Given the fire service’s mission to fight fires, it is sadly ironic that there are arsonists in our midst. Admittedly, it’s a small number when compared to the multitude of firefighters who work tirelessly to achieve their mission. However, firefighter arsonists can have a huge negative impact on the credibility of the fire service, the public perception of firefighters, and even on morale in the ranks.
In reality, hundreds of arrests each year in the United States of firefighters are charged with arson, defined as the willful and malicious burning of property. Although reporting is scant, arsonist firefighters are typically white males between the ages of 17 and 25.
But what would motivate a firefighter to start a fire?
The simple answer: There is a range of motivations, and all firefighter arsonists do not fit neatly into a single profile. One motivation is a desire for the adrenaline rush that comes with active firefighting.
Adrenaline Rush
Some firefighter arsonists fit a pattern of starting with small fires and progressing to larger ones
Firefighters who are bored by hours of inactivity might be lured by the excitement of a fire even if they have to create it. The excitement and competitiveness of a fire can be a tempting motivation during long, slow periods in a firehouse.
Some firefighter arsonists fit a pattern of starting with small fires and progressing to larger ones. The progression might be from a trashcan fire to a dumpster fire to an automobile fire to an abandoned building fire and finally to an occupied building fire. Each step in the progression heightens the stakes and the resulting adrenaline rush.
Hero Complex
Another motivation is the “hero complex.” Drawn to the recognition for saving lives and property, a firefighter might be tempted to create a situation in which that recognition can occur.
A “vanity fire” might be set by a firefighter so they can be the first to warn others, rescue someone, or otherwise display their firefighting skills to colleagues and the public.
Other Motivations
Other motivations might be vandalism, revenge, or monetary incentives. In the case of wildland firefighters, for example, a fire might be set to elicit more working hours (and extra pay). Peer pressure might also be a factor if other young firefighters are setting fires.
Hearing stories of past heroism by older firefighters might motivate younger firefighters to resort to arson to become more active and involved in firefighting.
Training exercise
Training fires should comply with all the relevant NFPA standards, documentation, and paperwork
There is a fine line – but it must be well delineated – between arson and setting a fire for a controlled burn or another training exercise.
In the latter case, clear documentation and transparency must be deployed. Training fires should comply with all the relevant NFPA standards, documentation, and paperwork. Arson with good intentions, such as providing a training exercise, will not help to avoid prosecution.
zero-tolerance policy
If an intentional fire does not comply with the requirements of a controlled burn, it constitutes arson, and there should be zero tolerance. Starting any fire, no matter how small, is arson.
Accomplices of arson can also be charged and prosecuted. Fire service leaders should enforce a written, communicated, and affirmed zero-tolerance policy that clearly states that fire setting is not acceptable.
Education
Fire departments should educate firefighters about the definition of arson and its consequences so that there is no margin for misunderstanding. Firefighter arson destroys the faith people have in firefighters and erodes the foundation of the fire service.
After an arson incident, the firefighter’s former colleagues are left to deal with the aftermath while salvaging their reputations and that of the department. Retention and recruitment can suffer.
preventive approach
Some recruits may not be aware of the seriousness of arson, especially regarding a low-risk target
Conducting background checks on firefighter recruits is one step departments can take, although evidence suggests that firefighters usually become arsonists after they join the fire service.
Another preventive approach is to instruct firefighters about the seriousness and repercussions of setting fires and about the potential for boredom on the job. Some recruits may not be aware of the seriousness of arson, especially regarding a low-risk target such as a dumpster or vacant building.
toolkit
Fire chiefs and department leaders should always keep lines of communication open so that members feel safe to come forward with any information about arson, even anonymously. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) works with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to promote an understanding of the historical and contemporary scope of the arson problem.
They provide a “toolkit” designed to help departments implement measures to prevent firefighter arson and navigate an incident’s aftermath. The toolkit includes sample documents such as press materials, sample standard operating guidelines, checklists, etc.