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NVFC Releases Report on Firefighter Arson

Published Date: 10.25.2011

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has released a report addressing the issue of firefighter arson. The Report on the Firefighter Arson Problem: Context, Considerations, and Best Practices, aims to educate members of the fire service, emphasize existing proactive approaches, and provide resources and best practices for prevention and mitigation.

Firefighter arson is a long-standing problem that impacts fire departments and communities across the nation. History suggests that firefighter arson is not a new phenomenon. In fact, the number of media reports suggests there are likely over 100 arrests per year. While this is still small in comparison to the over 1 million firefighters nationwide, the impact of these incidents is profound on the department, the community, and the fire setter. The NVFC, with guidance from a work group comprised of arson investigators and fire service professionals, examined the issue using previous research, news stories, and through interviews with individuals directly affected by firefighter arson. Work group members provided a valuable critique of the existing literature and crafted a series of recommendations to more adequately address and prevent firefighter arson incidents.
 
As part of this project, the NVFC is also working on developing a toolkit for fire departments which will include prevention materials and resources for dealing with the aftermath of a firefighter arson incident.

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