Inspection and Investigation
What the exam tests
This domain covers fire inspections and fire-cause investigation from the company officer's perspective. Understand the inspection process: pre-inspection planning, entry and consent, identifying hazards, issuing notices, and re-inspection. Know the difference between a code violation and an imminent hazard that requires immediate action. Understand right of entry-generally requires consent, an administrative warrant, or an emergency exception. Grasp the officer's role in origin and cause determination: the first-arriving officer preserves the scene, notes conditions, and does not disturb evidence; complex or suspicious fires are referred to trained investigators. Know evidence preservation and chain of custody. Recognize common fire cause classifications (accidental, incendiary, undetermined) and the importance of not declaring a cause prematurely.
Traps to watch
Questions test scope. A company officer typically preserves a scene and reports-not conducts a full origin-and-cause investigation. Watch for answers that have the officer moving debris or declaring cause before investigation. Another trap: confusing consent with warrant for entry; absent consent or emergency, a warrant may be required.
Rule of thumb
Protect, observe, report-don't disturb. The first officer on scene secures the scene and documents observations; specialists determine cause.
Worked example
After extinguishment, an officer notices an unusual burn pattern. The correct action is to secure the area, avoid disturbing evidence, and notify investigators-not to dig through debris to "figure it out."