FIREFIGHTER ARSON: Problem, Profile, & Prevention Presented

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FIREFIGHTERARSON
Problem, Profile, Prevention

• Presented By
• Thomas W. Aurnhammer, EFO, IAAI-CFI
• Deputy Fire Chief, Los Pinos Fire District
• Ignacio, Colorado

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THANK YOU

• Tim Huff, FBI (Retired)
• Gus Gary, ATF (Retired)
• Lieutenant Chuck Dorenwend, Suffolk County (NY)
  Police Department
• Supervising Detective George Wendt, Morris County
  (NJ) Prosecutors Office (Retired)

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THANK YOU

• South Carolina Chapter of the IAAI
• C. Benjamin Norris, CFI
• Franklin R. Burke, Jr., CFI
• Edward A. Pumphrey
• All Photos Except Noted Provided By Nancy L.
  Ford, Observer Dispatch, Utica, New York and the
  National Fire Academy

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OBJECTIVES

• Understand The Firefighter Arson Problem
• Know The Motives Of Fire Setting
• Know Why Some Firefighters Commit Arson

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OBJECTIVES

• Know What Effect Firefighter Arson Has On The
  Community And The Fire Service
• Understand Arson Law

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OBJECTIVES

• Know The Basic Profile Of The Firefighter
  Arsonist
• Know The Fire Services Responsibilities In
  Preventing Firefighter Arson
• Know What Action To Take When A Problem Is
  Suspected

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INTRODUCTION

• In Recent Years The Frequency Of Firefighters
  Being Charged And Arrested For The Crime Of Arson
  Has Increased Dramatically

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THE GOOD NEWS

• Looking At The Number Of Volunteer And Career
  Firefighters In America (Over 1 Million) The
  Number Of Firefighter Arsonists Is Relatively
  Small

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INTRODUCTION

• This Is A Problem The Fire Service Does Not Need
  Or Want - We, The Members Of The Fire Service
  Must Find A Solution To This Problem As It Hurts
  The Entire Fire Service Family, Not Just The Fire
  Departments Involved

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INTRODUCTION

• What Can We Do To Prevent And Correct The Problem
  Of Firefighter Arson?

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INTRODUCTION

• What We Hope To Accomplish Today Is To Provide
  You With A Basic Overview Of The Problem Of
  Firefighter Arson, Its Effects, And What Can Be
  Done To Fix The Problem

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WHY DONT WE TALK ABOUT IT?

• Because It Is Not Fun Stuff
• It Makes Us Uncomfortable
• It Is An Issue That The Fire Service As A Whole
  Has Been Practicing Avoidance With

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FROM THE JANUARY 21st, 2002 FREDERICK NEWS-POST

• EMMITSBURG, MD - Despite numerous arson incidents
  linked to firefighters, the U.S. Fire
  Administration keeps no statistics and offers no
  training on the problem for the 50,000 fire
  officials who take classes at its National Fire
  Academy each year.

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FROM THE JANUARY 21st, 2002 FREDERICK NEWS-POST

• With no central database, the magnitude of the
  problem is hard to pin down. But a recent case
  in Frederick County where a volunteer
  firefighter has been charged with setting more
  than 20 fires in Maryland and West Virginia

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FROM THE JANUARY 21st, 2002 FREDERICK NEWS-POST

• exposes a potential oversight by the agency
  charged with disseminating fire data and
  prevention education to the more than 30,000
  departments nationwide.

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FROM THE JANUARY 21st, 2002 FREDERICK NEWS-POST

• "It's a local issue," said Marko Bourne,
  spokesman for the USFA in response to questions
  about firefighters who commit arson.

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FROM THE JANUARY 21st, 2002 FREDERICK NEWS-POST

• Yet a 1997 Arson Report published by the USFA
  identified firefighter arson as a problem.

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FROM THE JANUARY 21st, 2002 FREDERICK NEWS-POST

• Calling it an "egregious" situation when "a
  firefighter betrays the public trust," the report
  said "better information is needed in order to
  more precisely define the arson problem in the
  U.S." Part of the recommendation called for
  collecting data on fire setters, their motives
  and histories.

