CFI (FAA) study guide
CFI · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The IAAI-CFI® is a professional certification for fire investigators, issued by the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). IAAI describes it as "the world's premiere certification for fire investigators, with rigorous requirements and corresponding prestige," notes that it "measures against the job performance requirements in NFPA 1033," and states that it is accredited by The Pro Board and the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board. The CFI study guide has 10 sections and about 2,535 words.
01Fire Chemistry, Physics, and Fire Dynamics
Combustion requires fuel, an oxidizer, heat, and an uninhibited chemical chain reaction (the fire tetrahedron). Solids do not burn directly: heat drives pyrolysis, releasing combustible vapors that mix with air and burn.
309 words, about 2 min02Building Construction, Utilities, and Fire Protection Systems
NFPA 220 classifies buildings Type I through Type V. Type I is noncombustible with high fire-resistance ratings; Type II is noncombustible with lower or no ratings; Type III has noncombustible exterior walls and combustible interior elements; Type IV is heavy timber; Type V is wood frame.
280 words, about 1 min03Origin and Cause Determination
Origin is the location where the fire began; cause is the circumstances that brought the two together. Work from the least damaged to the most damaged, reconstruct the pre-fire scene, and analyze fire patterns: V-patterns, hourglass patterns, char depth, line of demarcation, calcination of gypsum, concrete spalling, melted metals, and heat shadowing.
252 words, about 1 min04Scene Examination, Documentation, and Evidence Handling
Secure and control the scene first: establish a perimeter, an entry log, and a safety assessment covering structural stability, electrical hazards, HAZMAT, and atmosphere. Document before you disturb.
241 words, about 1 min05Explosions and Explosive Combustion
Explosions are rapid energy releases that produce a pressure wave. A deflagration propagates through the unreacted medium below the speed of sound, with flame speeds on the order of meters per second.
270 words, about 1 min06Electrical Systems and Appliance/Vehicle Fire Analysis
Most electrical fires involve resistance heating, overload, poor connections, or arcing. Arc mapping is a technique, not a cause determination: arcing at multiple points may show the fire traveled along a circuit, but arc sites can also be victims.
270 words, about 1 min07Interviews, Witness Statements, and Investigative Reporting
Interview early, separately, and with open-ended questions. A cognitive interview elicits free recall before specific probing, and asking a witness to recount events in reverse order can surface additional detail.
212 words, about 1 min08Codes, Standards, and the Scientific Method (NFPA 921 / NFPA 1033)
NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, is a guide describing the scientific method: identify the problem, collect data, analyze the data, develop hypotheses, test the hypotheses against the data, and select the final hypothesis. NFPA 1033 sets professional qualifications for fire investigators, including education, training, and continuing education.
251 words, about 1 min09Legal Issues, Liability, and Expert Testimony
Expert testimony must be reliable and relevant. Daubert (federal) requires the court to assess methodology - testability, error rate, peer review, and general acceptance - while Frye (some states) requires general acceptance.
227 words, about 1 min10Safety, Ethics, and Case Management
Investigator safety comes first. Apply risk-management principles: assess structural stability, electrical hazards, HAZMAT, confined spaces, and atmospheric conditions before entry.
223 words, about 1 min