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Certified Fire and Explosion Investigators Study Guide Exam, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Safety and Fire Engineering

Certified Fire and Explosion Investigators Study Guide Exam

Typology: Study Guides, Projects, Research

2024/2025

Available from 11/18/2024

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Certified Fire and Explosion Investigators Study
Guide Exam
1.Evidence - Demonstrative: Tangible items; see, touch, smell, hear.
2.Evidence - Documentary: Written form; business records, banking,
calendars, phone records, fire reports, etc...
3.Evidence - Testimonial: Competent live witness speaking under oath;
two types; fact and expert
4.Evidence - illustrative: Photos, sketches, maps, diagrams. Modes are
frequently used at trial.
5.Evidence - illustravtive: Photos and Videos; what, why, how, when
6.Evidence collection: Document in place, document the collection, use
proper container, (flag, bag, & tag)
7.Evidence - collection: Fuel gas powered tools outside the perimeter.
Find out where tools were refuels.
8.Heat transfer: Conduction, convection, radiation
9.Interviews: Purpose of the interview; prepare for the interview,
document the interview
10.Vehicle Fires: Sparks from an aluminum wheel are not a
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Certified Fire and Explosion Investigators Study

Guide Exam

  1. Evidence - Demonstrative: Tangible items; see, touch, smell, hear.
  2. Evidence - Documentary: Written form; business records, banking, calendars, phone records, fire reports, etc...
  3. Evidence - Testimonial: Competent live witness speaking under oath; two types; fact and expert
  4. Evidence - illustrative: Photos, sketches, maps, diagrams. Modes are frequently used at trial.
  5. Evidence - illustravtive: Photos and Videos; what, why, how, when
  6. Evidence collection: Document in place, document the collection, use proper container, (flag, bag, & tag)
  7. Evidence - collection: Fuel gas powered tools outside the perimeter. Find out where tools were refuels.
  8. Heat transfer: Conduction, convection, radiation
  9. Interviews: Purpose of the interview; prepare for the interview, document the interview
  10. Vehicle Fires: Sparks from an aluminum wheel are not a

competent ignition source.

  1. Vehicle Fires: The most common source of an open flame in a vehicle is an exhaust system backfire out of a carburetor.
  2. Vehicle Fires: Carburetor backfire leaves a distinct pattern on the hood.
  3. Vehicle Fires: Two basic fuel systems: vacuum/low pressure carbureted system, and high-pressure, fuel injected system.
  4. Vehicle Fires: Loose battery connections; not over-current protected; loose connections can result in intermittent arcing.
  5. Vehicle Fires: Power steering fluid: Flashpoint 347-356F, autoignition 680-720F.
  6. Vehicle Fires: Automatic Transmission Fluid: Flashpoint 302-536F, autoignition 626-716F.
  7. Vehicle Fires: Overcharging a battery does not cause it to explode.
  8. Explosions: Low order damage: characterized by walls bulge out or laid down, virtually intact, next to the structure. roofs slightly left.
  9. Explosions: High order damage: shattering of the structure, producing small debris pieces.
  10. Explosions: Post blast effects: burned debris away-fire preceded,

radiant heat from a material close to the floor. Saddle burns display deep charring.

  1. Fire effects/fire patterns: Inverted cone burns are indicative of the vertical flame plume not reaching the ceiling, short-lived fires with a low HRR
  2. Fire effects/fire patterns: Melting Temperatures: Copper 1981F; Aluminum 1220F; Steel 2760*F
  3. Heat Sources: Mechanical: converted to heat when two materials rub against each other and create friction. Chemical: chemical reaction; exothermic and endothermic. Electrical: Converted to heat energy; flowing through a conductor. Nuclear: splitting the nucleus of an atom into two smaller nuclei (nuclear fission)
  4. Electrical: Resistance Heating: properly installed, produces low resistance. Loose connections: high resistance with increased heating at the

contact.

  1. Electrical: Ground Fault: the purpose if grounding an electrical system is to make sure that any housings or exposed metal in the system or connected to it cannot become electrically charged.
  2. Electrical: Sleeving: the softening and sagging of thermoplastic conductor insu- lation due to the heating of the conductor.
  3. Electrical: Lightning: a form of static electricity, a polarized electrostatic charge in the clouds.
  4. Electrical: 9.2.2.2.2: the unit of measurement of potential difference or voltage is usually volts.

char.

