You can, but what you are really saying is UNDETERMINED. If you don't know, it is not a failure. I often write something to the effect of :


blah, blah, this fire was started with human involvement, however, at this time intent cannot be determined. Until evidence of intent is developed this fire is classified as UNDETERMINED.

From a law enforcement perspective I can still investigate an undetermined fire. Of course, from a private sector perspective you may very well be able to call the fire because of a much different standard of proof. I will not try to explain it since I am not typing from that perspective and it is not my place...

This is my opinion, but I've been wrong before. (as Pat often points out)

Dan Hebert