NAFI Test Prep – Complete Study Guide & Verified Answers
(Latest 2025/2026 Edition)
The basic methodology of the fire investigation should rely on the use of a
______________________ and attention to all relevant details.
a. systematic approach
b. approximation approach
c. methodology approach
d. general approach - correct answera. systematic approach
With few exceptions, the proper methodolgy for a fire or explosion investigation is to first
_____________________ then investigate the cause, circumstances, conditions, or
agencies that brought the ignition source, fuel, and oxidant together.
a. determine responsibility
b. determine and establish origin(s)
c. determine if it is a criminal action
d. all of the above - correct answerb. determine and establish origin(s)
The process of determining the origin, cause, development, and responsibility as well as
the failure analysis of a fire or explosion is the definition of
_________________________.
a. fire investigation
b. fire scene reconstruction
c. fire evaluation
d. fire analysis - correct answerd. fire analysis
The process of determining the origin, cause, and responsibility for a fire or explosion is
___________________________.
a. fire analysis
b. fire investigation
c. fire scene survey
d. fire evaluation - correct answerb. fire investigation
The _____________________ is the systematic pursite of knowledge involving the
recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and
experiment, and the formulation and testing of a hypothesis.
a. scientific method
b. scientific examination
c. scientific survey
d. scientific theory - correct answera. scientific method
,____________________ are the visible or measurable physical effects that remain after
a fire. These include thermal effects on materials, such as charring, oxidation,
consumption of combustibles, smoke and soot deposits, distortion, melting, color
changes, changes in character of materials, structural collapse, and other effects.
a. Fire arrows
b. Fire pointers
c. Fire patterns
d. Flammable patterns - correct answerc. Fire patterns
Distortion, breakage, deterioration, or other fault in an item, component, system,
assembly, or structure that results in unsatisfactory performance of the function for
which it was designed is called ________________.
a. broken
b. distorted
c. failure
d. faulty - correct answerc. failure
Vehicle fire inspections may present many other situations that pose safety hazards to
the investigator. These can include:
a. fuel leaks
b. expelled lubricants
c. electrical energy stored in the battery
d. all of the above - correct answerd. all of the above
The burn or damage patterns remaining on the body panels and in the interior of the
vehicle are primarily used to locate the ______________________.
a. origin of the fire
b. potential ignition sources
c. fuel loads
d. all of the above - correct answerd. all of the above
A wide variety of materials and substances may serve as the first materials ignited in
motor vehicle fires. These include engine fuels; transmission,·power steering, and brake
fluids; coolants; lubricants; and the vehicle interior materials or cargo. Once a fire is
started, any of these materials may contribute as a secondary fuel, affecting the fire
growth rate and the ultimate damage sustained.
a. True
b. False - correct answera. True
, Solid fuels are less common than liquids and gasses as the first materials ignited in
motor vehicle fires. The exception would be scenarios where overloaded wiring or
smoking materials are possible ignition sources or where the vehicle is subject to an
exposure fire.
a. True
b. False - correct answera. True
In most instances, the sources of ignition energy in motor vehicle fires are the same as
those associated with structural fires, arcs, overloaded wiring, open flames, and
smoking materials. There are, however, some unique sources that should be
considered, such as the hot surfaces of the:
a. catalytic converter
b. turbocharger
c. manifold
d. all of the above - correct answerd. all of the above
When the engine is not running, the primary source of electrical energy in a motor
vehicle is the _____________________.
a. alternator
b. distributor
c. battery
d. fuel pump - correct answerc. battery (can also be other components)
14. When the ignition is off and the vehicle is not running, vehicle circuits having a+ 12
volt potential will still supply current from ______________ to ______________.
a. battery to starter
b. battery to alternator
c. battery to ignition
d. all of the above - correct answerd. all of the above
When the ignition is off and the vehicle is not running, vehicle circuits will still supply
current to _____________.
