Under the fire scene exception, which action is permissible without a warrant?

• A. Officers must leave immediately when the scene is burning
• B. Firefighters may remain in the building for a reasonable time to extinguish the fire, investigate the cause, and seize evidence in plain view
• C. A warrant is required for any evidence seized during a fire
• D. Only property belonging to the owner may be seized

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that the fire scene exception lets responders act without a warrant when access is necessary to extinguish the fire, prevent further damage, and preserve evidence, as long as what they seize or inspect is within a reasonable scope and seen in plain view.

In this scenario, firefighters may stay inside for a reasonable time to extinguish the fire and investigate the cause, and they can seize evidence that’s in plain view. This matches the allowance of acting without a warrant to accomplish extinguishing and investigating, provided the actions stay within what's necessary and direct.

Leaving the scene immediately isn’t required by this rule, and requiring a warrant for any evidence would ignore the practical need to quickly secure the scene. Limiting seizure to property owned by the owner misses the point of plain-view evidence and the broader scope allowed to address the emergency and its aftermath.