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HEADLINES
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Where This Started -April 15th, 2001

• Murder charges were filed against the man who
  confessed to starting a blaze in Platte County,
  MO that contributed to the death of a fellow
  firefighter.
• Jason Hendrix, 26, of Dearborn, MO, was charged
  with second-degree murder.

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Where This Started -April 15th, 2001

• Travis Brown, 30, of Edgerton, MO, a member of
  the Dearborn Fire Department, was killed June 2
  responding to the fire when the tanker truck
  overturned.

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Where This Started -April 15th, 2001

• The fire at a barn in rural Platte County was
  allegedly set by Hendrix.
• Hendrix was a volunteer with the Edgerton Trimble
  Fire Department.

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Where This Started -April 15th, 2001

• September 24th, 2002 - Another five months will
  pass before a Platte County jury hears the case
  of a firefighter charged with the murder of
  another firefighter.

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Where This Started -April 15th, 2001

• Hendrix also is charged with second-degree arson,
  first-degree property damage and five counts of
  negligently setting fire to a woodland, cropland
  or grassland.

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Where This Started -April 15th, 2001

• The defense argued the felony murder rule doesnt
  apply because Firefighter Browns death happened
  away from the scene of the arson that Hendrix
  allegedly committed.

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Where This Started -April 15th, 2001

• Prosecutors countered by saying that Firefighter
  Brown wouldnt have been on the road to fight the
  fire if Hendrix hadnt allegedly started the
  blaze.

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Where This Started -April 15th, 2001

• On February 13th, 2003 Jason Hendrix, former
  firefighter, is given 12 year sentence for arson
  and property damage after reaching a plea
  agreement with the special prosecutor.
• He did not stand trial for murder.

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THE PROBLEM

• It Is A Complex One
• Arson In The United States (NFPA Stats)
• Incidents Down, Property Damage Up
• While A Comprehensive Study Is Not Available We
  Do Have Some Data
• Study Conducted By Tim Huff And Gus Gary

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THE PROBLEM

• The Problem Is Not New To The Fire Service
• The Problem Occurs On A National Level

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TWISTED CULTURE

• One investigator had a fire in a department
  where, 20-30 years before, it had been an
  initiation rite that if you wanted to join the
  FD, you had to set a structure fire
• While there was no such "official" initiation
  anymore, this "culture" was still prevalent

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TWISTED CULTURE

• They ended up locking up three Firefighters
• The Fire Department was generally uncooperative
• The Chief told the investigator that he didn't
  know what the big deal was

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TRAINING?

• A Fire Chief applied for a permit to conduct live
  burn training, but was turned down by the
  Environment Department
• However, since he was the Fire Chief, he felt
  that he had sole discretion over this matter

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TRAINING?

• He and his Assistant Chief traveled to the
  building (an abandoned house) on the originally
  scheduled date for the drill and set the fire
  anyway
• They called it a surprise drill
• These two were charged and pled guilty

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THE PROBLEM

• The Problem Is UNACCEPTABLE To The Fire Service!
• Dont Condone It!
• Dont Be A Part Of It!
• Prevent It If Possible!

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A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WILL BE CONDUCTED

• No Special Treatment For Firefighters
• The Investigation May Be More Aggressive
• Offenders Will Be Prosecuted Zero Tolerance
• Arrests Will Be Reported To The Media

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A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WILL BE CONDUCTED

• Morris County, NJ has a zero tolerance policy for
  Firefighter Arson
• They have always prosecuted and always opposed
  any pre-trial diversion program

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A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WILL BE CONDUCTED

• In one case, Firefighter walked into the
  firehouse and found three young Firefighters
  "preplanning" a fire in a large barn that was in
  their first due area
• He grew suspicious when this barn burned down
  that night

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A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WILL BE CONDUCTED

• He told investigators about it and who was
  involved
• The investigators ended up making five arrests
  from that information

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ARSON IS A CRIME OF DETECTION

• No Investigation No Arson
• Investigations Will Turn Up Signs Of Firefighter
  Arson

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MOTIVES OF FIRESETTING

• Motive Defined
• The REASON For Setting The Fire
• Something That Prompts A Person To Act In A
  Certain Way

