NCJ Number
126873
Date Published
1989
Length
29 pages
Annotation
Interviews conducted during site visits to rural arson control programs in seven states and detailed case studies of these systems in four rural counties formed the basis of this analysis of rural arson control needs and recommended strategies for responding to them.
Abstract
The interviews gathered information from fire officials, law enforcement personnel, and prosecutors. In addition, participants in group meetings listed and ranked the specific needs of their own organizations. Results showed that arson prevention, detection, and control in rural areas is different from and more difficult than that in urban areas. In addition, many problems in rural arson control result from more basic problems of fire services in general and volunteer fire services in particular. Therefore, initiatives are needed in many areas, and State agencies need to provide more assistance to rural communities in their arson control efforts. In addition, greater use of law enforcement, insurance industry, and community-based resources is needed. Specific needs include improved training of firefighters, improved investigations, counseling for juvenile firestarters, and greater interagency communication. Additional recommendations