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HOME SAFETY TIPS
Reducing Residential Arson: Why Arson?
The motivations behind the burning of homes are curiosity,
vandalism, concealing another crime, excitement, revenge
and insurance fraud or arson for profit.
Curiosity
Curiosity fires are most often set by juveniles. The misuse
of fire has many variables including age, motivation for
firesetting behavior, type of fires set, ignition materials
used to set the fire, and the child’s understanding and
limitations of fire. Firesetting behavior is often a symptom
of the problem and may be manifested through stress and
crisis in children’s lives.
Vandalism
Vandalism or the criminal offense of malicious mischief
can be the result of boredom, peer pressure or even
gang activity. Vandalism is most common at abandoned
or vacant homes. According to interFIRE, an online
resource for arson investigation, whether the buildings are
abandoned or vacant, more than 70 percent of the fires
occurring in them are incendiary or suspicious.
Concealing Another Crime
Arson is sometimes used to mask or conceal another crime
such as murder. The criminal sets the crime scene ablaze
hoping that the victim’s death will be attributed to the fire
and not murder. Other crimes such as burglary and larceny
are also commonly covered up by an arson fire.
Excitement
Most excitement fires are nuisance fires but may escalate
to homes. Excitement-motivated arsonists desire the thrill
associated with setting the fire and relish the attention it
brings. They rarely intend to injure people but don’t have
the requisite knowledge to keep the fires under control.
Revenge
According to the National Center for the Analysis of
Violent Crime, the most common motive (41 percent)
for a serial arsonist is revenge. An arsonist will target the
home of someone in retaliation for an actual or perceived
injustice against him or her.
Insurance Fraud or Arson for Profit
Arson for profit is insurance fraud, a criminal method
of obtaining money from a fire loss policy. The losses for
arson are staggering! Dennis Jay, the Executive Director
for the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, states, “Arson
schemes are dangerous and damaging. Torching homes for
insurance money endangers innocent neighbors and brave
firefighters. These senseless insurance crimes also raise
premiums for all honest homeowners at a time when every
penny counts.
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AMERIND Risk ALARM | Q2
Reducing Residential Arson: Establishing a Community
Arson Watch Program
A neighborhood’s arson problem can range from youngsters
setting nuisance fires to a full blown crisis with a serial arsonist.
Following the successful Neighborhood Watch five-step program
model provides an effective groundwork.
Step 1
The first step is to analyze the specific local problem and collect
related data. Strategies that address the problems in a given
area must be mapped out. From the outset, it is essential that
neighbors work together. This effort provides an opportunity for
neighbors to meet and get to know each other, something that has
become less common lately. It is crucial to include neighborhood
involvement for the process to be successful. In addition to not
being familiar with your neighbors, the dilemma is compounded
by the fact that many adults in these neighborhoods work multiple
jobs frequently with odd hours, making it extraordinarily difficult
to schedule meetings and organize events.
Step 2
Once the neighbors have a connection, the second step involves
building a partnership between fire and emergency services, the
police and other law enforcement agencies, and the residents.
This is often the most difficult step to hurdle because there is
usually angst between the residents and law enforcement for the
existing crime problem that exists in their community.
Step 3
The third step is to assess the needs of a given neighborhood and
in the case of arson, how the fire and police departments can
work with the residents. Neighborhood Watch states, “In many
cases, law enforcement and community members do not have the
same focus. An effective Neighborhood Arson Watch program
will combine the needs of the fire and police departments with
those of the neighborhood when determining which problems to
focus on and the methods used to address them.
Step 4
The fourth step in setting up a Neighborhood Watch program
is choosing and training a dynamic group of volunteers that are
led by organized and motivated leaders. If the group leaders are
devoid of motivation and organization, the volunteers may be
uninspired to participate and quickly quit out of disappointment
and frustration.
Step 5
The fifth and final step is to develop meaningful projects specific
to the identified problem. Often, after a Neighborhood Watch has
addressed its original issue, members lose interest. It is important
for leaders to remain passionate. One way to accomplish this is to
design new projects so that there is always a goal towards which
the team of volunteers is aspiring.
(Source: www.usfa.fema.gov)