a. clock
b. lights
c. power door locks
d. all of the above - correct answerd. all of the above (clock is not listed)
Protection of electrical circuits in motor vehicles is provided by:
a. fuses
b. circuitbreakers
(Latest 2025/2026 Edition)
The basic methodology of the fire investigation should rely on the use of a
______________________ and attention to all relevant details.
a. systematic approach
b. approximation approach
c. methodology approach
d. general approach - correct answera. systematic approach
With few exceptions, the proper methodolgy for a fire or explosion investigation is to first
_____________________ then investigate the cause, circumstances, conditions, or
agencies that brought the ignition source, fuel, and oxidant together.
a. determine responsibility
b. determine and establish origin(s)
c. determine if it is a criminal action
d. all of the above - correct answerb. determine and establish origin(s)
The process of determining the origin, cause, development, and responsibility as well as
the failure analysis of a fire or explosion is the definition of
_________________________.
a. fire investigation
b. fire scene reconstruction
c. fire evaluation
d. fire analysis - correct answerd. fire analysis
The process of determining the origin, cause, and responsibility for a fire or explosion is
___________________________.
a. fire analysis
b. fire investigation
c. fire scene survey
d. fire evaluation - correct answerb. fire investigation
The _____________________ is the systematic pursite of knowledge involving the
recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and
experiment, and the formulation and testing of a hypothesis.
a. scientific method
b. scientific examination
c. scientific survey
d. scientific theory - correct answera. scientific method
,____________________ are the visible or measurable physical effects that remain after
a fire. These include thermal effects on materials, such as charring, oxidation,
consumption of combustibles, smoke and soot deposits, distortion, melting, color
changes, changes in character of materials, structural collapse, and other effects.
a. Fire arrows
b. Fire pointers
c. Fire patterns
d. Flammable patterns - correct answerc. Fire patterns
Distortion, breakage, deterioration, or other fault in an item, component, system,
assembly, or structure that results in unsatisfactory performance of the function for
which it was designed is called ________________.
a. broken
b. distorted
c. failure
d. faulty - correct answerc. failure
Vehicle fire inspections may present many other situations that pose safety hazards to
the investigator. These can include:
a. fuel leaks
b. expelled lubricants
c. electrical energy stored in the battery
d. all of the above - correct answerd. all of the above
The burn or damage patterns remaining on the body panels and in the interior of the
vehicle are primarily used to locate the ______________________.
a. origin of the fire
b. potential ignition sources
c. fuel loads
d. all of the above - correct answerd. all of the above
A wide variety of materials and substances may serve as the first materials ignited in
motor vehicle fires. These include engine fuels; transmission,·power steering, and brake
fluids; coolants; lubricants; and the vehicle interior materials or cargo. Once a fire is
started, any of these materials may contribute as a secondary fuel, affecting the fire
growth rate and the ultimate damage sustained.
a. True
b. False - correct answera. True
, Solid fuels are less common than liquids and gasses as the first materials ignited in
motor vehicle fires. The exception would be scenarios where overloaded wiring or
smoking materials are possible ignition sources or where the vehicle is subject to an
exposure fire.
a. True
b. False - correct answera. True
In most instances, the sources of ignition energy in motor vehicle fires are the same as
those associated with structural fires, arcs, overloaded wiring, open flames, and
smoking materials. There are, however, some unique sources that should be
considered, such as the hot surfaces of the:
a. catalytic converter
b. turbocharger
c. manifold
d. all of the above - correct answerd. all of the above
When the engine is not running, the primary source of electrical energy in a motor
vehicle is the _____________________.
a. alternator
b. distributor
c. battery
d. fuel pump - correct answerc. battery (can also be other components)
14. When the ignition is off and the vehicle is not running, vehicle circuits having a+ 12
volt potential will still supply current from ______________ to ______________.
a. battery to starter
b. battery to alternator
c. battery to ignition
d. all of the above - correct answerd. all of the above
When the ignition is off and the vehicle is not running, vehicle circuits will still supply
current to _____________.
a. clock
b. lights
c. power door locks
d. all of the above - correct answerd. all of the above (clock is not listed)
Protection of electrical circuits in motor vehicles is provided by:
a. fuses
b. circuitbreakers
