Fire Officer 2

Chapter 20

Knowledge Check

1. Which is a responsibility of a Fire Fighter II concerning evidence at a fire investigation?

Briefing the press about the cause of the fire

Determining which evidence is admissible in court

Restricting access to the scene in order to protect evidence

Detaining bystanders who may have information about evidence

2. In order to provide information for the fire investigations, firefighters at a scene should:

interview the owner of the property.

interview witnesses and bystanders.

take note of any indications of unusual fire behavior.

make a list of fire department and mutual aid resources used.

3. An occupant stating that the room smelled like propane immediately before the fire started is an example of evidence

trace

direct

physical

circumstantial

4. 10. Which type of fuel source would require the greatest amount of heat to ignite because it must undergo pyrolysis in order to bum?

Wood

Gasoline

Hydrogen

Diesel fuel

5. When trying to locate the area of origin of a ground cover fire, you must know:

the precise time the fire started.

how wind and topography can affect fire spread.

the fire cause before determining the area of origin.

construction types for buildings in the affected area.

6. Which action could be considered illegal at a fire scene?

fire investigation

A homeowner denying the fire department the right of entry after the fire scene has beenrelinquished

Law enforcement officers informing a suspect of his or her Miranda rights at the scene of

Fire department personnel giving up control of the scene, but then re-entering withoutprobable cause without a warrant

7. 12. If someone falls asleep while smoking in bed and their house catches on fire, that would be an example of a(an) __ fire.

natural

accidental

incendiary

undetermined

8. At a fire scene, firefighters should NOT:

keep a written record of on-scene observations.

enter the scene during a fire investigation without a warrant,.

ask permission from owners before removing evidence from the building.

share their opinion of the probable fire cause with media or bystanders.

9. Which is an example of evidence spoliation?

Covering evidence with cardboard or tarps

Accidentally walking over suspicious footprints at the scene

Altering evidence so that an insurance investigator cannot document it

Applying water to extinguish fire in the same compartment as the area of origin

10. 9. Which characteristic must a material have to be the material first ignited?

Exist in a liquid state

Exist in a gaseous state

Far enough from windows and doors to not be disturbed by airflow

Close enough to the ignition source to receive energy from the ignition source

11. If a deceased victim is encountered during the course of an incident or during the investigation,:

the victim should be left undisturbed and treated as evidence.

the victim should be covered and then transported as soon as possible.

firefighters must leave the scene immediately and tum control over to law enforcement.

firefighters must treat the scene as both a fire scene and a medical emergency incident.

12. Which would NOT be an example of physical evidence at a fire scene?

A witness's statement

Debris from an explosion

Damage to electrical wiring

Tire tracks outside the structure

13. Which statement describes how evidence should be handled at a fire investigation?

Firefighters are not responsible for any kind of evidence documentation.

Evidence should be bagged and removed from the fire scene as quickly as possible.

Evidence should be moved to a central location in the structure so that it is easy for the fire investigator to analyze.

Any firefighter who handles evidence becomes part of the chain of custody for that evidence.

14. What factors must fire investigators identify before classifying fire cause?

Scope of damage, insurance, injuries sustained

Ignition source, exposures, firefighting tactics used

Ignition source, material first ignited, ignition sequence

Building construction classification, exposures, ignition source

15. Which is the most obvious sign of fire cause?

Extent of damage

Occurrence of flashover

Competent ignition source

Time between incipient and growth stages

16. When examining the interior of a structure for the area of origin,:

work from the area of greatest damage to the area of least damage.

charring on the floor is the strongest indicator of area of origin.

work from the area of least damage to the area of greatest damage.

items with charring on all sides indicate that the fire was set intentionally.

17. How large should the perimeter outside a structure fire be?

A minimum of 100 feet (30 m) in every direction from the building

A minimum of 250 feet (75 m) in every direction from the building

Large enough to surround the building and any adjacent exposure buildings

Large enough to surround the building and all potential evidence outside the building

18. Which action should be carefully conducted, because it can cause destruction or contamination of evidence at a fire scene?

Rescue

Size-up

Overhaul

Rehabilitation

19. 13. Lightning striking a tree and setting it on fire would be an example of a(an) __ fire.

natural

accidental

incendiary

undetermined

20. 14. Which would be classified as an incendiary fire?

Overloading an electrical circuit

A piece of machinery overheats

Setting a business on fire to collect insurance money

An earthquake breaking a power line, which sparks and catches a house on fire

21. 11. The events that lead up to a fuel package being ignited and starting a fire are known as the:

decay stage.

growth stage.

ignition sequence.

combustion chain reaction.

22. Which duty would a fire investigator perform at a fire scene investigation?

Interviewing firefighters on scene

Cleaning up the fire scene after the investigation

Helping with overhaul to ensure no evidence is disturbed

Determining a fire attack strategy that will keep evidence intact

23. Why is it important to determine the cause of a fire?

So the homeowners or occupants can have peace of mind

So the owners of the property can be fined, if necessary

So firefighters can document which occupancies will require close supervision in the future

So that the unsafe behavior that caused the fire can be corrected through educational programs for the public

24. When establishing a perimeter around a fire scene, the perimeter must be:

visible and recognizable.

marked using permanent barriers.

continuously staffed by a law enforcement officer.

as small as possible, with room to expand if necessary.

25. Which would be potential evidence when examining the exterior of a structure for the area of origin?

Unlocked doors or windows

Any indication of forcible entry

Construction type of the building

Signs that the building is occupied

26. Which action can firefighters take to protect evidence at the fire scene?

Perform a thorough overhaul

Remove all evidence from the building

Cover items with salvage covers or tarps

Delay fire suppression until evidence is collected

27. The area of origin will usually contain:

evidence of arson.

piles of stacked materials that act as fuel.

the greatest amount of damage and debris.

an obvious ignition source and material first ignited.

Fire Officer 2

Chapter 20

Quick Links

Useful Links