Crime Scene Investigation of Fire and Arson Cases Quiz Crafted By-
Ishika Shukla
Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation of Fire and Arson Cases
When investigating a crime scene, even the slightest detail can make or break a case. Crime Scene Investigators and Analysts comb through scenes for DNA, fingerprints, and different forms of residue- all which are integral components of the investigative process. Finding evidence that can lead to the origins of a crime is difficult enough, but when the crime at hand is arson; extra care, attention to details must be done in order to solve the case. Because of the destructive nature of fire, evidence may be hard to come by, meaning that investigators must analyze this with extreme vigilance. There are several steps in the process of investigating arson, from arriving at the scene until the investigation has been completed. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) created an online resource, titled “A Guide for investigating Fire and Arson;” a five step process that frames the procedures that law enforcement agencies follow in the case of arson.
Let's look at the questions and their answers.
Ques 1. Arson refers to _____.
a) Malicious destruction of property by Fire
b) Malicious destruction of property by water
c) Accidental destruction of property by Fire
d) Accidental destruction of property by Water
Answer- a) Malicious destruction of property by Fire
Ques 2. A pyromaniac may commit arson _____.
a) For excitement
b) For profit
c) To conceal a crime
d) For fraud
Answer-a) For excitement
Ques 3. Arson investigations
a) are clearly the responsibility of the police service.
b) are clearly the responsibility of the fire service.
c) fall between police and fire department responsibility.
d) are clearly the sole responsibility of the insurance companies.
Answer- c) fall between police and fire department responsibility.
Ques 4. When one refers to the "layer checking technique" in arson investigation, what is being described is the
a) process of checking through the layers of material stacked on top of each other after a fire.
b) analysis of materials for the presence of accelerant.
c) investigation of all suspects beginning with the prime suspect and working down to the least likely suspect.
d) method used to identify the most likely motive.
Answer- a) process of checking through the layers of material stacked on top of each other after a fire.
Ques 5. Which of the following is generally not involved in spontaneous heating and ignition?
a) Chemical action.
b) Matches.
c) Fermentation.
d) Oxidation.
Answer-b) Matches.
Ques 6. spalling describes the
a) breaking off of pieces of the surface of concrete, cement, or brick due to intense heat.
b) boundary between charred and uncharred material.
c) depth of the burning of wood
d) formation of irregular cracks in glass due to rapid, intense heat.
Answer-a) breaking off of pieces of the surface of concrete, cement, or brick due to intense heat.
Ques 7. The material placed around the ignition device to feed the flame in arson is referred to as
a) a trailer.
b) an accelerant.
c) a plant.
d) a pyro-enhancement device.
Answer-c) a plant.
Ques 8. When a fire investigation becomes a question of who committed the crime, ___
a) the police and fire fighters should work together to investigate the crime.
b) The matter becomes a law enforcement concern.
c) Police should yield the crime scene to the firefighters for detailed investigation.
d) A prosecutor should be contacted.
Answer-b) The matter becomes a law enforcement concern.
Ques 9. Which of the following is an example of a plant with regard to arson?
a) Gasoline
b) Rags
c) The person who started the fire
d) Evidence to make the fire look like it was "natural."
Answer-b) Rags
Ques 10. When alcohol is burned, the flame is
a) Red
b) Yellow-orange
c) Blue
d) Blue orange
Answer-d) Blue orange