Arson Flashcards

0
Q

What are motives for arson

A

need/desire operating on will, revenge

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1
Q

What is ARSON

A

The deliberate setting of fire with intent to result in loss of life or property

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2
Q

What are the motives as per FBI

A
Vandalism
Excitement
Revenge
Crime Concealment
Extremist
Profit
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3
Q

Explain arson driven by vandalism

A

Malicious/mischevious fire setting that results in damage to property

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4
Q

What are common targets in vandalism motivated arson

A

schools and their property, educational facilities, abandoned structures and flammable vegetation

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5
Q

What is excitement motivated arson

A

Arson caused by seekers of thrills, attention, recognition and, rarely, but importantly, sexual gratification

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6
Q

What is revenge motivated arson

A

Arson set in retaliation for some injustice, real/imagined perceived by the offender.

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7
Q

What triggers revenge motivated arson

A

arguments, fights, infinite array of events perceived by the offender to warrant retaliation

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8
Q

List targers in revenge motivated arson

A

vehicles, homes, personal possessions

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9
Q

Can revenge motivated arsonist be a one time occurrence

A

yes

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10
Q

What are the 3 retaliation categories in revenge motivated arsonsit

A

Societal
Institutional
Group

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11
Q

define who takes part in societal retaliation

A

Someone who feels he has been betrayed by society. This person suffers from life long feeling of abuse, inadequacy, loneliness, presecution or abuse

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12
Q

Who/what do societal retaliation arsonists target

A

Random targets

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13
Q

How does the fire setting behaviour of societal retaliation arsonist change over time

A

it escalates

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14
Q

Which of the 3 categories of revenge motivated arsonists is the most dangerous

A

Societal retaliation

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15
Q

Define characteristics of institutional retaliation arsonist

A

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

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16
Q

what does an institutional retaliation arsonist target

A

buildings housing institution

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17
Q

Who is defined as a group retaliation arsonist

A

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

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18
Q

Who do group retaliation arsonists target

A

Group HQ, churches, meeting place or symbolic targets regardless of to what they are attached

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19
Q

What is crime concealment motivated arson

A

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

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20
Q

What percentage of fires is set for revenge? for fraud? for pyromania?

A

39, 28 and 19

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21
Q

What is civil unrest motivated arson

A

Fires set by activists, militant organizations, organized crime and may have started as peaceful demonstrations

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22
Q

What does civil unrest motivated arson result in

A

Multiple small or large fires, multiple injuries and potentially fatalities

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23
Q

Where does civil unrest motivated arson happen

A

anywhere - not confined to foreign countries. In the US its primarily race related

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24
Q

What is the profile of a serional arsonist

A

young, white (82%), male (94%)

prior felony arrests (2/3 have misdemeanors)
spent time in various institutions
considerably more juvenile

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25
Q

What is the fire setting behaviour of a serial arsonist like at the age of 19

A

many decrease or end fire activities around 19. but if they do continue after 19, they become more frequent offenders than their younger counterparts

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26
Q

What do serial arsonists target

A

familiar areas

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27
Q

What fire starting method do serial arsonists use

A

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

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28
Q

how often do serial arsonists return to the scene of the crime

A

50 percent of the time - 97% of them within 24 hours

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29
Q

What is fire setting frequency and pattern and severity like for serial arsonists

A

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

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30
Q

Who has motives to set Arson for profits (other than the owner) and why

A

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

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31
Q

What is the 1st degree of arson

A

burning of dwelling

32
Q

what is the 2nd degree of arson

A

burning of building other than property

33
Q

What is the 3rd degree of arson

A

burning of other property

34
Q

what is the 4th degree of arson

A

attempts to burn; preliminary act

35
Q

All degrees of arson have the same punishment. T/F

A

False

36
Q

how is arson investigated

A

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

37
Q

what does an arson investigation focus on achieving

A

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

38
Q

what fire behavior characteristics does an arson investigation examine

A

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

39
Q

what does the chemical process of a fire and it’s physical development depend on

A

on the source of ignition and the type, orientation and proximity of the fuel

40
Q

what does the spread and development of fire depend on

A

environmental factors, which is known, fire outcome demonstrates a high degree of reproducibility

41
Q

what allows The arson investigator to hypothesize with specific evidence the cause of the fire

