What must be done with any information obtained during an interview?

The appropriate course of action with any information obtained during an interview is to evaluate and check it for accuracy. This step is essential because the validity and reliability of the information can significantly impact the investigation. Information gathered during interviews can be influenced by various factors, such as the interviewee's perceptions, memory, and even their motivations.

By evaluating the information, a fire investigator can cross-reference it with other evidence and data obtained from the scene, witness statements, or other interviews. This process helps ensure that any conclusions drawn are based on a solid foundation of verified facts rather than assumptions or unverified statements. Checking for accuracy may also involve corroborating the interviewees' claims with physical evidence or other credible sources, further strengthening the investigation's integrity.

Storing information for future reference and sharing it with team members can be part of the investigation process, but without first verifying the information, these actions may lead to disseminating incorrect or misleading conclusions. Therefore, the focus should always be on assessing the accuracy of the gathered information first.