Disturbing Trend - MUTT x 4

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Most Upsetting Troubled Times!!!!!!!

Arson probe under way

Copyright 2002 The News and Observer
The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC)...06/14/2002

Jerry Allegood, Staff Writer

ELIZABETHTOWN -- Four Bladen County firefighters have been
charged with intentionally setting woods fires in a series of
unrelated incidents over the past two years, officials for the
state Division of Forest Resources said Thursday.

The arrests stemmed from a two-year investigation that is
continuing, said Ray Adcox, an investigator with the division. He
said the incidents, involving members of several small fire
departments in the county, were part of a disturbing national
trend of firefighters who set fires.

"It's a very sad thing," he said. "They (firefighters) are our
American heroes right now."

He said investigators were probing more cases involving
firefighters, but specifics about such cases were not available.
There was no indication that the Bladen County incidents were
related, he said.

Adcox said the firefighters who were later charged had helped
extinguish the fires they set. All the blazes were relatively
minor, he said, but presented the potential for more serious
damage.

In the most recent case, Sean Nelson Pullman, 23, of Hope
Mills was charged with two counts of willfully setting fire to
woodlands. Pullman, a member of the Tobermory Fire Department, is
scheduled to appear in Bladen County District Court on June 25.

A firefighter from the Kelly Fire Department, David Earl
Burney, 28, of Kelly, pleaded guilty to willfully setting fire on
International Paper Co. land in early March. Burney was sentenced
to a year of supervised probation and ordered to pay court costs
and restitution to the Kelly Fire Department and the N.C.
Division of Forest Resources. He was also barred from serving
with a fire department for two years.

James Kristopher Jackson, 17, of Harrells in Sampson County, a
member of the Baytree Fire Department, was found guilty last
November of willfully setting fire to woodlands, the division
said in a news release. He was ordered to pay court costs, have
no contact with a prosecuting witness and not violate any state
laws for two years.

A member of the Tar Heel Fire Department, James Harold Cordle,
23, of White Oak, was charged in June 2000 with willfully setting
fire to woodlands. State officials said he pleaded guilty in
district court, paid court costs and was placed on 18 months of
probation. He was suspended from serving with any fire department
during his probation.

Division officials said the local departments had cooperated
in the investigations. And they said the cases involving
firefighters represented only a fraction of the volunteers who
serve scores of small departments.

David Jarman, fire chief for the forest division, said the
problem of firefighters setting fires appears to be increasing
across the Southeast. He said a study in South Carolina developed
a profile that indicated the crime was most often committed by
"the young, gung-ho type that drives the red truck with as many
lights on it as he can get.

"It seems to be excitement related," he said.

Jarman said fires set by firefighters are still relatively
rare. The division responded to 8,100 fires last year, he said,
most of them caused by people burning trash or woodlands.

Adcox said he had investigated many cases but couldn't explain
why some firefighters set a blaze.

"A soldier isn't much of a soldier without a battle to fight,"
he said. "That's the best analogy I can give you."


Wish there was some way to stop these guys from ever becoming firefighters but I know that's pretty much impossible. Ties in with the thread on background checks - although I don't think a background check would necessarily identify "firebug" behaviour as a child or young teen (if no charges were ever laid, no records existing, school pranks - that sort of thing)

Do any of the forum regs know if firefighter arsonists (sorry to say those words together - JUST DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT) that have been charged in recent years are more apt to be volunteer or career FF?

[PuffyNPFD]

Real beauties!!! Should have their hands bashed in with tack hammers!

[Dalmatian90]

It is much more common to find volunteer firefighter-arsonists for several reasons.

First, there is about three times more volunteers than career.

Second, most of "thrill seeking" or "hero" (George Wendt can help me out if that's not the right term!) arsonists tend to be young late teen/early twenties. Most career firefighters don't receive their appointments to age 25 to 30 when they've out-grown that demographic.

Third, most volunteer departments are not very selective in their appointments. Few do background checks, fewer still pyschological tests. Most career services in my area are a) highly competetive with more applicants than openings, b) conduct background checks, and c) many conduct pysch tests. Those three together tend to get you employees who are more, um, well adjusted. Also career departments often have a one year probationary period were you can be terminated for any reason including "we don't trust you" -- so even when someone slips through the hiring process, that's another out for the career service to weed out these people.

