"What data would have from a person’s mine? I agree, the SM requires “Evidence” (data) that can be verified for the hypothesis to no be able to be disprove."

Not from the mind of a human. There is evidence that is used as a surrogate for prior knowledge of the initiation of a fire.

"What evidence (data) does the investigator develop to prove intent that can be tested to show what the person was thinking?"

Example, data as to the presence of a trailer or the presence of an ignitable liquid. Again, see the chapter on incendiary fires in 921.

"What you are saying is that without the classification, the investigator cannot classification a fire. Is this true? Let’s look at who this removal will affect. The public sector is much larger than the private sector because of this let’s look at the public sector. Does NFPA say that because the classification no longer the investigator cannot classify a fire? Does the removal of the chapter from NFPA 921 inhibit the investigator for having a guide to use in the classification process? Now let’s talk about the private sector. Is there anything published stating since the classification chapter was removed from NFPA 921 a private fire investigator cannot classify a fire?"

I am saying that the standard of care has removed this methodology that allows a fire cause to be classified as an incendiary fire based on intent. You can disagree with 921 on this issue. 921 does not explicitly make such statements. I am pointing out that the removal has the implicit effect of such.
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There is nothing in the action of NFPA that prohibits an investigator from classifying a fire. There is another good source for the investigator to use. NIFRS outline an excellent method for classifying.

How can one say the fire investigation community is kicking the can down the road? The only change was the removal of classification from NFPA 921. Is this the only document that can be used by fire investigators? If they can still determine a classification, by whatever means, how is the classification being kicked to another community? It sounds like fire investigators are afraid to use something that is not contained in NFPA 921."

The implication is that a determination of an incendiary fire is not made by those in the fire investigation community. The investigation is passed to the law enforcement community and they make the determination that this was an incendiary fire because we can not determine intent. How do they reliably determine intent? Based on evidence such as discussed in 921? Based on physical evidence at the fire scene?

Between a Fire Cause and Responsibility is the determination that the fire was incendiary. Where in the process is this determination now made? And by whom? With what evidence? With what qualification? With what reliable methodology?

Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, PE, FSFPE
Vice President & Principal Engineer
Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
8940 Old Annapolis Road, Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 884-3266
(410) 884-3267 (fax)
www.csefire.com