Firefighting & Rescue Social / Professional Network
West Virginia-Hotbed for Arson
I’ve got to tell you; this revelation coming out of West Virginia (http://www.dailymail.com/News/200910130853) has definitely caught my attention.
I have been watching firefighter arsonist cases for several years and never have I seen such a glaring, isolated trend.
When THIRTY firefighters have been arrested and charged with arson just in the last year in of all places, West Virginia; you have to wonder if the cops in that state are very good at their investigations or is the rest of the country derelict, under-reporting cases or just plain ignoring what looks like a growing problem?
Firefighters who set fires are a very disturbing crime indeed. There is no reason that is rational and no excuse that is reasonable for a firefighter to violate their sacred oath to protect their communities in their times of need.
I liken a firefighter who sets fires to putting a vampire in charge of the blood bank.
Is there a desire that lies deep within a firefighters’ subconscious that needs fires?
If the potential to cross the line and set fires exists, then what keeps the majority of firefighters from crossing that line?
If “boredom”-often cited as a reason for a firefighter to set fires-is a symptom, then is heavy call volume the cure?
Were a firefighter not a firefighter, would he be an arsonist, nonetheless?
What tools exist TODAY that would screen out potential arsonists? The obvious one is criminal background checks, but it won’t unlock the juvenile file, where early fire-setting might be indicated.
Is there a psychological exam designed specifically to address potential arsonist tendencies in a candidate?
Ladies and gentlemen; my questions are not rhetorical. I am looking for answers.
You can search out many discussion boards on the various firefighter websites and you will find discussions on the topic of firefighter arsonists.
Firefighter arson creates a public relations nightmare for the fire department, but the real damage is to the public’s trust for the ones that they trust the most-firefighters.
The fear factor is off the charts as the fires are set-one; then another. An entire community will not sleep until the arsonist(s) is caught.
But, that is only the beginning of the fear, if it is a firefighter(s) who is caught. The fear will continue and often morph into mistrust in an entire fire department. Will it ever go away or will it continue forever?
It will continue, because somewhere; another firefighter will be arrested for arson and those communities who have suffered similarly will re-live it again and again…wondering if it will happen to their community again.
That is why we must stop it before it starts.
We can’t allow it to happen. But how?
If a cop is convicted of a crime, such as domestic violence, they can no longer possess a firearm; essentially ending their law enforcement career.
Likewise, if a firefighter is convicted of a crime such as arson, they should never be allowed to be a firefighter again.
However; if the horse is already out of the barn, then the damage is already done. We have many punishments and programs once a criminal is convicted of a crime. Where are the programs designed to keep them from committing the crime in the first place? You know; there is only so much Mom and Dad can do with regards to shaping their children’s’ personalities.
Will a firefighter be given the opportunity to set another fire because due diligence wasn’t done, because a department wouldn’t conduct a thorough background check, question “nomadic” tendencies or connect the dots between a spotty work record and a meaningful, oral interview?
Will a “gut feeling” be sufficient?
If the problem in West Virginia is any indication, then our national fire service is in for some very rough times.
We need to fix it now…for the sake of the good men and women who serve and the communities that they have sworn to protect.
Here is some related reading:
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/the-abcs-of-arson
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blog/show?id=889755%3ABlo...
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/889755:BlogPost:440973
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/889755:BlogPost:318771
http://thewatchdesk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42772
TCSS.
Art
This article is protected by federal copyright laws. It cannot be reproduced in any form without the expressed permission of the author. Please visit my blog at www.chiefreasonart.com.
I have been watching firefighter arsonist cases for several years and never have I seen such a glaring, isolated trend.
When THIRTY firefighters have been arrested and charged with arson just in the last year in of all places, West Virginia; you have to wonder if the cops in that state are very good at their investigations or is the rest of the country derelict, under-reporting cases or just plain ignoring what looks like a growing problem?
Firefighters who set fires are a very disturbing crime indeed. There is no reason that is rational and no excuse that is reasonable for a firefighter to violate their sacred oath to protect their communities in their times of need.
