NCJ Number
25300
Date Published
1974
Length
0 pages
Annotation
A NON-TECHNICAL EXPOSITION OF THE PROBLEM OF ARSON AND THE WAYS THAT FIRE MARSHALS IN NEW YORK DETERMINE WHETHER ARSON OCCURRED AND HOW THEY APPREHEND THE ARSONIST.
Abstract
NEW YORK CITY'S FIRE MARSHALS COMBINE EXPERIENCE AS FIREMEN AND AS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS IN ORDER TO DETECT ARSON AND APPREHEND ARSONISTS. THE MANY KINDS OF ARSON ARE ELABORATED UPON. FRAUD FIRES, LABOR RELATIONS FIRES, AND VANDALISM FIRES ARE DISCUSSED. DESPITE THE FACT THAT SOME EXPERTS THINK THAT ONE-HALF OF ALL FIRES ARE SET, MOST CITIES HAVE ONLY POORLY DEFINED WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY ARSON INVESTIGATIONS ARE - POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE METHOD OF ARSON INVESTIGATION INCLUDES INTERVIEWS (TO FIND OUT WHERE THE FIRE STARTED) AND A DETERMINATION OF THE CAUSE BY EXAMINING BURNING PATTERNS AND SPEED OF BURNING. IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE. EXPLOSIVES ARE DISCUSSED AS A FIRE STARTING DEVICE. THE NARRATOR EMPHASIZES THAT MOST FIRES SEEM INDIVIDUAL AND ILLOGICAL. THOSE ARSONISTS WHO ARE MENTALLY DISTURBED SEEM ON THE WHOLE TO BE RETARDED, TO HAVE SEXUAL PROBLEMS, AND EITHER TO BE NOT MARRIED OR TO HAVE A BROKEN MARRIAGE.