Ohio Correctional Officer Practice Exam

Inmates commonly use mattresses and bedding in arson fires due to their highly flammable materials and accessibility within correctional facilities. Mattresses are primarily made of synthetic materials that ignite easily and burn rapidly, creating substantial flames and heat. Bedding items, such as sheets and blankets, also have similar properties, enabling them to catch fire quickly.

The other materials listed, while they could potentially be used in a fire, either do not ignite as easily or are less commonly available for inmates to utilize in this manner. Books and magazines can be flammable, but their density and paper composition may result in slower ignition compared to the materials found in mattresses. Plastic containers can melt and release toxic fumes when burned, but typically do not sustain a fire as effectively as bedding does. Furniture, while it can also catch fire, is generally heavier and more cumbersome to manipulate within a confined space, making it a less practical choice for starting fires compared to the more readily available and highly flammable bedding materials.