  1. Fatalities: Charred bones are an indication of fire intensity and duration
  2. Fatalities: The Pugilistic posture is as a result of the muscle dehydrating and shrinking, shrinkage causes flexion
  3. Fatalities: Humans do not spontaneously combust
  4. Miscellaneous: Hire a FPE to examine a flow valve, EE for a toaster, Mechanical Engineer for a furnace and a metallurgist for metal issues
  5. Miscellaneous: Do not put field notes in the investigative report
  6. Miscellaneous: Polyethylene chair has a higher HRR than a pool of gasoline or a Christmas tree
  7. Miscellaneous: A pathologist should exam a fractured skull
  8. Miscellaneous: Main breaker is the safest way to de-energize a house
  9. Miscellaneous: Fill the evidence can only 2/3 full
  10. Miscellaneous: Annealed (softening) springs can indicate duration and intensi- ty
  11. Miscellaneous: An autopsy should always be performed
  12. Miscellaneous: Witnesses can only testify to facts observed
  13. Miscellaneous: Identify interview question types according to the

priority that they should be asked

  1. Miscellaneous: Vapor density of <.6 will rise to the ceiling and accumulate
  2. Miscellaneous: Oxidation is the basic chemical reaction associated with com- bustion
  3. Miscellaneous: Add more oxygen and expect color change and change of texture
  4. Thermal Inertia: Thermal conductivity(k), density(p), heat capacity (c)
  5. Latent heat of vaporization: The heat absorbed when a substance changes phase from a liquid to a gas. No change in chemical structure of the material
  6. Flameover: Unburned fuel from the originating fire accumulates in the ceiling layer to sufficient concentration that it ignites
  7. Flashover: A transition phase in the development of a compartment fire in which surfaces exposed to thermal radiation reach ignition temperature more or less simultaneously
  8. Backdraft: A deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion
  1. Flame Spread: Classified as concurrent or counterflow: concurrent- (wide-aided flame spread) occurs when flame spread direction is the same as the gas flow or wind direction; counterflow-(opposed flame spread) occurs where the flame spread direction is counter to or opposed to the gas flow
  2. Heat: a form of energy characterized by vibration of molecules and capable of initiating and supporting chemical changes and changes of state
  3. Ignition Temperature: Minimum temperature a substance should attain in order to ignite under specific test conditions
  4. Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): The minimum percentage of fuel in air (by volume) in which combustion can occur
  5. Upper Explosive Limit: The maximum percentage of fuel in air in which com- bustion can occur
  6. Melting Point: Phase change; the material changes from a solid to a liquid with no change in the chemical structure of the material (melting candle wax)
  7. Pyrolysis: A process in which material is decomposed, or broken down, into simpler molecular compounds by the effects of heat alone;

pyrolysis often precedes combustion

  1. Specific Gravity (Vapor Density): The ratio of the average molecular weight of a gas or vapor to the average molecular weight of air
  2. Specific Gravity: The ratio of the mass of a given volume of a substance to the mass of an equal volume of water at a temperature of 4*C
  3. Combustible Liquid: Flash Point @ or above 100°F
  4. Flammable Liquid: Flash Point less than 100°F
  5. Ignitable Liquid: Both combustible and flammable liquids are ignitable liquids.
  6. Flash Point: Momentary Flame; the lowest temperature at which vapors will ignite. Measuring a flash point requires an ignition source. At the flash point, the vapor may cease to burn when the ignition source is removed.
  7. Accelerant: Can be any material to spread fire; usually gasoline.
  8. Origin Determination: 1. Witness Information 2.Fire Patterns 3.Arc Mapping 4.Fire Dynamics
  1. True - Administrative Warrant: Probably cause IS NOT NEEDED to obtain an ADMINISTRATIVE search warrant.
  2. Conduction: Heat transfer to another body or within a body by DIRECT contact.
  3. Pre-Flashover conditions: In pre-flashover conditions, the primary heat trans- fer mechanism for fire spread through a compartment is conduction.
  4. Conduction Heat Transfer: Conduction is the form of heat transfer that takes place within solids when one portion of an object is heated. Energy is transferred from the heated area to the unheated area at a rate dependent on the difference in temperature and the physical properties of the material.
  5. Convection Heat Transfer: Convection is the transfer of heat energy by the movement of heated liquids or gases from the source of heat to a cooler part of the environment. Heat is transferred by convection to a solid when hot gases pass over cooler surfaces. The rate of heat transfer to the solid is a function of the temperature difference, the surface area exposed to the hot gas, and

the velocity of the hot gas. The higher the velocity of the gas, the greater the rate of convective transfer.