A

The specific fire pattern

42
Q

what is the fire pattern determined by

A

environment, the type and availability of combustibles on the presence of installed fire suppression equipment

43
Q

what is the normal behavior pattern of a fire

A

shape of an irreguar inverted cone with the apex at the bottom of the point of origin

44
Q

Multistory buildings what does the breakthrough a fire separation indicate

A

there will likely be one or more inverted cones

45
Q

when the fire was incendiary unless there is clear evidence to the contrary and why

A

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

46
Q

what are fire patterns also modified by

A

by physical obstructions, fire load variations, outside weather, and ventilation systems

47
Q

explain The fire investigation process

A

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

48
Q

what must arson investigators FIRST factor in to the report

A

fire department observations from time of response to extinguishment are factored into the timeline and virtual reconstruction of the fire development and progress

49
Q

Who is involved in investigating a fire that is suspected to be arson

A

The office of the fire marshal of Ontario along with local fire departments, the police and other agencies

50
Q

what happens if the structural integrity of the building is lost i.e. there is a partial or total collapse

A

it reduces the availability of a large amount of information. however in most situations really are spaces below the story of origin severely damaged

51
Q

what does the fall of material through openings to lower level result in and how do investigators deal with it

A

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

52
Q

in a structural investigation, what must be thoroughly checked out

A

floor openings which can convey falling burning debris as can low burn points

53
Q

what is the difference in fire shape pattern between flammable liquids and class a fires

A

flammable liquids tend to assume a round shape burn pattern whereas class A usually have ragged edges on their burn pattern

54
Q

what indicates fuel type? give an example between class A and B

A

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

55
Q

what substance follows floor cracks/joints to lower floors and what does it cause

A

flammable liquids and can cause fires on lower levels

56
Q

What are most arson investigations conducted for

A

laying criminal charges

57
Q

What most arson investigators ensure prior to laying criminal charges

A

All due diligence and care is taken in gathering evidence to allow crown prosecuters to have credible information to support the case

58
Q

What most arson investigators prove

A

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

59
Q

What do arson investigators look for at the scene

A

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

60
Q

What features of the fire event will an investigator examine

A

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

61
Q

who secures the fire scene

A

usually police officers allowing only authorized personnel

62
Q

what may disturb evidence of causation and must be factored in

A

the use of water or other extinguishants to understand how the act of putting out the fire may have disturbed the evidence

63
Q

what do firefighters do once the scene is secured

A

they will conduct salvage and overhall and clean up

64
Q

what do most cases use to document scene

A

extensive photo documentation

65
Q

what must be done to ensure evidence preservation, discovery and retention

A

limit on owners/ occupants/ media and visitors coming on site

66
Q

what are the 3 components of the complete cycle of events that transpired

A

cause determination
investigation
arrest of responsible individual

67
Q

who has a split responsibility in arson investigations

A

fire personnel who determine cause and police personnel who investigate and arrest

68
Q

whats are some ongoing challenges in conducting an arson investigation

A

need for coordination of law enforcement participants and the resource demands of a systematic evaluation of fire scene

69
Q

who is included under law enforcement participants

A
police
fire marshalls office
municipal fire department
social services
coroners office
drug enforcement
70
Q

who is the principal investigation body for arson in the province

A

OFM

71
Q

what is arson a major part of

A

overall fire problem resulting in extensive fire losses and large costs

72
Q

what are 3 lead organizations in the US that are involved in arson besides the fire department

A

FBI
Intl Association of Arson Investigators
Intl Fire Marshalls Association

73
Q

In Ontario, is arson dropping or rising? how much of all fires does it account for

A

dropping. 17%

74
Q

what are factors in some countries that result in arson

A

sense of decline in overall social order which contributes to inadequate or inappropriate consequences to arsonists

75
Q

What are three causes of limited fire department budgets that result in incomplete or inconclusive investigative work

A

resource constraints
technical capability
other competing demands

76
Q

Name some building types often involved in arson

A
detention facilities
hotels
churches
schools
apartment housing
department stores
dormitories/rooming houses
supermarket
residential dwelling 
industrial facilities
77
Q

What factors in residences and industrial facilities have combined so that arson has had limited effect

A

usual occupant early detection (residences) and built in fire control facilities (industrial)