It is a problem many in the fire service prefer not to think about — firefighters setting fires. To most firefighters, the very idea seems to go against everything they have trained for and the very foundation of what they believe in. Yet with roughly 100 arrests made each year, firefighter arson is a very real concern for the fire service and one that needs to be addressed.
While the majority of firefighters would never think of setting a fire outside of authorized training situations, having a firefighter arsonist in a department can cause irreparable damage to the reputation of the department and the trust of the citizens it protects. Cases of firefighter arson cause damage to the entire fire service community and overshadow all of the good that firefighters do every day.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), with support from the United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the NVFC Foundation, has produced many new resources to help departments address the firefighter arson problem and prevent incidents. Use the following resources to become educated about the problem and adopt simple prevention measures in your department.
Report on the Firefighter Arson Problem: Context, Considerations, and Best Practices
TheReport on the Firefighter Arson Problem: Context, Considerations, and Best Practicesaims to educate members of the fire service, emphasize existing proactive approaches, and provide resources and best practices for prevention and mitigation. The NVFC, with guidance from a work group comprised of arson investigators and fire service professionals, examined the issue using previous research, news stories, and through interviews with individuals directly affected by firefighter arson. A series of recommendations to address and prevent firefighter arson incidents are also included.
Firefighter Arson Prevention and Recovery Toolkit
TheFirefighter Arson Prevention and Recovery Toolkitaims to educate members of the fire service on how to implement prevention measures as well as how to navigate the aftermath of an incident. Developed by a team of subject matter experts and practitioners, the toolkit provides departments with sample documents, press materials, sample SOGs, important checklists, and more. Additionally, two training presentations are included for firefighters and department leadership. Download thetoolkit onlineor order a hard copy from theNVFC store.
Out in the Open: Preventing Firefighter Arson Video
Out in the Open: Preventing Firefighter Arsontakes a closer look at the firefighter arson problem, including interviews with a convicted firefighter arsonist, arson investigators, and department leaders, and addresses why some firefighters become arsonists and what departments can do to help prevent incidents.Order a copy of the videofrom the NVFC store, orclick hereto view on YouTube.
Firefighter Arson Prevention Poster
Firefighter arson negatively impacts the department, community, and the fire setter. Hang this 18”x24” poster in the firehouse to remind members that arson is a crime with serious consequences.Click hereto order a hard copy.
Firefighter Arson Incident Database
In an effort to better understand the scope of the firefighter arson problem, the NVFC launched anonline databaseto collect incident data. Users can view entries documented in the media since the year 2000 and can also submit known case data. The data comes from surveying media reports and is sorted by state.