I liken a firefighter who sets fires to putting a vampire in charge of the blood bank.
Is there a desire that lies deep within a firefighters’ subconscious that needs fires?
If the potential to cross the line and set fires exists, then what keeps the majority of firefighters from crossing that line?
If “boredom”-often cited as a reason for a firefighter to set fires-is a symptom, then is heavy call volume the cure?
Were a firefighter not a firefighter, would he be an arsonist, nonetheless?
What tools exist TODAY that would screen out potential arsonists? The obvious one is criminal background checks, but it won’t unlock the juvenile file, where early fire-setting might be indicated.
Is there a psychological exam designed specifically to address potential arsonist tendencies in a candidate?
Ladies and gentlemen; my questions are not rhetorical. I am looking for answers.
You can search out many discussion boards on the various firefighter websites and you will find discussions on the topic of firefighter arsonists.
Firefighter arson creates a public relations nightmare for the fire department, but the real damage is to the public’s trust for the ones that they trust the most-firefighters.
The fear factor is off the charts as the fires are set-one; then another. An entire community will not sleep until the arsonist(s) is caught.
But, that is only the beginning of the fear, if it is a firefighter(s) who is caught. The fear will continue and often morph into mistrust in an entire fire department. Will it ever go away or will it continue forever?
It will continue, because somewhere; another firefighter will be arrested for arson and those communities who have suffered similarly will re-live it again and again…wondering if it will happen to their community again.
That is why we must stop it before it starts.
We can’t allow it to happen. But how?
If a cop is convicted of a crime, such as domestic violence, they can no longer possess a firearm; essentially ending their law enforcement career.
Likewise, if a firefighter is convicted of a crime such as arson, they should never be allowed to be a firefighter again.
However; if the horse is already out of the barn, then the damage is already done. We have many punishments and programs once a criminal is convicted of a crime. Where are the programs designed to keep them from committing the crime in the first place? You know; there is only so much Mom and Dad can do with regards to shaping their children’s’ personalities.
Will a firefighter be given the opportunity to set another fire because due diligence wasn’t done, because a department wouldn’t conduct a thorough background check, question “nomadic” tendencies or connect the dots between a spotty work record and a meaningful, oral interview?
Will a “gut feeling” be sufficient?
If the problem in West Virginia is any indication, then our national fire service is in for some very rough times.
We need to fix it now…for the sake of the good men and women who serve and the communities that they have sworn to protect.
Here is some related reading:
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/the-abcs-of-arson
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blog/show?id=889755%3ABlo...
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/889755:BlogPost:440973
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/889755:BlogPost:318771
http://thewatchdesk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42772
TCSS.
Art
This article is protected by federal copyright laws. It cannot be reproduced in any form without the expressed permission of the author. Please visit my blog at www.chiefreasonart.com.
Tags: arson, crime, firefighter, virginia, west
-
Comment by Captain 4 on October 17, 2009 at 11:12pm -
This makes me upset. These moorons and the ones like them are giving all firefighters a bad rep. It seems to be getting so much worse. What can we do? Is a psychological test enough for these arsonists in disguise? Maybe the laws are not harsh enough to keep these sickoes from comitting a crime.
I feel that arsonists should be charged not only with the regular charges that they get charged with, but also counts of attempted murder for each person (fire/ems/police, bystanders, news media, etc) who is on and near a fire scene because of the deadly hazards that are a threat to those people on the scene.
I feel that a convicted arsonist should be automatically be sentenced to 30 years in solitary confinement with no chance of parole.
Just how I feel about the arson subject.
-
Comment by Ralph L. Carr IV on October 16, 2009 at 10:01am -
Chief,
Great post! I have to say background checks in EMS are hit or miss at best. As a transportation manager in my "in between" career, the background investigations I had to do for new hires or annual compliance was mandated by the DOT. It was far more involved than what I see at work now.
Are these arsonists looking to "catch a run"? Is it a ploy to show someone "I can do it"? Is it a way to make more money by "catching" more fire runs? Are these people the "whankers" that pass thru the cracks and become FF`s?
