Point of origin is where:

• A. an ignition source meets a fuel supply.
• B. the firefighter initiates entry into the structure.
• C. the start of a fire break.
• D. the purchase point for prying an object is located.

Answer: (A)

Point of origin is the place where an ignition source meets a fuel supply and heat is sufficient to start combustion. In fire science, this is the location where the fire began, the spot where heat, fuel, and an ignition source come together to start burning. Understanding this helps investigators determine how a fire started and what fueled its growth. It’s not about where firefighters enter, where a fire break starts, or where tools are bought or swapped; it’s specifically the location where the ignition event occurred. For example, a hot ember landing on a susceptible fuel source can ignite there, making that spot the origin.