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MOTIVES OF FIRESETTING

• Sometimes Motive And Intent Get Confused
• Intent Is The Deliberateness Of The Act

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INDIVIDUAL MOTIVESGENERAL

• Fraud Profit
• Crime Concealment
• Spite/Revenge
• Pyromania
• Civil Disorders
• Vanity Recognition
• Actions Of Juveniles

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CHANGES

• Pyromania Does Not Exist As A Separate Mental
  Disease
• The Current Usage of Pyromania As A Motive In
  Fire Setting Is An Oversimplification Of A
  Complex Issue, As The Act May Be Indicative Of
  Other Problems Or Disorders

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WHY FIREFIGHTERS COMMIT ARSON

• Personal Goals
• Someone Who Likes To Be The Hero
• He Or She May Be The Reporting Party

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WHY FIREFIGHTERS COMMIT ARSON

• Personal Goals
• Could Be The Person Who Wants To Make The Most
  Runs
• Could Be Overall Boredom

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THE WHITE PAPER

• Excitement And Putting Their Training To Work Was
  The Most Predominant Reasons Found For
  Firefighter Arson

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WHY FIREFIGHTERS COMMIT ARSON

• Psychiatric Problems
• Someone With A Fascination With Fire
• Could Be A Person With Low Self-Esteem Or
  Self-Confidence

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WHY FIREFIGHTERS COMMIT ARSON

• Psychological Needs
• The Social Needs Of Wanting To Be Accepted By
  Others, Wanting To Belong To Or Be Identified
  With A Significant Group
• The Self-Esteem Issue Of Being Recognized And
  Praised By Others

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MOTIVATION USUALLY NOT INTENDED TO BE HARMFUL

• Strictly Excitement
• Usually, No Harm Intended
• Immature May Not Realize The Harmful Effects
• Does Not Realize The Severity Of The Crime Being
  Committed

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THE WHITE PAPER

• Motives Found In Firefighter Arson
• Excitement
• Vanity
• Profit
• Revenge

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THE WHITE PAPER

• Lone Offenders Were Most Prevalent
• Less Common, Yet Significant, Are
  Multiple-Arsonist Cases

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THE WHITE PAPER

• Modus Operandi
• Most Set Fire To Materials Found At Site
• Most Fire Setting Activity Started Out With
  Nuisance Fires
• Fire Setting Activity Escalated
• Frequency
• Damage Potential

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THE WHITE PAPER

• Modus Operandi
• Hot Sets Were Utilized
• Most Fires Occurred At Night
• Some Fires Were Set In Other Fire Districts When
  Suspicion Was Perceived By The Offender(s)

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THE WHITE PAPER

• Telltale Signs Of Firefighter Arson
• Increase In Nuisance Fires
• No One Calls For An Investigation

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THE WHITE PAPER

• Other Findings
• Offenders Were Often Fairly New Members Of The
  Department
• Most Group Offenders Did Not Have The Inclination
  To Set Fires Prior To Joining The Department

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EFFECTS OF FIREFIGHTER ARSON

• Effects On The Community
• Loss Of Life
• Injuries To Citizens
• Property Loss
• Financial Loss
• Increased Insurance Premiums
• Destroys Communitys Trust Of The Fire Service

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EFFECTS OF FIREFIGHTER ARSON

• Effects On The Fire Service
• Loss Of Life
• Injuries To Firefighters
• Accidents While Responding/Returning
• Expense Cost Of Fire Suppression
• Equipment Damaged Or Destroyed
• Negative Publicity
• Possible Liability

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EFFECTS OF FIREFIGHTER ARSON

• Effects On The Fire Service
• Destroys Community Trust
• May Influence Fundraising
• Embarrassment To All Department Members
• Public Reaction Could Result In Knee-Jerk
  Legislation That Would Seriously Impact The Fire
  Service

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EFFECTS OF FIREFIGHTER ARSON

• Effects On The Firefighter Arsonist
• Embarrassment To Family And Friends
• Held Accountable For Actions
• Arrested, Convicted, Sentenced
• Removal From Fire Department
• Loss Of Esteem
• Loss Of Belonging
• Payment Of Fines/Imprisonment

