I need to disagree with you some as to the way I perceive your comment. I am not sure if you are addressing how the fire started or the classification of the cause. If you are speaking as to how the fire originated then I do not believe intent should be a factor. I believe one must be careful not to combine these two subjects. Recently, the 921 committee stated, “Determining the cause of a fire and classifying the cause of the fire are two separate processes that should not be confused with each other.” I think investigators would do well to remember this comment.

The hypothesis one is testing is how the source of heat, which was necessary to cause ignition, came in contact with the first fuel source ignited. As someone previously has said about the formulation and testing of a hypothesis, while conducting an investigation there will be many hypothesis developed and tested concerning different factors involved in determining the totality of the event and not just the cause. This may also include a hypothesis developed by the investigator as to the classification, but this hypothesis should only come after the cause of ignition has been determined.