Chapter 38: Fire Cause Determination

Front 1

Fire cause classification that includes fires for which the cause has not been or cannot be proven

Back 1

Undetermined

Front 2

Classification for liquid fuels including both flammable and combustible liquids

Back 2

Ignitable liquid

Front 3

A term used to describe evidence that may have been altered from its original state

Back 3

Contaminated

Front 4

Where does most fires, fire deaths, and injuries occur?

Back 4

Residential occupancies

Front 5

If a fire intensifies in a short period of time, what does it possible indicate?

Back 5

The use of an accelerant

Front 6

What might charring on the underside of a low horizontal surface, such as a tabletop, indicate?

Back 6

There was a pool of a flammable liquid

Front 7

What does an inverted cone pattern on a wall indicate?

Back 7

Flammable liquid was used to start the fire

Front 8

What might have been used if the fire rekindles when water is applied?

Back 8

Accelerant

Front 9

How can the cause of a fire be classified?

Back 9

Incendiary or Accidental

Front 10

What term is used to describe a device or mechanism that is used to start a fire?

Back 10

Incendiary device

Front 11

In most jurisdictions, who determines the cause of the fire?

Back 11

Chief of the fire department

Front 12

What does a charred V-pattern on a wall indicate?

Back 12

Fire spread up and out from an unknown material at the base of the V

Front 13

Legal term that describes the process of maintaining continuous possession and control of evidence from the time it is discovered until it is presented in court

Back 13

"Chain of custody"

Front 14

What is one of the first steps in a fire investigation?

Back 14

Identifying the point of origin

Front 15

Legal term used to describe the paperwork or documentation describing the movement, storage and custody of evidence, such as the record of possession of a gas can from a fire scene

Back 15

Chain of custody

Front 16

An ignition source that can ignite a fuel under existing conditions at the time of the fire. It must have sufficient heat and be in close enough proximity to the fuel for a sufficient amount of time to ignite the fuel

Back 16

Competent ignition source

Front 17

The thickness of the layer of a material that has been consumed by a fire. The depth of char on wood can be used to help determine the intensity of a fire at a specific location

Back 17

Depth of char

Front 18

Combustible materials (rolled rags, blankets, and newspapers or ignitable liquids) that are used to spread fire from one point or area to other points or areas, often used in conjunction with an incendiary device

Back 18

Trailers

Front 19

What might an arsonist may place to hinder the efforts of fire fighters?

Back 19

Obstacles

Front 20

What should be preserved as evidence?

Back 20

Clothing removed from any victim

Front 21

What items should be noted?

Back 21

Location of any victims found in building

Front 22

What signs are helpful in identifying the point of origin?

Back 22

Smoke residue

Burn patterns

Front 23

When does an ignition source comes into contact with a fuel supply?

Back 23

At the point of origin

Front 24

Where does the fire investigation process usually begin?

Back 24

With examination of the building's exterior

Front 25

What can provide valuable clues at the scene?

Back 25

Appearance and behavior of people

Front 26

What does the cause and origin investigation determine?

Back 26

Where, why and how a fire originated

Front 27

What stage of the fire is the most evidence often found?

Back 27

During salvage and overhaul phases of the fire

Front 28

What is the most important reason for investigating accidental fires?

Back 28

Prevent future fires

Front 29

What does most arsonists do to the shades and windows of structures they burn?

Back 29

Close them

Front 30

Where is charring usually the deepest?

Back 30

Usually at point of origin

Front 31

What does the color of smoke often indicate?

Back 31

What is burning

Front 32

A pathological fire setter

Back 32

Pyromaniac

Front 33

The thickness of the layer of material that has been consumed by fire. On wood, this can be used to help determine the intensity of a fire at a specific location

Back 33

Depth of char

Front 34

A person who deliberately sets a fire to destroy property with criminal intent

Back 34

Arsonist

Front 35

A series of fires started by an arsonist who sets three or more fires at separate locations, with no emotional cooling off period between fires

Back 35

Spree arson

Front 36

A term used to describe evidence that may have been altered from its original state

Back 36

Contaminated

Front 37

A series of fires set by the same offender, with a cooling off period between fires

Back 37

Serial arson

Front 38

A legal term used to describe the paperwork or documentation describing the movement, storage, and keeping of evidence, such as the record of possession of a gas can from a fire scene

Back 38

Chain of custody

Front 39

A fire that is intentionally ignited under circumstances in which the person knows that the fire should not be ignited

Back 39

Incendiary

Front 40

Combustible materials (such as rolled rags, blankets, and newspapers or ignitable liquid) that are used to spread fire from one point or area to other points or areas, often used in conjunction with an incendiary device

Back 40

Trailers

Front 41

Arson in which an offender sets three or more fires at the same site or location during a limited period of time

Back 41

Mass arson

Front 42

Fire cause classification that includes fires with a proven cause that does not involve a deliberate human act

Back 42

Accidental

Front 43

The crime of maliciously and intentionally, or recklessly, staring a fire or causing an explosion

Back 43

Arson

Front 44

How can a fire be caused?

Back 44

Either by act or by omission

Act - Igniting a piece of paper

Omission - Leaving a pot of grease unattended on a hot stove

Front 45

How can the cause of the fire be classified?

Back 45

Incendiary or accidental

Incendiary - intentionally ignited

Accidental - Not involve a deliberate human act

Front 46

How is arson classified?

Back 46

Arson is an incendiary cause

Incendiary - intentionally ignited

Front 47

How should fire fighters always consider a fire?

Back 47

To have an undetermined cause until the specific cause is established

Front 48

Where does most structural fires occur?

Back 48

Structural occupancies

Front 49

What is the leading cause of fires in the home?

Back 49

Cooking

Front 50

Combustible materials that are used to spread fire from one point or area to other points or areas

Back 50

Trailer

Front 51

The crime of maliciously and intentionally, or recklessly, starting a fire or causing an explosion

Back 51

Arson

Front 52

What is the fire-cause classification that includes fires that are deliberately set?

Back 52

Incendiary

Front 53

Arson in which an offender sets three or more fires at the same site or location during a limited period of time

Back 53

Mass arson

Front 54

What type of evidence is where alleged facts are proven by deduction or inference from other facts that were observed directly?

Back 54

Circumstantial

Front 55

What pattern might indicate a short duration fire that does not spread horizontally from the point of origin?

Back 55

Inverted cone or Inverted V pattern