NCJ Number
39091
Date Published
1975
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILM PROBES THE MOTIVES AND BACKGROUNDS OF EIGHT PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF DELIBERATELY SETTING FIRES.
Abstract
THE MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP INCLUDE AN ELDERLY WIDOW WHO SETS FIRE TO OLD CARS ON THE STREET, AN EIGHT-YEAR OLD BOY WHO 'JUST LIKES TO PLAY WITH MATCHES,' AN INTROVERT WHO LIGHTS FIRES FOR A FEELING OF POWER, AND A YOUNG WOMAN WHO STARTS 'REVENGE FIRES' WHEN SHE GETS ANGRY. ALSO FEATURED ARE A POLITICAL ACTIVIST WHO SET 'PROTEST FIRES' WITH MOLOTOV COCKTAILS, A MIDDLE-AGED 'VANITY PYRO', WHO STARTS FIRES AND THEN PUTS THEM OUT HIMSELF FOR THE RECOGNITION AND PUBLICITY HE RECEIVES, PROFESSIONAL BURGLAR WHO SETS FIRES TO COVERUP HIS THEFTS, AND A 'TORCH,' A PROFESSIONAL ARSONIST WHO SELLS FIRES TO BUSINESSMAN LOOKING TO COLLECT THE INSURANCE. PROCEDURES FOR DISCOVERING AND INVESTIGATING ARSON CASES WHICH EMPHASIZE WHAT THE FIRST-IN FIREFIGHTER SHOULD LOOK FOR ARE ALSO OUTLINED. (THE INFORMATION IN THIS FILM IS RESTRICTED AND INTENDED FOR VIEWING BY FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ONLY.) ...ELW