What is the definition of an incendiary fire cause?

• A. A fire caused by an accident.
• B. A fire caused by natural causes.
• C. A fire deliberately set under circumstances in which the responsible party knows that the fire should not be ignited.
• D. A fire caused by faulty equipment.

Answer: (C)

Incendiary fire causes are fires started on purpose by someone who knows ignition is improper or prohibited. In fire investigations, fires are categorized by cause as natural, accidental, incendiary, or undetermined. An incendiary fire is not a mishap or a natural event; it’s a deliberate ignition, often tied to malicious intent. That’s why the correct description fits: the fire was deliberately set under circumstances where the person responsible knew the fire should not be ignited. The other possibilities describe accidental ignition, natural phenomena, or equipment failure, none of which involve intentional triggering.