NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON ARSON

Arson is the second leading cause of death by fire in the United States – topped only by smoking – and the main cause of property damage due to fires.

Arsonists killed more than 500 Americans in 1996 and inflicted property damage totaling more than $2 billion.

Arsonists often escape punishment.  Only 16 percent of arson offenses lead to arrest, and only 2 percent of those arrested are convicted.

In 1996-the last year for which full data is available-those 20 years of age and under accounted for 62.3 percent of all arson fires in the United States.  Of that total, 35.5 percent were under the age of 15.

Each year, more than 90 percent of all civilian deaths in incendiary and suspicious structure fires typically occur in residential properties, principally homes.

There appears to be a growing link between arson and illegal drug activity.  Preliminary results of a new study by the National Fire Protection Association suggest that between 20% - 25% of reported arson cases in major American cities are drug-related.
 

New Jersey Perspective

17.2% of all reported fires in the State of New Jersey are listed as incendiary or suspicious in nature.  There were 1173 structure fires, 944 vehicle fires and 2544 outside fires reported as incendiary/suspicious in 1996.

Arson fires killed 11 people in New Jersey in 1996, the majority of them children and the elderly.

Arson fires account for 24% of injuries to New Jersey fire fighters.

Arson fires account for 11% of all residential fires, 19% of all school fires, 16% of all motor vehicle fires and 36% of all outside fires.

The training of fire fighters, police officers and fire investigators must be improved.  Approximately 40% of all fires in the State of New Jersey are listed as “unknown cause”.

There were 2425 reportable cases of arson in 1996, a 4% decrease from 1995.

Total value of property destroyed by arson was $30.2 million, for an average dollar loss per arson of $12,441.00.

The average dollar loss per residential structure was $20,781; industrial/commercial structures $34, 197 and motor vehicles $6316.

The arson clearance rate in New Jersey is approximately 21%.  The national average is 17%.

570 persons were arrested for the crime of Arson in New Jersey in 1996. 304, or 53%, were under the age of 18.  25 were under the age of 10.

Arson Prevention Tips

  Keep leaves, firewood, overgrown brush and shrubbery and other combustibles away from buildings.  Most arson fires are started outdoors.

  Keep matches and lighters out of the reach and out of sight of young children.  In addition to juvenile arson, fire play by children too young to know what they are doing causes unnecessary death, injuries and property damage each year.

  Keep doors and windows locked when a building is unoccupied.  But don’t use double cylinder locks, bars without quick release mechanisms or other security provisions that could trap a person in a building with a deadly fire.

Business owners should take keys away from employees who leave the company.  A disgruntled former employee with access to the building could come back and do a lot of damage.

  Install and properly maintain fire alarms, fire suppression systems and burglar alarms.

Support the establishment of a juvenile firesetter intervention program in your community.  Such community-based efforts are invaluable in the fight against arson.

Participate in Neighborhood Watch groups and report suspicious and unusual activity to the local police authorities

Sources: FBI Uniform Crime Report, the National Fire Protection Association, the International Association of Arson Investigators, the New Jersey State Police Uniform Crime Report and the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety