How would you classify an incendiary device discovered in a fire investigation?

The classification of an incendiary device in a fire investigation primarily focuses on its function and intent in relation to causing a fire. An incendiary device is specifically designed to ignite or accelerate a fire, making it essential to understand its characteristics.

Classifying an incendiary device as a plant-type initiation source is appropriate because these devices are engineered to initiate combustion in a deliberate manner. A plant-type initiation source typically refers to a setup that includes a combination of a triggering mechanism (like a fuse or timer) and a flammable material intended to start a fire in a targeted area.

This classification distinguishes incendiary devices from other elements involved in fire scenarios, such as accelerants, which are substances that increase the speed of fire spread but do not function as the means of ignition themselves. Similarly, while fire hazards can encompass a range of dangerous scenarios or materials in fire investigations, they do not specifically describe the function or design of an incendiary device as part of a fire's initiation mechanism.

Given these distinctions, identifying an incendiary device as a plant-type initiation source accurately encapsulates its role in intentionally starting a fire.