NCJ Number
81203
Date Published
1981
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Data on vehicle fires and techniques for investigating such fires are discussed.
Abstract
The most recent statistics indicate that about 20 percent of reported fires involve vehicles. An insurance study showed that although women do about one-third of the driving, fires occur only in 1 percent of the vehicles they drive; 90 percent of all fires involve financed and insured vehicles. For various reasons, persons set their vehicles on fire to collect the insurance payment. Many vehicle fire setters show their inexperience at criminal planning to the extent of leaving partially burned newspapers and matches inside the vehicle. Others exercise planning, including the removal of the insurance policy, registration, and other important papers from the vehicle before firing it. In some cases, salable accessories have been removed and replaced by used or damaged items. All four sides as well as the interior of a fired vehicle should be photographed. Signs of a very hot fire suggest the use of a liquid accelerant. Symptoms of a very hot fire include the burning away of the rubber covering on the gas and brake pedals, the complete burning of the carpet under the seats, and the buckling of the roof. A scene search of the burned vehicle may provide clues left by the arsonist. It should be determined whether the vehicle was operative at the time of the fire. A bibliography of eight listings is provided.