Arson Flashcards
What are motives for arson
need/desire operating on will, revenge
What is ARSON
The deliberate setting of fire with intent to result in loss of life or property
What are the motives as per FBI
Vandalism Excitement Revenge Crime Concealment Extremist Profit
Explain arson driven by vandalism
Malicious/mischevious fire setting that results in damage to property
What are common targets in vandalism motivated arson
schools and their property, educational facilities, abandoned structures and flammable vegetation
What is excitement motivated arson
Arson caused by seekers of thrills, attention, recognition and, rarely, but importantly, sexual gratification
What is revenge motivated arson
Arson set in retaliation for some injustice, real/imagined perceived by the offender.
What triggers revenge motivated arson
arguments, fights, infinite array of events perceived by the offender to warrant retaliation
List targers in revenge motivated arson
vehicles, homes, personal possessions
Can revenge motivated arsonist be a one time occurrence
yes
What are the 3 retaliation categories in revenge motivated arsonsit
Societal
Institutional
Group
define who takes part in societal retaliation
Someone who feels he has been betrayed by society. This person suffers from life long feeling of abuse, inadequacy, loneliness, presecution or abuse
Who/what do societal retaliation arsonists target
Random targets
How does the fire setting behaviour of societal retaliation arsonist change over time
it escalates
Which of the 3 categories of revenge motivated arsonists is the most dangerous
Societal retaliation
Define characteristics of institutional retaliation arsonist
serial arsonist who strikes repeatedly against a specific institution. He uses fire to settle grievances with the institution and to intimidate those associated with it
what does an institutional retaliation arsonist target
buildings housing institution
Who is defined as a group retaliation arsonist
someone who feels anger towards group or members collectively (race, religion, faternal gangs) rather than specific individuals. some terrorist activity defined under this and may be serial arsonists
Who do group retaliation arsonists target
Group HQ, churches, meeting place or symbolic targets regardless of to what they are attached
What is crime concealment motivated arson
Fire being set to cover up a murder, burgulary, fraud or to eliminate evidence left at the crime scene. Arson is a secondary crimincal activity. It can also be set to conceal embezzelment and many auto theft arson to destroy evidence
What percentage of fires is set for revenge? for fraud? for pyromania?
39, 28 and 19
What is civil unrest motivated arson
Fires set by activists, militant organizations, organized crime and may have started as peaceful demonstrations
What does civil unrest motivated arson result in
Multiple small or large fires, multiple injuries and potentially fatalities
Where does civil unrest motivated arson happen
anywhere - not confined to foreign countries. In the US its primarily race related
What is the profile of a serional arsonist
young, white (82%), male (94%)
prior felony arrests (2/3 have misdemeanors)
spent time in various institutions
considerably more juvenile
What is the fire setting behaviour of a serial arsonist like at the age of 19
many decrease or end fire activities around 19. but if they do continue after 19, they become more frequent offenders than their younger counterparts
What do serial arsonists target
familiar areas
What fire starting method do serial arsonists use
unsophisticated methods. they hse available materials (paper or gasoline as accelerant) and (matches or lighter as ignition source). over half of them leave items behind
how often do serial arsonists return to the scene of the crime
50 percent of the time - 97% of them within 24 hours
What is fire setting frequency and pattern and severity like for serial arsonists
The majority set only one fire in a location but some return to set new fires in the same place
Fire severity increases over time
Who has motives to set Arson for profits (other than the owner) and why
workers - to secure employment (security, police, fire fighters)
Salvagers - to get contracts to salvage goods or materials
Building contractors - to obtain new contracts for re building or building demolishing
Adjusters to secure contacts to adjust losses - insurance adjustors with owners or others to split profit
What is the 1st degree of arson
burning of dwelling
what is the 2nd degree of arson
burning of building other than property
What is the 3rd degree of arson
burning of other property
what is the 4th degree of arson
attempts to burn; preliminary act
All degrees of arson have the same punishment. T/F
False
how is arson investigated
there will be an attempt to determine the facts I can explain the fire event and logical sequence with assumption that the event will end up in court as either civil or criminal
what does an arson investigation focus on achieving
The point of origin, source of ignition, fire size and growth, reasons for injuries or fatalities, extent of the loss including business interruption, and the extent of deviation from normal fire causation and development and reasons why
what fire behavior characteristics does an arson investigation examine
vertical rise of hot gases, structural members involved and fire behavior, the rate, the source and location of fuel, lateral flame shift, natural deflection, induced deflection, physical barriers, flammable surface treatment and the direction of fleeing travel
what does the chemical process of a fire and it’s physical development depend on
on the source of ignition and the type, orientation and proximity of the fuel
what does the spread and development of fire depend on
environmental factors, which is known, fire outcome demonstrates a high degree of reproducibility
what allows The arson investigator to hypothesize with specific evidence the cause of the fire
The specific fire pattern
what is the fire pattern determined by
environment, the type and availability of combustibles on the presence of installed fire suppression equipment
what is the normal behavior pattern of a fire