Combine all those factors together, you probably see 10 to 20 volunteer firefighter-arsonists to each career firefighter-arsonists.

[PuffyNPFD]

Dalmation- Good evaluation of it all. Any time a new volly applies, there should be a background and character checks. This might weed out some of the problem children! Also make probies aware that anytime there is a call BS or not that lives are in danger each time that truck responds. Driving to and from, both FF and civilian as well as dangers operating at the scene.

[Temptaker]

It saddens me everytime I read something like this. Arson is bad enough, but when that arson is committed by a member of the fire service is becomes dramatically worse.

Personally I don't understand the mentality behind setting fires, I have read that arsonists like to watch their fires. I'm not sure how accurate that is, as I have never personally spoken to an arsonist. I'm sure if these guys went to their Capt and said something like, "We want to see the way this kind of fire burns", or "We need more training on fire behavior" then they could find a place that was SAFE for a fire to be set.

Dalmatian90

Very good description of the "why" behind it all.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Thanks Dal, what you said makes alot of sense.

[NJFFSA16]

There are some arsonists that experience sexual arousal while they watch the fire. Taking photos of the crowd at a series of suspected arson fires is a good way to check for repeat "viewers" at the scene and may provide clues to the arsonists identity.

When I was department photographer, I shot many photos of the bystanders...in order to build a visual database for the investigators.

[truck6alpha]

As a result of that study (and I'm sure a few other issues) South Carolina requires ALL firefighters in the State to be registered with the Fire Marshal and criminal background checks are made. For once, we seem to be leading the nation on one issue...

[upinflames60]

i just cant understand why any "firefighter" would want to set woods on fire. i mean why in the hell would anyone want to purposely run through thick *** choking,eye watering smoke with an indian pack outting out a fire that they started?

[FlyingKiwi]

upinflames.

Yes they do exist, and reading the above thoughts is an accurate way to get a handle on these people.

There probably may be an un-registered viewer reading this thread who in time to come, will be nailed for this style of offense.

Who is to say that an arsonist or three don't check up on what we are saying, bet your butt they do.

Its just the way life goes.

NO, I am not condoning this behaviour, that goes against my grain that much you will get splinters.

[firemed9]

More firebugs in the fire service, thats all we need. Volunteer or career, its this type of firefighter that gives the fire service a bad name. Here we are trying to prevent fires, and fight the ones that do occur, and we have guys like this that are fighting us.

[Temptaker]

I don't know what is more disturbing the fact that these firefighters are setting fires, or the fact that they WILL be allowed to work as firefighters again.

A firefighter from the Kelly Fire Department, David Earl
Burney, 28, of Kelly, pleaded guilty to willfully setting fire on
International Paper Co. land in early March. Burney was sentenced
to a year of supervised probation and ordered to pay court costs
and restitution to the Kelly Fire Department and the N.C.
Division of Forest Resources. He was also barred from serving
with a fire department for two years.

A member of the Tar Heel Fire Department, James Harold Cordle,
23, of White Oak, was charged in June 2000 with willfully setting
fire to woodlands. State officials said he pleaded guilty in
district court, paid court costs and was placed on 18 months of
probation. He was suspended from serving with any fire department
during his probation.

I missed that these guys have not been banned from being firefighters the first time I read the article. I don't understand why the court would not stipulate that they are NOT to work as firefighters period.

[FlyingKiwi]

didn't comment on that, cause I'm in a different country. Surely there can be a national register for this?

Down here you get one charge like that it is goodbye forever.

[sconfire]

As a result of that study (and I'm sure a few other issues) South Carolina requires ALL firefighters in the State to be registered with the Fire Marshal and criminal background checks are made. For once, we seem to be leading the nation on one issue...

To add to this...
Chapter 80, Section 40-80-20
(C) A person who is convicted, pleads guilty or no contest, or otherwise admits guilt, regardless of adjudication, to a felony, arson related crime, use of an illegal substance, or abuse of a controlled substance within the last ten years, shall not be allowed to perform firefighting duties in the State of South Carolina on or after July 1, 2001. After the expiration of the ten-year period, a fire chief has the option and discretion to determine whether or not to hire a person with a criminal record as a firefighter.

You can view the entire law here:
S390 SC State Legislature

[truck6alpha]

Nicely done, Captain. I was too lazy to look it all up but I knew it was there.