Which combination of statements about fire origin and arson is correct?

• A. Statement 1 is true; Statements 2 and 3 are false.
• B. Statements 1 and 2 are true; Statement 3 is false.
• C. Statements 1 and 2 are false; Statement 3 is true.
• D. All three statements are true.

Answer: (D)

In fire investigations, understanding fire origin and arson comes from separating where a fire started from whether that ignition was intentional. The origin is the precise location of ignition, established by examining burn patterns, damage progression, and material ignition points. Arson means the ignition was deliberate, and investigators look for signs of intent such as unusual ignition sources, multiple ignition points, or the use of accelerants. Because you can have a single ignition point that is intentional and still have evidence pointing to that intent, it’s completely plausible for all the statements to be true. This alignment reflects how investigators determine both the origin and whether arson occurred, using the same kinds of physical evidence and reasoning.