Investigation Procedures & Methods Flashcards
7 cards from real CPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Investigation Procedures & Methods flashcards as text
In property loss investigation, what is the purpose of conducting a 'timeline reconstruction'?
Answer: To establish the chronological sequence of events leading to and during the loss
Timeline reconstruction organizes known facts, witness accounts, and physical evidence into a chronological sequence to identify inconsistencies and understand how the loss occurred.
When interviewing a witness to a fire, which technique is MOST effective for obtaining complete and accurate information?
Answer: Using open-ended questions that allow the witness to narrate freely before asking specific follow-ups
Open-ended questions allow witnesses to provide unguided accounts, which are less susceptible to contamination from the interviewer's assumptions.
A CPI inspector discovers that a sprinkler system failed to activate during a fire. What is the MOST important investigative action?
Answer: Document the system's condition and have it inspected by a qualified fire protection engineer
Documenting condition and involving a qualified engineer ensures the failure is properly analyzed for cause — whether mechanical, maintenance, design, or deliberate.
Which of the following is an example of 'physical evidence' in a property loss investigation?
Answer: A burned electrical outlet collected from the scene
Physical evidence is tangible material collected from the scene, such as burned components, debris samples, or accelerant-soaked materials.
When investigating a suspected gas leak-related explosion, which document should an inspector obtain early in the investigation?
Answer: Gas utility records showing service history, pressure readings, and any prior complaints
Gas utility records provide objective data on pressure, service calls, and complaints that may reveal a pre-existing condition contributing to the explosion.
What is the correct definition of 'fire cause' in accordance with NFPA 921?
Answer: The circumstances, conditions, or agencies that bring together the ignition source, fuel, and oxidizer
NFPA 921 defines fire cause as the combination of the ignition source, the first fuel ignited, and the circumstances that brought them together.
An inspector notices that multiple separate fires started in different, unconnected areas of a building. This finding is MOST consistent with which conclusion?
Answer: An incendiary fire, as accidental fires typically have a single area of origin
Multiple unconnected points of origin are a strong indicator of incendiary fire, because accidental and natural fires almost always originate from a single source.