Certified Fire Investigator Exam 2023 with complete solutions

What are the reasons for investigating fires? - Answer- To eliminate reoccurrence Upgrade existing fire codes Determine if a criminal act took place What is NFPA 921 - Answer- Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations What is NFPA 1033 - Answer- Standards for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigation What is NIST? - Answer- National Institute of Standards and Technology What is CCAI? - Answer- California Conference of Arson Investigators Subrogation - Answer- The assumption of a third party, such as an insurance company, of another's legal right to collect a debt or damages. High Explosive - Answer- An explosive that detonates at a supersonic velocity speed of greater than 3,300 ft/sec Low Explosive - Answer- An explosive that detonates at a subsonic velocity speed usually less than 3,300 ft/sec Low Order Explosive - Answer- An explosion where the explosive is not completely consumed. Flashback - Answer- Reignition of flammable vapors immediately following a suppression attempt Fire Bomb - Answer- A breakable container filled with a flammable liquid with a flash point of 150F or less with a wick or similar device. What is a device? - Answer- Any arrangement of material used to start a fire or explosion ANFO - Answer- A highly explosive mixture of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil- Classified as a Blasting Agent What is a Blasting Agent? - Answer- Any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and an oxidizer What is Fragmentation Primary? - Answer- Actual parts or pieces of a bomb or improvised explosive device What is Fragmentation Secondary? - Answer- Parts or pieces of material other than the explosive device that are thrown or projected by the blast What is a Pyrotechnic? - Answer- A mixture of chemicals, one of which must be an oxidizer, designed to produce heat, light, smoke, gas, or noise Michigan vs. Tyler - Answer- Once a fire has been extinguished and firefighters have left the premises, a warrant is required to re-enter and search the premises When is an Inspection Warrant necessary? - Answer- When the following DO NOT exist: Consent Exigent Circumstances Abandonment No probable cause for a criminal search warrant When re-entry is beyond a reasonable time What are the parts of a Criminal Investigation? - Answer- Scene Examination Collection and preservation of evidence Interviewing witnesses Developing suspects Arresting the responsible Presenting the case in court The prosecution has the burden to prove to the jury... - Answer- Beyond a reasonable doubt The prosecution must establish the Corpus Delecti of Arson meaning... - Answer- The cause of the fire That it was a deliberate and malicious act What information is included in a Curriculum Vitae? - Answer- Current duties Past positions Investigative experiences Formal and vocational related educational training Certificates Memberships Court experience Types of Crimes - Answer- Infraction, misdemeanor, felony Definition of Malicious - Answer- A wish to defraud, annoy, injure another person, or intent to do a wrongful act A person is guilty of 451 (Arson) when... - Answer- They willfully and maliciously set fire to or burn or cause to be burned or who aids, counsels, or procures the burning of any structure, forestland, or property A person is guilty of 452 (Unlawfully/Recklessly Causing a Fire) when... - Answer- A fire is recklessly set to, or burns or causes to be burned, any structure, forestland, or personal property A person is guilty of 453 (Incendiary Device) when... - Answer- They possess, manufacture or dispose of any flammable or combustible material with the intent to willfully and maliciously use that material A person is guilty of 455 (Attempted Arson) when... - Answer- They attempt to set fire to or burn any structure, forestland or property What is the melting point of copper? - Answer- Approximately 2000 F What are Arrow Patterns? - Answer- A fire pattern displayed on the cross-section of a burned wooden structural member What is the purpose of NFPA 921? - Answer- To establish guidelines and recommendations for the safe and systematic investigation or analysis of fire and explosion incidents What is the Scientific Method? - Answer- The systematic pursuit of knowledge involving recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of a hypothesis. It is used to determine Area of Origin and Cause of the fire What is the Flash Point of Gasoline? - Answer- -36 F What is the Flash Point of Diesel? - Answer- 125 F What is the Vapor Density of Methane? - Answer- .55- Lighter than air What is the Vapor Density of Propane? - Answer- 1.52- Heavier than air What is the Vapor Density