shape of an irreguar inverted cone with the apex at the bottom of the point of origin
Multistory buildings what does the breakthrough a fire separation indicate
there will likely be one or more inverted cones
when the fire was incendiary unless there is clear evidence to the contrary and why
where the fire pattern in the floor of origin shows 2 or more inverted cones because of two or more fires at the same time which is normally not the case for accidental fire
what are fire patterns also modified by
by physical obstructions, fire load variations, outside weather, and ventilation systems
explain The fire investigation process
investigator will first use building construction details recorded in plans, inspection reports as well as building a fire load picture. previous fire inspections and also maintenance information on equal and building systems. We will conduct interviews with on-site personnel present before and during the fire. I can also make use of any media reports that may be available
what must arson investigators FIRST factor in to the report
fire department observations from time of response to extinguishment are factored into the timeline and virtual reconstruction of the fire development and progress
Who is involved in investigating a fire that is suspected to be arson
The office of the fire marshal of Ontario along with local fire departments, the police and other agencies
what happens if the structural integrity of the building is lost i.e. there is a partial or total collapse
it reduces the availability of a large amount of information. however in most situations really are spaces below the story of origin severely damaged
what does the fall of material through openings to lower level result in and how do investigators deal with it
it can cover point of origin. it is why investigators remove degree carefully so that they may be able to try to piece the puzzle back together again
in a structural investigation, what must be thoroughly checked out
floor openings which can convey falling burning debris as can low burn points
what is the difference in fire shape pattern between flammable liquids and class a fires
flammable liquids tend to assume a round shape burn pattern whereas class A usually have ragged edges on their burn pattern
what indicates fuel type? give an example between class A and B
wall burn patterns and degree of burn to floor level
class A (solids) seldom burns a vertical member right down to floor level while class B (flammable liquids) will. class A usually produces sufficient heat to leave fairly deep charring of enearbh surfaces
what substance follows floor cracks/joints to lower floors and what does it cause
flammable liquids and can cause fires on lower levels
What are most arson investigations conducted for
laying criminal charges
What most arson investigators ensure prior to laying criminal charges
All due diligence and care is taken in gathering evidence to allow crown prosecuters to have credible information to support the case
What most arson investigators prove
need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the fire couldnt have occurred as a result of accidental/ natural causes using material evidence to prove crime rather than accident
What do arson investigators look for at the scene
something that doesnt belong or does belong but isnt there. area is secured and scanned for footprints, tire tracks, presence of outside intervention and services
What features of the fire event will an investigator examine
source of ignition, start of fire, if there were multiple fires, spread of the fire, ascertain building/structure condition prior to fire event (inspec, insurance info) and all fire scene information - people and clothing, vehicles, fire type color and odors and conditions of windows, doors, fire, sprinkler and detection system, heating equipment use and electrical equipment
who secures the fire scene
usually police officers allowing only authorized personnel
what may disturb evidence of causation and must be factored in
the use of water or other extinguishants to understand how the act of putting out the fire may have disturbed the evidence
what do firefighters do once the scene is secured
they will conduct salvage and overhall and clean up
what do most cases use to document scene
extensive photo documentation
what must be done to ensure evidence preservation, discovery and retention
limit on owners/ occupants/ media and visitors coming on site
what are the 3 components of the complete cycle of events that transpired
cause determination
investigation
arrest of responsible individual
who has a split responsibility in arson investigations
fire personnel who determine cause and police personnel who investigate and arrest
whats are some ongoing challenges in conducting an arson investigation
need for coordination of law enforcement participants and the resource demands of a systematic evaluation of fire scene
who is included under law enforcement participants
police fire marshalls office municipal fire department social services coroners office drug enforcement
who is the principal investigation body for arson in the province
OFM
what is arson a major part of
overall fire problem resulting in extensive fire losses and large costs
what are 3 lead organizations in the US that are involved in arson besides the fire department
FBI
Intl Association of Arson Investigators
Intl Fire Marshalls Association
In Ontario, is arson dropping or rising? how much of all fires does it account for
dropping. 17%
what are factors in some countries that result in arson
sense of decline in overall social order which contributes to inadequate or inappropriate consequences to arsonists
What are three causes of limited fire department budgets that result in incomplete or inconclusive investigative work
resource constraints
technical capability
other competing demands
Name some building types often involved in arson
detention facilities hotels churches schools apartment housing department stores dormitories/rooming houses supermarket residential dwelling industrial facilities
What factors in residences and industrial facilities have combined so that arson has had limited effect
usual occupant early detection (residences) and built in fire control facilities (industrial)
