Earthquakes are what type of fire cause?

• A. Incendiary
• B. Natural
• C. Accidental
• D. Electrical

Answer: (B)

Fire causes are categorized by their origin. Earthquakes are a natural event, meaning they originate from natural processes rather than human action. When an earthquake starts a fire, the initiating factor is the seismic event itself, not a deliberate act, an electrical fault, or an unintentional human action. That’s why it’s classified as natural.

Incendiary would require deliberate ignition by a person. Electrical points to faults or arcing in electrical systems. Accidental covers unintentional human-caused ignition, like a dropped cigarette or unattended flame. So, even though an earthquake can trigger fires by damaging gas lines or equipment, the cause is still the natural event.