Where can a death certificate be obtained? - ANSWER The State Health
Department.
Where can you obtain a description of the property? - ANSWER The
County Assessor's Office
Where can you obtain corporate charter of corporate officer information. -
ANSWER The Secretary of State's Office
Any information obtained during an interview must be? - ANSWER
Evaluated and checked for accuracy.
What should you do before an interview? - ANSWER Develop and prepare
questions before hand.
What interview approach should you use with an uncooperative person. -
ANSWER An indirect approach.
What is an interrogation? - ANSWER The questioning of a person who is
reluctant to make a full disclosure of information that is in his/her
possession.
Why might a person be reluctant to speak with an investigator? - ANSWER
Fear of self involvement, inconvenience, or resentment or hatred towards
officials.
What is an admission? - ANSWER A verbal acknowledgement of guilt.
, What is a confession? - ANSWER A signed statement acknowledging guilt.
What is a fault tree analysis? - ANSWER An analytical technique used to
test for reliability, maintainability and safety analysis.
What is a fact? - ANSWER Observations that have been made or could be
made repeatedly of consistently by different observers.
What is a hypothesis? - ANSWER A tentative explanation or theory that
needs more information to be confirmed or denied. Must be tested by
careful and serious challenges.
What is the average age of a juvenile fire setter? - ANSWER 5 to 9 years of
age.
What is the minimum age to be certified to stand trial as an adult? -
ANSWER 12 years of age.
What is motive? - ANSWER The reason for starting a fire.
What is Intent? - ANSWER the deliberateness of starting a fire.
What motive is commonly used by Police or Firefighters? - ANSWER
Vanity (Hero)
What motive is the deadliest type? - ANSWER Revenge or spite
What is fraud? - ANSWER A deliberate deception for unfair gain.
Is pyromania a motive? - ANSWER No it is a mental state.
Any information released to the public must be? - ANSWER Accurate and
reliable.
Who usually completes a preliminary report? - ANSWER The officer in
charge.
How should investigative reports be arranged? - ANSWER In chronological
order.
