BY KENNETH O. BURRIS, JR.
The United States Fire Admin-istration (USFA) has long maintained its commitment to combat arson. Our partnership with you in the fight has had a positive impact on the human and fiscal toll suffered by our communities at the hands of arsonists. Arson is a focus of all program areas at the USFA; prevention, training, public education, data collection, and technical assistance are provided through a range of partnership pursuits. Although the USFA’s arson-related staff is formally assigned to distinct organizational elements, the recently established Arson Mitigation Programs Team collectively addresses the coordination and integration of our antiarson efforts with a diverse team membership.
PREVENTION
The USFA manages the National Arson Prevention Initiative (NAPI), which began as a Presidential Initiative to support the development of community-based arson awareness and prevention activities in response to a series of arson fires in our nation’s houses of worship. NAPI continues to address this issue and additionally has begun to focus on the juvenile firesetting (JF) problem that plagues the country. The NAPI program provides communities with the tools and technical assistance to battle arson. The USFA issued more than a half-million dollars in need-based Arson Prevention Grants to 35 cities during the period of 1997 to 2000. Each community then targets its specific arson issue. Data indicate most have decided to confront juvenile firesetting or church arson prevention. Other program challenges include initiating programs for securing and/or demolition of vacant and abandoned buildings and developing stricter fire code enforcement as well as arson awareness programs.
TRAINING
The USFA’s National Fire Academy’s Arson Mitigation curriculum currently consists of five courses, with several additional offerings in the early stages of development. The new Interviewing/Interrogation Techniques and Courtroom Testimony course will focus on the aspects of conducting interviews and interrogations based on actual fire, leading to preparation for courtroom testimony, case preparation with actual courtroom testimony, and cross-examination during the second week of class. An additional initiative will teach the recognized principles of JF intervention and prevention. The program will address the recently passed Juvenile Firesetting Intervention Professional Standard [National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1035], providing cutting-edge, quality, and cost-effective training. The JF curriculum is comprised of a one-day management, a two-day JF implementation, and a comprehensive five-day course, which will address identification, assessment, evaluation, interview techniques, intervention, and program management. Existing courses in the National Fire Academy curriculum include Arson Detection for First Responders, Fire Cause Determination for Company Officers, Initial Fire Investigations, Fire/Arson Investigations, and Management for Arson Prevention and Control.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
During the first week of May, the USFA, through NAPI, sponsors National Arson Awareness Week (AAW) and works in cooperation with other organizations, particularly the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), in this effort. “Target Arson,” the national public education campaign that has surrounded each week, encourages communities to become involved in the solutions to their arson problems. During this week, NAPI grant communities and chapters of the IAAI host events and activities in virtually every state. The goal is to create a national umbrella of recognition, awareness, and understanding of the arson problem in the United States. NAPI also operates the National Arson Prevention Clearinghouse, which disseminates public education materials and coordinates technical assistance requests from communities. Accessible by a toll-free number, 1-888-603-3100, the Clearinghouse has reached more than three million individuals, organizations, and communities with arson awareness and prevention materials since its inception in 1996. The Clearinghouse sends out more than 500,000 information packets annually. Additional arson materials are available from the USFA Publications Center or through its Web site. I encourage each of you to involve your community in a National Arson Awareness Week program next month.
DATA COLLECTION
The USFA maintains the National Fire Data Center, working with its partners in the fire service and law enforcement communities. Arson data collection has dramatically improved with the release of NFIRS 5.0 in January 1999. The updated program allows fire service personnel to capture a variety of data as they pertain to fire and arson investigations. A sample of the new data collection areas includes case status, motivational factors, apparent involvement, methods devices, and a section devoted to the juvenile firesetter. Additionally, the USFA is currently in the process of developing the Fire and Explosions Investigation Management System (FEIMS), which will replace the existing Arson Information Management System (AIMS) program. FEIMS is a Web-based browser application with data storage on a centralized database server. Neither user installation nor excessive hardware is required. Software updates will be available on the Internet, and FEIMS will be integrated with NFIRS as well as existing Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) data. This new approach will enable the USFA to integrate arson data in a shorter timeframe. Arson investigators will find the program easy to use and beneficial because the USFA will administer the system through the Internet and there will be a single point of data gathering.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The USFA will continue its ongoing program to provide technical assistance to Fire-Arson Investigation Units. This on-site initiative has been provided to nearly half of the nation’s State Fire Marshal’s offices and local investigation units, including multiagency task forces. The technical assistance involves identifying strengths and weaknesses and targeting areas of potential improvement and partnership with other agencies, community groups, and resources. At the core of this effort is the objective to identify and share “best practice” prevention and intervention strategies, as well as innovative technologies.
PARTNERSHIPS
Battling arson is an extremely complex issue, one the fire service cannot win alone. Success requires the involvement and commitment of the at-risk community-its schools, churches, professional trade groups, and respective leadership-as well as the fire service, law enforcement, and prosecutors. The USFA, along with the ATF, American Re-Insurance, and NFPA developed InterFire, an interactive CD that provides standardized training for the fire investigator. The courseware allows students to navigate through a realistic fire scene, using virtual reality. Students can inspect all portions of the building, collect samples, take photographs, and interview witnesses. This virtual fire investigation shows proper procedures for documenting a fire scene, interviewing witnesses, and developing a “case” for successful prosecution along with a reference section. Contact the USFA to request a copy of the InterFire CD.
Additionally, a satellite office of the ATF Arson and Explosives National Repository was opened at the National Fire Data Center. It is staffed with a special agent and an intelligence research specialist, who work closely with USFA personnel. The National Repository, which can be reached at 1-800-461-8841, now contains information from 88,000 investigations. The USFA and ATF have cosponsored regional training for federal, state, and local prosecutors. Its purpose is to sharpen prosecutors’ courtroom skills and to encourage their vigorous pursuit of criminal sanctions for offenders and personal and organizational support of aggressive investigative and enforcement efforts. The USFA, in conjunction with the Tennessee Valley Authority Police, has partnered the development of the Arson Investigation & Mitigation Strategy (AIMS) 2000. This field-proven commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software and hardware technology provides investigators with robust information collection, analysis, and transfer and communications capabilities.
As you can see, the USFA is working hard to fulfill its commitment to each of you and your communities to reduce the impact of arson in our nation. Additional information on all the programs described above can be found on the USFA Web site www.usfa.fema.gov.
