Arson/Investigation
The FireRescue1 Arson/Investigation resources page features news about confirmed and suspected arson as well as information on the latest fire investigation methodologies to help fire investigators and other personnel identify fire causes.
Columns in the Surfside collapse that killed 98 people did not meet 1980s standards
Texas A&M Forest Service investigators, Xcel Energy say lines, equipment caused the Smokehouse Creek fire burning nearly 1,700 square miles
Employees told a supervisor about beams “bowing” the day before the fatal collapse
The arsonist who said he lit five fires because it gave him a high was denied his request to be released into his parents’ custody
ATF investigators say a damaged electrical plug sparked the blaze and a 15-foot, dry Christmas tree caused the room to flashover
The former Dallas firefighter is on trial for a 4-hour stand off with police at his girlfriend’s home, that he set fire to; he is accused of several other crimes a year later
Calif. fire officials believe the 34-year-old woman set 14 fires in the past week and a half
The former paid on-call firefighter was convicted of setting several fires at multi-occupancy dwellings in 2013
The dispute began after a firefighter intervened when he saw one of the four men steal a stuffed Scooby Doo doll at a county fair
Police found gas cans, a firefighter’s hat and vests inside the man’s car
The jury deliberated less than four hours over two days before returning with the verdict
Officials think they’re looking for either one person or a group working together because all the MO’s have been the same
The 22-year-old was placed on five years of supervised probation and was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service
He confided to his girlfriend about his involvement with the 2001 arsons; her father was a deputy fire marshal
He was indicted on 24 counts and could have served 29.5 years; the sentence was reduced because the fires were not set out of malice
Three 12-year-old boys and one 10-year-old boy face first-degree arson charges, among many others
Investigators believe they may have found accelerants; the fires were reported 15 minutes apart
Fire caused by malicious intentions was not anticipated, and provisions to keep out hazardous materials were not in place
Two of the fires inflicted heavy damage to vacant houses, while the third damaged a commercial building
Macon police say they have little evidence suggesting this was a hate crime
Federal authorities are investigating a series of fires at black churches in several Southern states; so far, there’s no evidence they are related
He remained on scene for 10 to watch it burn as residents escaped; he did not aid those fleeing the fire
They were hospitalized with minor injuries; fire officials suspect arson
They aren’t sure if the fire was racially motivated; two firefighters were treated for heat-related injuries
The judge weighs making public a fire department report on the deadly fire before the trial starts
All of the department’s firefighters were called in to fight six fires; no firefighters were injured
She was found more than 12 hours after the apartment fire lying on the ground nude and badly burned
Firefighters delivered emotional testimony at the trial of a trio charged with murder in a fatal Nov. 2012 house explosion
Officials won’t allow him to keep Allie with him while on duty because of fellow employees’ concerns about allergies to pet dander
Grace Halpin, 82, had a heart attack during the fire but firefighters revived her and send her to the hospital; she died three weeks later
David Donnora, 25, was sent to state prison for four to 10 years on charges of arson and burglary and was ordered to pay $96,000 in restitution
Police are searching for leads to who killed Terry Canfield, a 28-year veteran of the Spokane Fire Department
He’s charged with putting a propane tank in a lit oven because he was angry over being asked to leave the boarding house