The exact cause of the fire that destroyed a rural Rushford home and severely injured its occupants may never be known after a lead investigator with the State Fire Marshal Division was unable to determine its cause. Lead investigator Steve Wolf concluded on Jan. 10 that the fire originated at the lower level and north side of the home, but due to the severe damage to both the home and its contents, Wolf was unable to pinpoint an exact area or define a point of origin. Wolf concluded that he was able to eliminate all natural causes due to the weather observed at the time as well as an "incendiary cause based upon a lack of motive and no items of evidence observed to support this possibility."