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TCFP Fire Investigator Ultimate Study Guide
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Is NFPA 921 a guide or a standard? - ✔✔It is the Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations What are the six steps of the scientific method? - ✔✔ Recognize the need Define the problem Collect the data Analyze the data Develop a hypothesis Test the hypothesis What step of the scientific method is inductive reasoning? - ✔✔Analyze the data What step of the scientific method is deductive reasoning? - ✔✔Test the hypothesis What are the four parts of the fire tetrahedron? - ✔✔Fuel (reducing agent) Heat Oxidizing agent Uninhibited chemical chain reaction What kind of reaction absorbs energy, an endothermic or an exothermic reaction? - ✔✔Endothermic What is heat transfer by direct contact called? - ✔✔Conduction What is heat transfer by gas flow / air movement called? - ✔✔Convection
What is heat transfer by microwave energy called? - ✔✔Radiation What is a fuel controlled fire? - ✔✔A fire that is limited by the amount of combustibles. What is a ventilation controlled fire? - ✔✔A fire that is limited by the amount of oxygen. What are the stages of fire growth? - ✔✔Ignition Growth Flashover Fully Developed Decay What is a flashover? - ✔✔The transition phase from growth to fully developed, where all surfaces reach ignition temperature almost simultaneously. What is ignition of the underside of the hot gas layer called? - ✔✔Flameover or rollover What factors influence flashover conditions? - ✔✔Size of the compartment Height of ceiling Ventilation Amount of fuel Layout of fuel Location of fire in the compartment What are fire patterns? - ✔✔The physical manifestation of the affects of fire on materials. What are the different types of fire patterns on the walls and ceiling? - ✔✔Plume Generated patterns (often V shaped)
What is a live load? - ✔✔A load that can move, like people, furniture, wind, water, and snow. What is compartmentation? - ✔✔Design features of a building that limit fire growth to the room of origin. What are the five building construction types? - ✔✔Type I - Fire resistant Type II - Non combustible Type III - Ordinary Type IV - Heavy timber Type V - Wood frame What is ordinary construction? - ✔✔Exterior walls are masonry and frame is wood. What is wood frame construction? - ✔✔Lightweight wood construction, used in apartments, houses. What is platform frame construction? - ✔✔Each floor is a seperate platform. What is balloon frame construction? - ✔✔The wall studs extend from the foundation to the roof. What is Ohm's Law? - ✔✔V=IR (E = I x R) What is voltage? - ✔✔Pressure What is current? - ✔✔Flow What is resistance? - ✔✔Friction, opposition to the flow
What is an overload? - ✔✔Power needs exceed the circuit's capacity. Alternating Current VS Direct Current - ✔✔Alternating current - the electrons flow out from the source and then back to it, alternating directions. Direct current - electrons flow one way. Single Phase service - ✔✔Residential. Three conductors: Two insulated conductors at 120 V each, and a bare ground wire. Three phase system - ✔✔Commercial. Four conductors: Three insulated conductors (480, 240, or 208 V), and a bare ground wire. What is the difference between grounding and bonding? - ✔✔Grounding connects the system to the earth (ground). Bonding connects to systems together so the charge stays the same between them. What is overcurrent protection? - ✔✔A device that protects the system from excess current. Includes: Circuit breakers Plug fuses Type S fuses Time delay fuses Cartridge fuses What are the colors of residential wires? - ✔✔Hot - black or red Neutral - gray or white Ground - bare or green What are some methods of electrical heat production? - ✔✔Resistance heating Short circuit Ground fault Parting Arc
Recalls Violations of fire safety codes and standards What are the age groups and types of child firesetters? - ✔✔Child 2-6, curiosity Juvenile 7-13, psychological or emotional problem Adolescent 14-16, stress, anger, or other psychological or emotional problems What are the four ways of right of entry? - ✔✔Consent Exigent Circumstance Administrative Search warrant Criminal search warrant What are the four rules of the Miranda warning? - ✔✔Right to remain silent Any statement can be used against you Right to an attorney Right to have an attorney appointed if you can't afford one
- Sixth Amendment What is spoliation? - ✔✔The loss or destruction of an object or document that is evidence What is demonstrative evidence? - ✔✔Any tangible evidence that you can touch, feel, see, or smell. Any evidence that is tangible (physical). What is documentary evidence? - ✔✔Written reports or documents relevant to the case. What is Testimonial evidence? - ✔✔Verbal testimony of witnesses Fact witness VS Expert witness - ✔✔Fact witness can only testify observations and statements of fact.
