Arson Task Force For San Francisco
About half of San Francisco’s annual fire loss total of $5.7 million is caused by arsonists—vandals, maniacs, fire-for-hire and revenge-seeking “torches.” Over the past 15 years, says Fire Chief Andrew Casper, arson has jumped 789 percent and at least 40 deaths have been caused by the crimes.
“These are homicides, pure and simple,” Casper said.
And the San Francisco chief is forming a special task force to do something about the epidemic. The group will emphasize improved investigation techniques and vigorous prosecution, even though the city’s record in these areas—arrests in 6 percent of the cases and convictions of about half of those arrested—is better than the national average of 1 percent arrests and half of those convicted.
Casper is aiming at “a more cohesive unit” consisting of a police officer and an assistant district attorney working with fire department inspectors on nothing but arson cases.
The general task force includes representatives from the district attorney’s office, police and fire departments, and also from the school district and mayor’s offices. Insurance groups and neighborhood anticrime organizations are pledging cooperation.
Nationally, Casper noted, the stake of business firms is controlling arson is enormous.
“American business pays about $7 billion annually in fire insurance premiums, and about a third goes to offset arson—the most expensive crime of violence,” he said.
