CFEI Exam Guide 2026: How to Study NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033 for NAFI Certification
Video
What is the primary reference document for fire investigation methodology in the United States?
Finv Investigation Methodology
Question · Easy
Before the first question in custody
Short
Prepare for the 2026 NAFI CFEI exam: the real 100-question format, 75% passing score, 150-credit eligibility system, $135 application fee plus NAFI membership, and free CFEI practice questions to use before you apply.
Blog
Fire tetrahedron
Fire Science & Chemistry
Flashcard
Which of the following best describes the fire tetrahedron?
Finv Fire Science
Predominantly carbon particles from burning carbon-based fuels that settle on cooler surfaces.
Fire science
Guess the Term
Chapter 1: Investigation Methodology & Scientific Method
1.1 Scientific Method in Fire Investigation
Study guide
Cheat sheet
What investigative methodology does NFPA 921 recommend for fire and explosion investigations?
Read the clue and guess the term in 6 tries.
Game
Pyrolysis
At approximately what temperature does flashover typically occur in a compartment fire?
Finv Fire Behavior
Question · Medium
___ loss: a fire effect in which heated material converts to gas and its original amount decreases.
What is the correct order of fire development stages in a compartment fire?
Flash point vs. autoignition temperature
What type of heat transfer occurs through direct contact between two objects?
___ point: the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air near its surface.
1.2 Scene Safety & Risk Assessment
An investigator discovers V-shaped fire patterns on a wall. What does this most likely indicate?
Finv Origin Determination
Swap tiles to line up three of the same term.
Term Match
Heat of combustion vs. fire load
What is the autoignition temperature of a material?
Visible mixture of ash, soot, vapors and droplets that can condense on cooler surfaces and leave patterns.
Fire behavior
Which type of evidence is most susceptible to loss or contamination at a fire scene?
Finv Evidence Collection
Three modes of heat transfer
What is the recommended container for collecting samples suspected of containing ignitable liquid residues?
Point or area where a fire began; investigators should establish it before determining what caused the fire.
Fire patterns
1.3 Interview Techniques & Information Gathering
During a fire scene investigation, what should be the first priority of the investigator?
Flip two cards at a time to find matching terms.
Term Pairs
Primary toxic combustion byproducts
What does NFPA 1033 establish for fire investigators?
___ survey: identifies and recognizes melting caused by an electrical discharge and requires knowledge of the electrical system.
What is pyrolysis?
Stages of compartment fire development
Fire Behavior & Dynamics
Which of the following is NOT one of the four classifications of fire cause according to NFPA 921?
Finv Cause Determination
Circumstances, conditions or agencies that brought the ignition source, fuel and oxidant together, investigated after the origin is established.
Fire classification
1.4 Documentation & Report Writing
What is the flash point of a liquid?
Find five hidden terms in a grid of letters.
Term Search
Flashover
During a scene examination, what excavation method does NFPA 921 recommend for the area of origin?
Offense requiring malice or recklessness when a fire is set or an explosion is caused.
Cause determination
What is the primary purpose of establishing and maintaining a chain of custody for fire evidence?
Loading more…