  1. Radiation Heat Transfer: Radiation is the transfer of heat energy from a hot sur- face to a cooler surface by electromagnetic waves without an intervening medium. For example, the heat energy from the sun is radiated to earth through the vacuum of space. Radiant energy can be transferred only by line-of-sight and will be reduced or blocked by intervening materials. Intervening materials do not necessarily block all radiant heat. For example, radiant heat is reduced on the order of 50 percent by some glazing materials.
  2. Combustion: Combustion may continue with available oxygen concentrations lower than 1 percent.
  3. Empirical Data: Data that is based on observation or experience and can be verified.
  4. Inductive Reasoning: The process by which a person starts from a particular experience and proceeds to generalizations. The process by which hypotheses are developed based upon observable or known facts and the training, experience, knowledge, and expertise of the observer.
  1. "V" Pattern: The geometric shape of the pattern.
  2. Arson: The crime of maliciously and intentionally, or recklessly, starting a fire or causing an explosion.
  3. Arc: A high-temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap or through a medium such as charred insulation.
  4. Cause: The circumstances, conditions, or agencies that brought about or resulted in the fire or explosion incident, damage to property resulting from the fire or explosion incident, or bodily injury or loss of life resulting from the fire or explosion incident.
  5. Combustion: A chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate fast enough to produce heat and usually light in the form of either a glow or flame.
  6. Fire: A rapid oxidation process, which is a chemical reaction resulting in the evolution of light and heat in varying intensities.
  7. Drop Down / Fall Down: The spread of fire by the dropping or falling of burning materials. Synonymous with "fall down."
  8. Conduction: Heat transfer to another body or within a body by direct contact.
  1. Convection: Heat transfer by circulation within a medium such as a gas or a liquid.
  2. Competent Ignition Source: An ignition source that has sufficient energy and is capable of transferring that energy to the fuel long enough to raise the fuel to its ignition temperature.
  3. Detonation: Propagation of a combustion zone at a velocity greater than the speed of sound in the unreacted medium.
  4. Forensic (Forensic Science): The application of science to answer questions of interest to the legal system.
  5. Fire Science: The body of knowledge concerning the study of fire and related subjects (such as combustion, flame, products of combustion, heat release, heat transfer, fire and explosion chemistry, fire and explosion dynamics, thermodynamics, kinetics, fluid mechanics, fire safety) and their interaction with people, structures, and the environment.
  6. Scientific Method: The systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recog- nition and definition of a problem; the collection of data through observation and

future, similar incidents can be prevented.

  1. The Scientific Method - Define the Problem: Having determined that a problem exists, the investigator or analyst should define the manner in which the problem can be solved. In this case, a proper origin and cause investi- gation should be conducted. This is done by an examination of the scene and by a combination of other data collection methods, such as the review of previously conducted investigations of the incident, the interviewing of witnesses or other knowledgeable persons, and the results of scientific testing.
  2. The Scientific Method - Collect Data: Facts about the fire incident are now collected by observation, experiment, or other direct data gathering means. The data collected is called empirical data because it is based on observa- tion or experience and is capable of being verified or known to be true.
  3. The Scientific Method - Analyze the Data: The scientific method

requires that all data collected be analyzed. This is an essential step that must take place before the formation of the final hypothesis. The identification, gathering, and cataloging of data does not equate to data analysis. Analysis of the data is based on the knowledge, training, experience, and expertise of the individual doing the analysis. If the investigator lacks expertise to properly attribute meaning to a piece of data, then assistance should be sought. Understanding the meaning of the data will enable the investigator to form hypotheses based on the evidence, rather than on speculation.

  1. The Scientific Method - Develop a Hypothesis (Inductive Reasoning): - (Inductive Reasoning). Based on the data analysis, the investigator produces a hypothesis, or hypotheses, to explain the phenomena, whether it be the nature of fire patterns, fire spread, identification of the origin, the ignition sequence, the fire cause, or the causes of damage or responsibility for the fire or explosion incident. This process is referred to as inductive reasoning. These hypotheses should be based solely on the empirical data that the investigator has collected through observation and then developed into