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EFFECTS OF FIREFIGHTER ARSON

• Effects On The Firefighter Arsonist
• Other Financial Loss
• Restitution
• Loss Of Job
• Criminal Record
• Loss Of Rights Of Ordinary Citizens
• May Cause Family Problems
• Negative Publicity

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ARSON LAW

• Originally, Arson Was A Common Law Offense.
  Common Law Is Court-made Law Based On Accepted
  Standards Of The Community. The United States
  System Of Justice Originated In England, And
  English Common Law Forms The Basis Of Our Laws.

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ARSON LAW

• Arson At Common Law Was Originally The Offense
  Of The Burning Of The Dwelling Of Another. In
  Recent Years The Arson Laws Were Codified And
  Changed By The States And The Congress. A Few
  States Still Have Arson At Common Law Many Have
  Revised Them.

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ARSON LAW

• The Old Arson At Common Law Did Influence The
  Way Some State Statutes Were Written (e.g., some
  of the state statutes still refer to arson as the
  burning of the dwelling of another).

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ARSON LAW

• Please Check With Your Local Prosecutors To See
  What The Laws Are In Your Jurisdiction!

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BASIC PROFILE OF THE FIREFIGHTER ARSONIST

• Usually, Volunteer Firefighter
• White Male
• 17 To 26 Years Old
• May Be The Highly Trained, Motivated,
  Firefighter Of The Year Type

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BASIC PROFILE OF THE FIREFIGHTER ARSONIST

• Always Seems To Be In The Right Place At The
  Right Time

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JOHN ORR
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BASIC PROFILE OF THE FIREFIGHTER ARSONIST

• Works In Low Paying Jobs With Low Recognition And
  Esteem Therefore Joins Fire Department For
  Recognition
• Fascination With The Fire Service

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LESS OBVIOUS FACTORS

• Disruptive, Harsh, Or Unstable Home Environment
  As A Child
• Ineffective Or Absent Father, Poor Relationship
  With Father
• Dominant Or Overprotective Mother
• Average Intelligence, But Poor To Average
  Academic Record

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LESS OBVIOUS FACTORS

• Shy Or Ineffective Relationships With Women, Poor
  Marital Adjustment If Married
• May Be Experiencing Unusual Personal Stress
  (Family, Financial, Legal)
• May Use Alcohol To Release Inhibitions When
  Setting Fires

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ADDITIONAL FACTS AND TRAITS

• Firefighters Who Commit Arson May Associate With
  Other Firefighters Who Have Similar Desire To Be
  A Hero Or Have A Fascination With Fire
• The Fire Departments That Have Experienced This
  Problem Recently Are Mostly Rural With Normally
  Low Call Volume

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ADDITIONAL FACTS AND TRAITS

• A Sudden Increase In The Number Of Small Fires,
  False Alarms, Bomb Threats, Or Similar Responses
  Should Alert The Fire Chief To A Possible Problem
• The Increase In The Severity Of Fires Is Also A
  Sign

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FIRE SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES IN PREVENTING
FIREFIGHTER ARSON

• Education Training Of All Fire Service
  Personnel
• Complete Investigation Into Origin Cause Of All
  Fires

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VIDEO
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BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL PERSONNEL

• All Of The Points Discussed Here May Not Be
  Possible Due To A Lack Of Resources Or
  Restrictions Of Law
• You Need To Do As Much As You Are Allowed To

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BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL PERSONNEL

• If the Fire Department takes the time to have an
  applicant fill out this lengthy application, they
  should get references and then CALL
  the references
• They should also check with former Fire
  Departments and former employers

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BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL PERSONNEL

• The application packet should include a release
  form for the applicant to sign for the release of
  information
• This background check, if properly conducted, can
  lead to identification of candidates prone to
  fire setting

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BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL PERSONNEL

• Criminal History
• Driving Record
• Employment History
• References
• School Records
• Medical Records

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BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL PERSONNEL

• Credit Records
• Check With Previous Fire Departments The
  Individual Has Been Associated With
• Psychological Screening