of Carbon Monoxide? - Answer- .96- Lighter than air What are the Wood Pyrolysis Zones? - Answer- Less than 392 F- Insufficient Heat to Ignite 392 F- 536 F- Beginning of Char 536 F- 932 F- Rapid Pyrolysis Greater than 932 F- Free Burning What is Pyrolysis? - Answer- The thermal or chemical decomposition of fuel. Heat energy is absorbed by the fuel and gives off flammable gases. What is the Melting point of Plastic? - Answer- 338 F What is the Melting Point of Glass? - Answer- 1350 F What is the Melting Point of Aluminum? - Answer- 1221 F What are the steps of the Scientific method? - Answer- Identify the Problem Define the Problem Collect Data Analyze Data Develop Hypothesis Test Hypothesis Select Final Hypothesis What is a Code? - Answer- A standard that is an extensive compilation of provisions which is suitable to be adopted into law What is an accelerant? - Answer- A fuel or oxidizer used to initiate fire What is Char? - Answer- Carbonaceous material that has been burned or pyrolyzed and has a blackened appearance What is a Combustible Liquid (Flammable)? - Answer- Any liquid that has a closed cup flash point at or above 100 F What is Combustion? - Answer- A chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate fast enough to produce heat and usually light in the form of glow or flame What is an explosion? - Answer- The sudden conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy with the production and release of gases under pressure What are common electrical wiring colors? - Answer- Black- Hot White- Neutral Green (or Bare)- Grounding Conductor All other colors are additional "Hot" wires What is the Penal Code for Terrorism? - Answer- 11413- Use of a destructive device or explosive or Arson in certain places, ie. Public Buildings and Assemblies What was the study commissioned by Congress to address Arson? - Answer- America Burning What does the NIST Fire Research Division do? - Answer- They develop, verify, and utilize measurements and predictive methods to quantify the behavior of fire and the means to reduce the impact of fire on people, property, and the environment A Fire Investigator should maintain proficiency and remain current in... - Answer- Fire Investigation Methodology Fire Protection Technology Code Requirements What years was NFPA 921 published? - Answer- 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 What are Exigent Circumstances? - Answer- Fire officers may remain on scene for a reasonable time to investigate the cause. Additional entries with consent must be made through a warrant. What is the definition of an Expert Witness? - Answer- A person with special skills, training, experience, or education on a particular subject of Arson. Used to help the judge and jury understand complex issues that are beyond the scope of the average person. What is an Inspection Warrant? - Answer- An order, in writing, in the name of the people, signed by a judge, directing a state or local official to conduct any inspection relating to Buildings, Fire, Safety, etc. It should be accompanied by an affidavit, directing the subject to inspected and why. It is good for no more than 14 days It cannot be issued between 6:00pm and 8:00am. What is the criminal act of burning? - Answer- To constitute the setting fire to, or the burning of property, it is not necessary that the property involved be completely destroyed. The burning of any part, however small, is all that is required. Charring is burning, NOT blackening from smoke What is Arson? - Answer- Maliciously and intentionally or recklessly starting a fire or causing an explosion What is Fire? - Answer- A rapid oxidation process, which is a chemical reaction resulting in the evolution of light and heat in varying intensities What are Fire Effects? - Answer- The observable or measurable changes in or on a material as a result of fire What are Fire Patterns? - Answer- The visible or measurable physical changes, or identifiable shapes, formed by a fire effect or group of fire effects What does Calif. Penal Code 148.3 address? - Answer- The false report of an emergency. It becomes a felony if it can be shown that a response was delayed to a true medical emergency due to a response to a false call What are the steps to conducting a Fire Investigation? - Answer- Make contact with the I.C. Interview the first-in firefighters, witnesses Walk the perimeter Check the exterior- a six sided look if possible Interior, least to most Photographs, sketch diagrams Eliminate ignition sources Collect evidence What is the significance of Frye vs. U.S.? - Answer- Expert opinion must be based on scientific techniques admissible only where the technique is currently accepted as reliable in the relevant scientific community Asks: Has theory achieved general acceptance? Laid bedrock for admission of evidence What is the significance of Daubert vs. Merrill Dow? - Answer- Promoted the use of Scientific Method Asks that the facts presented be based on science Four Factors: Is there testing? Are there standards for admission? Is there peer review of the science? Has there been general acceptance in the scientific community? What is the significance of Michigan Miller vs. Benfield? - Answer- No negative corpus Evidence must be based on testing A competent ignition source and fuel must be present What is the significance of Kumho Tire vs. Carmichael? - Answer- Judges must perform as gatekeepers' promoting Scientific Method Speculation and experience cannot be used in lieu of facts What is Inductive Reasoning? - Answer- Developing a hypothesis from the data collected What is Deductive Reasoning? - Answer- Testing the hypothesis by comparing the hypothesis to all well known facts and scientific knowledge What are the aspects of a criminal investigation? - Answer- Scene Examination Evidence Collection Evidence Preservation Interview of Witnesses Developing Suspects Arresting the Responsible Presenting the Case in Court What is a Voir Dire? - Answer- The opportunity to question a proposed expert witness regarding their expertise What persons are not capable of committing crimes? - Answer- Children under 14, in the absence of proof that at the time of committing the act, they knew it was wrong The mentally incapacitated What is the definition of a Structure? - Answer- Any building, tent, bridge, tunnel, or power plant What is the definition of Forestland? - Answer- Any brush covered land, forest, grassland, or woods What is the definition of Inhabited? - Answer- Currently being used for dwelling purposes whether occupied or not What is the definition of Reckless? - Answer- Aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk What is the definition of Ignition Temperature? - Answer- The minimum temperature a substance should attain in order to ignite Define Vapor - Answer- The gas phase of a substance Define Spalling - Answer- Chipping or pitting of concrete or masonry What is Spontaneous Ignition? - Answer- Initiation of combustion of a material by an internal chemical or biological reaction that has produced sufficient heat to ignite the material Define the Flash Point of Liquids - Answer- When sufficient vapor concentration is generated to allow ignition by a pilot source What is the temperature of cigarette embers from puffing? - Answer- F What is the temperature of cigarette embers- Free Burn? - Answer- 930-1300 F What are the Six Classifications of Fire Starters? - Answer- Vandalism Excitement Revenge Crime concealment Profit Extremist- Terrorism What is a Line of Demarcation? - Answer- A line that is the border between two different fire effects on a material What is a Guide? - Answer- A document that is advisory or informative in nature and that contains only non-mandatory provisions What is an accelerant? - Answer- A fuel or oxidizer, often an ignitable liquid, intentionally used to initiate a fire or increase the rate of growth or spread of fire Define Ambient - Answer- Someone or something's surroundings What is Arc Mapping? - Answer- The systematic evaluation of the electrical circuit configuration, spatial relationship of the circuit components, and identification of electrical arc sites to assist in the identification of the area of origin and analysis of the fire's spread What Is an Arc? - Answer- A high temperature luminous electrical discharge across a gap or through a medium such as charred insulation What is an Arc Site? - Answer- The location on a conductor with localized damage that resulted from an electrical arc Define Area of Origin - Answer- A structure, part of a structure, or general geographic location within a fire scene, in which the "Point of Origin" of a fire or explosion is reasonably believed to be located Define Auto-ignition - Answer- Initiation of combustion by heat but without a spark or flame Define Auto-Ignition Temperature - Answer- The lowest temperature at which a combustible material ignites in air without a spark or flame Define Backdraft - Answer- A deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion Define a "Bead" - Answer- A rounded globule of re-solidified metal at the end of the remains of an electrical conductor caused by arcing and characterized by a sharp line of demarcation between the melted and un-melted conductor surfaces. What is a "B.L.E.V.E.?" - Answer- Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion Define the "Blast Pressure Front" - Answer- The expanding leading edge of an explosion reaction that separates a major difference in pressur