Fire Cause and Origin Determination University of the Sciences in Philadelphia 13Nov10 Rick Schmidt, Instructor

Fire Cause and Origin Determination Incendiary Fires

Fire in America Costliest public safety issue in the nation 6 th leading cause of death in US –3 rd leading cause in 65 age groups –Fire deaths outnumber all other natural disasters combined

Fire in America – 2009 Statistics 1 Arson –26,500 structure fires (Down 13% from 2008) 30,500 in 2008 (Down 4% from 2007) –170 deaths (Down 46% from 2008) 315 deaths in 2008 (Up 41% from 2007) –$794 million in losses (Down 9% from 2008) $866 million in losses in 2008 (Up 18% from 2007) 1 National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the U.S. 2009

Societal Impact Lost business income Unemployment Reduced property value Reduced tax base Environmental impact Emotional trauma and fear

The Legal Challenge Can be considered a property or violent crime –Listed as property crime in PA Now tracked by National Crime Information Center (NCIC) –2000 series codes Among the most common subjects of civil litigation

The Forensic Challenge Very complex investigation issues –Multidisciplinary Difficult to achieve convictions if arson By definition, the scene is contaminated before investigation begins Normal “crime scene” protocols are almost impossible to wholly achieve Historically limited statistical data

Responsibilities Determine cause of a fire including any related human actions Determine point(s) of origin of a fire Determine source of ignition Determine fire classification for subsequent action or investigation –Natural –Accidental –Incendiary –Undetermined

Arson in America Popular crime at one time due to amount of destruction and fear generated Difficult to make arrests due to limited evidence –Arson is easy to prove but difficult to convict Heyday of Arson (1960s and 1970s) –Represented a crime of choice –Many urban slums literally burned to the ground (South Bronx) –Problem was so bad that federal government stepped in

Arson in America ATF started arson division to handle hate crimes, etc. –Had access to the best police resources in the US –Penalties were strengthened and forensics improved Recent resurgence related to downward trend in economy (?)

Arson Motives Investigators must understand the victimology –Who is the true victim? –Why did arsonist choose a particular target? –Consider rational criteria for target selection Benefit/profit vs. acceptable risk

Arson Motives Vandalism –“Malicious mischief“ –Usually juveniles (physically or mentally) –Schools, abandoned buildings and vegetation Crime Concealment –Secondary criminal activity –Typically designed to hide murder, burglary, auto theft, destruction or theft of records, etc. Extremist –Social, political, or religious causes –Targets include abortion clinics, houses of worship, government buildings, laboratories and fur farms –Often includes claims of responsibility

Arson Motives Profit –In/direct monetary gain Excitement –Can includes pathological or serial arsonists –Often nuisance fires such as dumpsters, recycling bins, trash piles, targets of opportunity –Frequently escalate to larger fires –Also includes thrill seekers, hero complexes, attention gaining, sexual gratification 1 National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime

Arson Motives Revenge –The most common motive for a serial arsonist (41% 1 ) –Retaliation for some real or imagined injustice –Can include societal (most common serial arsonist revenge motive [70% 1 ]), institutional, group, personal 1 National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime

Juvenile Firesetters Responsible for 40% of all set fires in US 1 Approx. 10% of all juvenile set fires in the U.S. ever get reported 1 50% of child-set fires occur in homes 1 Arson is the leading crime committed by juveniles 2 –55% of all arson arrests are children –15% of gun violence is committed by children 81% probability of repeat offenses if not dealt with 1 1 United States Fire Administration 2 Federal Bureau of Investigation

Arson Prosecution Must meet four criteria for successful litigation –Fire must have occurred –Fire caused visible burning –Fire started by a human –Fire must have malicious intent