1. INTRODUCTION TO FIRE PREVENTION
Seventh Edition • James C. Robertson
Chapter 11
Fire Prevention Through
Arson Suppression
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, Seventh Ed.
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

2. Overview
• Major part of fire problem
• Discouraging arson
• Role of prevention
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

3. The Crime
• History and background
– Colonial times
– 1800s
– Uniqueness
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

4. Statistics
• Uniform Crime Reports, 2006-2007
– Statistics remain static over years
– 69,055 arsons
– 44.2 per 100,000 inhabitants
– 42.3% structure arsons
– 28.2% mobile properties
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

5. Statistics
• National Fire Prevention Association
– 2,781 civilian deaths due to intentionally
set fires in 2001
• 2,451 due to 9/11
• 330 in set-structure fires
• $24 billion in property loss
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

6. Fire investigators spend long hours digging through ruins to determine points of origin and causes.
(Photo: McGill Consulting, Lamont “Monty” McGill, Gardnerville, NV)
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

7. Model Arson Laws
• First-degree arson
– Burning of building or dwelling
– Willfully or maliciously sets fire to, burns, or
causes to be burned, or aids, counsels, or
procures the burning of:
• Dwellings
• Occupied or vacant
• 1 or 2 to 20 years
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

8. Model Arson Laws
• Second-degree arson
– Burning buildings other than dwellings
– Requires fire willfully or intentionally set
• 1-10 years
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

9. Model Arson Laws
• Third-degree arson
– Burning of other property
• Willfully and maliciously set fire to, burn, or
cause to be burned
• Property has a value of $25 or more and is
property of another
• 1-3 years
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

10. Model Arson Laws
• Fourth-degree arson
– Relates to attempts to burn
– Willfully and maliciously set fire may be
chargeable even if materials only
distributed
– Preliminary act of setting fires
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

11. Arson Motives
• Fraud or profit
• Revenge
• Excitement
• Pyromania
• Conceal other crimes
• Vandalism
• Political reasons/extremist beliefs
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

12. Investigation
• Establish “corpus delecti”
• Motive
• Responsibilities of fire department
– Cause and criminal investigation
– Cause only
– Third party (police, county, state)
• Joint police/fire teams
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

13. Fire origin and cause set used by Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s, Fire Academy. (Photo: James C.
Robertson)
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

14. Insurance Fraud
• Requires insurance claim
• Full inventory
• Fire department and the insurance
industry
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

15. Fire Scene Examination
• Scene security
• Location of origin
• Establishing possible source of ignition
• Firefighter role
• Others
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

16. Fire investigators seldom have such a simple determination scenario as this. (Photo: James C.
Robertson)
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

17. NFPA 921
• Guide for fire and explosion
investigation
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

18. Fire Investigator
• Properly trained
• Identifying evidence
• Examination of scene
• Fatal fires
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

19. Preservation of Evidence
• Salvage and overhaul
• Site access control
• Handling evidence
• Spoliation
• Documentation
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

20. Media Relations
• Controlled statements
• Personnel policy
• Cooperation
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

21. Civil Unrest
• History
• Need to investigate
• Scene security issues
• Evidence
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

22. Arson Arrest
• Success rate
• Reason for success rate
• Regional differences
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

23. Juvenile Fire Setters
• Model programs
• Counseling
• Prevention projects
• Parental awareness
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

24. Court Decisions
• Michigan v. Tyler
• Michigan v. Clifford
• State of South Dakota v. Jorgensen
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

25. Michigan v. Tyler
• Established guidelines for right of entry
– To investigate cause and origin
– Gather evidence should the fire be
determined incendiary
• Court held original entry for suppression and
subsequent investigation permissible without a
warrant
– Subsequent entries may require a warrant
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

26. Michigan v. Clifford
• Court reaffirmed Michigan v. Tyler
– Recognized the ability of investigator to
seize evidence in clear view of entry
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

27. Problem Areas in Arson
Investigation
• Identified in a joint study with the BATF
– Unique characteristics impede detection,
investigation, and reporting
– Lack of agency cooperation
– Lack of uniformity in measuring arson
variables
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

28. Problem Areas in Arson
Investigation
• Jurisdictional and organizational
problems confound investigations
• Immediate need for standardization
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

29. Serial Arsonists
• Characteristics:
– Sex
– Race
– Previous arrests
– Suicide
– Juvenile detention
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

30. Arson Control Needs
• Sprinklers, education, smoke detectors,
code enforcement
• Training
• Safety and health of investigators
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

31. Arson Control Needs
• Public awareness
• Wildland arson issues
• Serial arsonist control
• Juvenile fire setter programs
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

32. Summary
• Impact on number of fires
• Impact on severity of fires
• Potential prevention effectiveness
Robertson, Introduction to Fire Prevention, 7/e
© 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