NCJ Number
126624
Journal
Security Management Volume: 33 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1989) Pages: 26-37
Date Published
1989
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and other authorities estimate that from one-third to one-half of all fires result from arson and that the great majority of arson cases go completely undetected due to lack of arson awareness and arson investigation training on the part of firefighters, police officers, and insurance industry personnel.
Abstract
Arsonists often have multiple and overlapping motives, both rational and irrational. Motives include direct economic gain, indirect economic gain, hatred, terrorism, vanity, concealment, pyromania, psychopathy, sociopathy, and fascination with fire. Most individuals who want their property burned for economic gain light the fires themselves. Many factors indicate that a fire was intentionally set. The local fire department is usually the first agency involved in any fire loss, although the police usually have the ultimate responsibility for investigating criminal matters. Insurance investigators should cooperate closely with local officials to establish the cause and to identify the person responsible. In most cases, evidence of the insured's anticipation of the fire is available, although it may not be initially obvious. Photographs and discussion of training and qualifications of fire investigators.