It`s just scarey sad that those who swear to protect are the ones endangering.
-
Comment by CHIEF NORMAN on October 16, 2009 at 9:41am - Ya I agree good post, the only thing that comes to mind that could possible allow this type of problem to be found before the worst has already come about. Is have a contract signed by your personal on entrance into your department that allows a full psychological test to be done but not to exclude a polygraph and background check. Now I know this is allowed on the federal side because I have had it done and been the one giving it, but can’t go into detail. The only thing you would have to do is make dang sure your contract is written very well and everything is in there that covers your butt in the case that someone comes back and says you have violated there civil rights on dismissal of there entrance. And never take the word of your city attorney always get a second opinion.
-
Comment by blair4630 on October 16, 2009 at 9:13am -
Good blog, Art. I wish I could offer more insight to your non-rhetorical questions, but I am at a loss as to the solution. I know we recently participated in a discussion of possible answer in a thread regarding a fatal arson fire, I believe somewhere down south. I just don't know the answer.
As I've recently commented on one of Ben Waller's posts on brotherhood, my dept. has alot of "heroes", which I believe are the ones that carry the most potential of anyone to be an arsonist, but hey pass the background checks, interviews, and everything else. They simply possess the attitudes that hey are important, and have the constant drive to feel that way. It is frustrating to see people who resond on calls, medical or fire, who you can tell clearly could care less about the property owner or patient, and more of how they are perceived on the call by others.
When you have a FF/EMT who tries to distract the medic with his questions regarding his accuracy reading the rhythm (which he has no clue) when the medic is actively treating acute respiratory distress....or the same person commenting that he wished that oven fire would have gone undetected a few more minutes before the homeowner called so "we could have had a good one cookin' "....it's easy to spot the potential probelm people, but how do you do anything when you're not in a position of power, and the ones that are know, but don't seem to want to do anything about it?
-
Comment by Oldman on October 16, 2009 at 8:06am -
Art:
I too was amazed when the story came out from WV. I mean, we have counties in Texas that are bigger. To have that many in one year in such a relatively small area is unbelievable.
I don't think it will ever stop completely, but as you and others have said many times, background checks are a necessity to help lessen the chance. A National Arsonist Registry will help maybe stop some who roam around from being accepted on another department.
Until something better comes along, My department will continue with it's background check program. I know that for every 5 applicants we get, 2-3 do not pass the check and are denied membership.
-
Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on October 15, 2009 at 8:04pm -
Jack:
Believe it or not, I was in the process of creating a discussion thread on this topic, when I saw alot of emails that I thought I would read first.
Now, I am off to post a discussion on firefighter arson.
Thanks for reading my blog, though.
TCSS.
Art
-
Comment by Jack/dt on October 15, 2009 at 7:23pm -
Art:
The biggest problem I have with your blogs (and this is one of them) is that over here in the 'blog' section they never get read. Now if you were to post this on the forum section at least it would come up on people's radar and maybe get some good discussion. Maybe title it; "Firefighter Arsonist, what color lights do they use?" ;)
jack
-
Comment by Chief Mike France on October 15, 2009 at 2:24pm - Chief , Have you read NY law , it is quite interesting, up till 6 yrs ago they never did background checks, now we do a background checks thru the Sherffs dept, for Arson convictions. We had one locally one rthe depts,. here in town, they had the hero complex, and you would have never known, until his chief starting seeing a pattern. It makes you think.
Most Popular Today
eMail Alerts
Latest FireEMSblogs
© 2010 An Elsevier Public Safety & Go Forward Media, LLC Product - Partners: JEMS Connect - FireRescue - JEMS
• Contact Us: Report an Issue, Inquire About Advertising & Partnerships - View Our Media Kit
This site is intended for use by current and former fire, rescue & EMS professionals. Non emergency service personnel may be subject to review and removal. Using this site inappropriately to spam/advertise or solicit members in any way will result in account termination. Commercial companies may have profiles, but blogs, groups, forums, videos and photos and any other area may not be used for self-promotion.
You need to be a member of Firefighter Nation to add comments!
Join Firefighter Nation