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MONITOR ACTIVITIES OF PERSONNEL

• Maintain Adequate Records
• Personnel, Attendance, Training, Etc.
• Fire Incident Reports
• Investigation Reports

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SUPPORT MANDATORY STATE CERTIFICATIONS FOR
FIREFIGHTERS
INCLUDING RECRUIT TRAINING ON FIREFIGHTER ARSON
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ACTIONS TO TAKE WHEN A PROBLEM IS SUSPECTED

• Immediately Notify The Chief Of The Fire
  Department Involved
• If This Is Not Possible Because The Chief May Be
  A Suspect Or For Other Reasons, You May
• Confide In Another Fire Service Or Law
  Enforcement Official That You Know And Trust

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ACTIONS TO TAKE WHEN A PROBLEM IS SUSPECTED

• Notify The Local Law Enforcement Agency
• Call Your Local Crime Stoppers Program
• If You Suspect An Individual, But Do Not Have
  Specific Proof, The Chief May Be Able To Confront
  The Suspect With Suspicions

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ACTIONS TO TAKE WHEN A PROBLEM IS SUSPECTED
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ACTIONS TO TAKE WHEN A PROBLEM IS SUSPECTED

• Observe If There Are Any Changes In The Trends
  That Aroused Your Suspicions
• If You Do Not Feel Comfortable Confronting The
  Individual, Or If There Is Hard Evidence, Notify
  The Local Law Enforcement Agency

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DECIDING TO BLOW THE WHISTLE

• You Need To Understand The Difference Between A
  SNITCH And A WHISTLEBLOWER

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DECIDING TO BLOW THE WHISTLE

• A SNITCH Gets Information That Is Private And/Or
  Embarrassing On Someone They Report It To The
  Supervisor For Personal Gain

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DECIDING TO BLOW THE WHISTLE

• A WHISTLEBLOWER Is A Valuable, Dedicated Employee
  Whom Discovers Problems In Work Quality, Safety,
  Or Legal Compliance And Reports Them To Someone
  Who Can Correct The Matter

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REASONS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST FIREFIGHTER
ARSONISTS

• It Is An Unlawful Act That Violates The Ethical
  Mission Of The Fire Service
• To Protect Lives And Property Against Unfriendly
  Fires

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CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY 1
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CASE STUDY

• You are a member of the Countys fire
  investigation task force and have been called to
  the scene of a fire in a vacant house. It
  appears that a pile of trash on the exterior of
  the house was burning.

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CASE STUDY

• The fire occurred early on a Saturday morning
  (0214 hours). Examination of the area of origin
  indicates that no accidental fire causes were
  noted and you believe that an open flame was
  utilized to ignite available combustible
  materials.

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CASE STUDY

• Examination of the fire departments reports
  indicate that there have been four other fires
  within a four block radius of the current
  incident. Two were trash dumpsters, one was a
  brush fire, and the other was an abandoned
  vehicle. All of the fires occurred within the
  last six months.

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CASE STUDY

• Except for the brush fire all of the fires in the
  area had occurred between 0100 and 0300 hours.
  None of the fire were investigated.

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CASE STUDY

• In interviewing one of the members of the
  department you discover that on all of the fires,
  the same three firefighters were the first to
  arrive at the station. This was unusual since
  none of the three lived close to the firehouse.

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CASE STUDY

• After interviewing the three firefighters who
  were first at the station, the weakest link
  gives it up and confesses to starting the fires.

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CASE STUDY

• What were some of the indicators that would lead
  someone to believe that this was a case of
  firefighter arson?

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CASE STUDY

• Increase In Nuisance Fires
• Fires Escalating
• Fires Occurred At Night
• Hot Sets
• No Call For Investigation
• Same Three Faces First At Fire Station

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CLUSTER ANALYSIS

• Plot the locations of the fires on the map
• As a pattern develops, the offenders will be
  located at the center
• One investigator had a series of three fires in a
  town where the Firehouse was the center of the
  cluster

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TIME/DATE ANALYSIS

• Plot the time and date of each fire to see if
  there is a common denominator
• Is the fire on a particular night (Fire
  Department event)?
• A particular shift?