Expert witness may testify their opinion. Daubert Rule considerations: - ✔✔Can the theory or technique be tested? Has the theory or technique been peer-reviewed and published? Is there a known or potential rate of error? Has it gained general acceptance in the expert's field? What is Arson? - ✔✔Causing unlawful and intentional damage, by fire or explosion, to structures, vehicles, and personal property. What are four ways you can be exposed to chemical hazards? - ✔✔Absorption (surface of skin) Inhalation Ingestion Injection Should you investigate a fire alone or in pairs? - ✔✔In pairs What are some Basic Investigation Assignments for personnel? - ✔✔Photography Note Taking Mapping Diagramming Interviewing Witnesses Evidence Collection What are some ways to document a scene? - ✔✔Photographs Video Notes Drawings (sketches)
MS further analyzes the individual components What is the point of origin? - ✔✔Exact physical location where a heat source and fuel come together and a fire begins. What is the area of origin? - ✔✔The room or area where the fire began Recommended procedure for origin determination: - ✔✔Preliminary scene assessment Preliminary fire spread scenario development In-depth exterior examination In-depth interior examination Fire scene reconstruction Fire spread scenario report What is a competent ignition source? - ✔✔One that has sufficient energy, temperature, and time to raise the first fuel to its ignition temperature. What are the four elements of determining a fire cause? - ✔✔Ignition source Fuel first ignited Oxidizer present Ignition sequence Four features of the investigation: - ✔✔Cause of fire or explosion Cause of damage to property Cause of bodily injury / loss of life Degree to which human fault contributed Four classifications of cause: - ✔✔Accidental Natural
Incendiary Undetermined Should a fire ever be classified as "suspicious?" - ✔✔No. Suspicious is not an appropriate term to describe the unexplained. What is failure analysis? - ✔✔A logical, systematic examination of an item, component, assembly, or structure and it splace and function within a system, conducted to identify and analyze the probability, causes, and consequences of potential and real failures. What are hard times? - ✔✔Incidents with a known exact time. These include dispatch times and other documented times. What are soft times? - ✔✔Witness statements with approximate times, other observations with approximations. What are benchmark events? - ✔✔The foundation of the timeline. Includes events related to cause, spread, detection, or extinguishment of the fire. Micro VS Macro times: - ✔✔Macro can be as far as months or years before the fire, and Micro are small and narrow parts of the timeline. What does FMEA stand for? - ✔✔Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - a graphical method or technique used to determine causes and effects leading to the fire. Similar to Fault trees. Mathmatical and Engineering models for fire investigation: - ✔✔Heat Transfer models Flammable gas Concentrations Hydraulic Analysis (sprinkler failure) Structural analysis Egress analysis Fire dynamis (fire growth)
Trailers Lack of expected fuel load (fire damage not consistent with existing fuel) Lack of expected ignition sources Exotic accelerants Unusual fuel load or configuration Burn injuries Incendiary devices Other factors not directly related to combustion, but still indicators of incendiary fire: - ✔✔Remote locations with blocked view Fires near service equipment and appliances Removal/Replacement of contents prior to fire Blocked entry Sabotage to the structure or fire protection Opening windows and exterior doors What are some Evidentiary factors to consider? - ✔✔Geographical (clusters) Temporal frequency Materials and methods (using the same firesetting method) Financial stress History of code violations Fires at additional properties, same owner Overinsured property What are some timed opportunities? - ✔✔Natural conditions (flood, hurricains, etc) Civil unrest Fire Dept unvailible What are motives for firesetting? - ✔✔Vandalism
Excitement Revenge Crime Concealment Profit Extremism Carbon monoxide poisining causes what color of the skin? - ✔✔Cherry-pink What are the different degrees of burns? - ✔✔1st degree, reddening of the skin 2nd degree, blistering 3rd degree, full-thickness damage to skin 4th degree, damage to fat/muscle and charring of tissue What should you document on an appliance in the area of origin? - ✔✔Controls Bonding/grounding Position of moving parts Clocks Power supply Fuel supply (gas) What identifying info should you get for each appliance? - ✔✔Manufacturer Model Number Serial Number Date of manufature Name of product Warnings Recommendations
Fire winds What is the fire head? - ✔✔Portion of the fire that is moving most rapidly What is the fire heel? - ✔✔Opposite of the head, less intense What are the causes of wildfires? - ✔✔Lighting Spontaneous heating Campsite Smoking Debris burning Sunlight and glass refraction Incendiary Juvenile Fireworks Controlled burn Vehicles Railroad What are some search patterns? - ✔✔Grid Spiral Strip Area What are some ways to identify a boat? - ✔✔Hull Identification Number (HIN) Registration numbers US Coast Guard documentation numbers Boat name and hailing port
What are some common ignition sources on a boat? - ✔✔Open flames Electrical faults / overloads Mechanical (bearings, friction) Hot surfaces (exhaust, cooking, heating) Boats that are powered by gasoline have similar fuel systems to cars. What are the two main gasoline fuel systems? - ✔✔High pressure - fuel injected Lower pressure - carbuerated ALSO: Some boats are diesel, or even electric ONLY What are some cooking fuels found on boats? - ✔✔LPG CNG Solid fuels Alcohol Diesel What are sources of electrical energy on boats? - ✔✔Batteries Inverters Shore power What are some basic safety concerns when working on a boat? - ✔✔Confined spaces Airborn particles Fuel leaks Electricity Stability What are some basic concerns for complex investigations? - ✔✔Transportation
What are four search patterns? - ✔✔Segment Loop Grid Lane What are some types of suppression for wildfires? - ✔✔Class A foam Fire breaks Air drops Firing out What are the two main parts of a wildfire? - ✔✔Head Heel What are the three types of winds affecting wildfires? - ✔✔Meterological Diurnal Fire winds What are some ground fuels? - ✔✔Duff Roots Leaves Grass Dead wood Low brush What are some aerial fuels? - ✔✔Tree crowns Snags Moss High brush
What are some fuel systems in vehicles? - ✔✔Gas - low pressure or high pressure, carb or fuel injected Diesel CNG/LPG Name some ignition sources in cars: - ✔✔Open flames Electrical problems Hot surfaces (exhaust, turbocharger) Mechanical sparks Smoking What is the difference between combustible liquids and flammable liquids? - ✔✔Combustible = flash point above 100 F Flammable = Flash point below 100 F Name some residential appliances that can cause a fire: - ✔✔Oven Coffee maker Toaster Can opener Refrigerator Dishwasher Microwave Space heater Electric blanket Air conditioner Hair dryer Iron Dryer Lighting
