What is advised regarding the inclusion of field notes in investigative reports?

In the context of fire and explosion investigations, field notes are essential for documenting observations and insights gained during the investigative process. However, they are often considered preliminary documentation. Their primary purpose is to assist the investigator while conducting the investigation and to capture real-time details that may later inform more formal documentation, such as the investigative report.

It is advised that field notes should not be included verbatim in the final investigative report because they may contain informal annotations, hastily jotted observations, or unverified information that could lead to confusion or misinterpretation. Instead, the final report should summarize the findings and conclusions drawn from these notes, providing a clearer and more coherent narrative suited for the report's audience, which may include legal entities and insurance companies.

Moreover, including field notes directly could expose them to scrutiny in legal contexts, which may not be beneficial. Therefore, the practice of not including them helps to maintain the integrity and clarity of the formal investigative report while acknowledging that the notes themselves are a valuable part of the investigator's working process.