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TIME/DATE ANALYSIS

• One department had a series of fires that always
  occurred when the Fire Chief was out of town
• They had at least 10 fires
• Investigators ended up charging the Assistant
  Chief with 5 of those fires

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TIME/DATE ANALYSIS

• This guy (the Assistant Chief) was also a
  "Souvenir Hound"
• He kept a souvenir from each fire he set
• A fire in a restaurant he kept a menu
• A fire in a car he kept a piece of the car, etc.

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CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY 2
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CASE STUDY

• This Hamilton County, Tennessee incident had a
  far reaching, long term impact on the
  firefighters involved, the community, and the
  department.

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CASE STUDY

• A former volunteer firefighter was attempting to
  secure his position back as a firefighter and
  encountered resistance from the chief.

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CASE STUDY

• He and six other volunteer firefighters entered
  into a conspiracy to burn a vacant house, thereby
  providing this former firefighter an opportunity
  to call it in and regain the confidence of the
  chief.

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CASE STUDY

• Unfortunately, when he was in the process of
  starting the fire, he was trapped inside the
  house and died. A total of six volunteer
  firefighters were subsequently convicted for this
  crime.

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CASE STUDY

• The surviving firefighters plead guilty to arson
  and aggravated burglary. Most of the defendants
  were sentenced to ten-year prison terms. One
  pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the
  fact and was sentenced to one year, suspended,
  and probation.

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CASE STUDY

• The volunteer firefighters were current or former
  members of a volunteer fire department near
  Chattanooga.

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CASE STUDY

• As a result of the charges, investigation, and
  subsequent sentencing of the men, the department
  met with much public scrutiny and community
  mistrust.

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CASE STUDY

• Residents called for an immediate investigation
  into the fire department, focusing on the way it
  manages its money and staff, as well as its
  ability and readiness to respond to fires, not
  just the ones they set themselves.

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CASE STUDY

• Residents were outraged with the knowledge that
  the firefighters received hundreds of hours of
  training and still considered themselves so
  bored they had to set fire to a house.

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CASE STUDY

• The fire chief believed that the incident was an
  isolated one.

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CASE STUDY

• A review of fire reports showed that the
  department had responded to five suspicious fires
  in vacant buildings or lots in their jurisdiction
  over a two year period.
• All were located within one mile of the fire
  station.

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CASE STUDY

• Ultimately, a review panel was named to review
  the practices and standards of the department.

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CASE STUDY

• The review panel submitted 23 recommendations,
  which included requesting criminal background
  checks on current and future members of the
  department and establishing progressive
  disciplinary procedures.

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CASE STUDY

• After the results of the review panel were made
  public, there was still much finger pointing,
  anger, and animosity towards the fire department.

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CASE STUDY

• Several residents felt as if nothing had been
  accomplished with the panel consisting of only
  emergency personnel, except for one public
  citizen, and taking care of their own
  allegations surfaced.

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CASE STUDY

• This incident demonstrates that the crime of
  firefighter-related arson can impact the entire
  community.
• The impact is still felt by some members of this
  community today.

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TAKING THAT ACTION AGAINST THE PROBLEM IS

• The Only Practical Way To Reveal Illegal Conduct
  Or Major Abuses Of Public Authority
• The Highest Form Of Loyalty To The Fire Service
  And Its Mission
• Essential To The Public Interest

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TAKING THAT ACTION AGAINST THE PROBLEM IS

• Morally Justified As A Means Of Preventing Or
  Correcting A Firefighter Arson Problem
• Being Proactive In Exposing A Problem Thereby
  Diluting The Negative Image Of The Fire Service
• Taking Responsibility And Showing Courage

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NON-ACTION ONLY GIVES VICTORY TO CRIMINAL
ACTION, IMPROPER CONDUCT, AND FAILURE TO THE FIRE
SERVICE IN SERVING THE PUBLIC!
REMEMBER THAT
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LETS NOT SWEEP THIS DIRTY LITTLE SECRET UNDER THE
CARPET!
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Questions and/or Comments?
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THANK YOU!