You hit on an even larger problem is that there is almost no data being collected as to the origin and cause of fire based on the investigations conducted by competent investigators. Think of the hundreds of thousands of fire investigated in the private industry each year. What happens to all this data? There is no clearing house or reporting system to collect and evaluate what is being determined as to the cause of these fires. All the information is coming from the fire service and most of the fires are never investigated by a qualified investigator. The only reason I suggested NFIRS was there short descriptive explanation do a better job explaining the event than the four words used in the classification system being recommended in 921. With NFIRS they start off with a generalized term and then with the sub-directory add additional information to explain the event.

My question does the terms, Incendiary, accidental, natural, or undetermined in any way assist the fire safety community in the prevention of future incidents. Would it be better to just say the fire was accidental or to say the cause of ignition was a failure of equipment, and the factor contributing to ignition was the lack of maintenance.