Quick Notes is an ICAC communication that will give you quick, timely links to recent news items impacting arson prevention, investigations, litigation and training.  We trust that Quick Notes will be an easy way for you to remain current in news concerning arson control. 

Smokejumpers celebrate 50 years of fighting Alaska fires

In the 50 years since the first jump, only about 650 people can say they were Alaska Smokejumpers. They're an elite bunch, highly trained with toe-to-toe experience against flame.

Study faults federal wildfire effort

With crime, we lock our doors and we get a security system; with earthquakes, quake-proof construction is required in earthquake zones; we are not allowed to build in 100-year flood plains; but with wildfire, it's different. We don't lock our homes down to fire.

DeSoto firefighters form investigation task force

The goal of the DeSoto Parish Fire Investigation Task Force is to provide in-house probes of fire causes, which earns points for the fire departments and could result in lower fire insurance ratings for policyholders throughout the parish.

How not to...

Police in Indianapolis charged Fifth Third Bank manager Dwayne Roberts, 31, with arson and theft after the failure of his scheme to cover up embezzlement. Police said Roberts elaborately staged a fire inside a locked vault so that money would burn up, thus perhaps covering his cash shortage. However, after Roberts had set the fire and locked the vault, he realized he had left his keys inside and could not re-open the vault or lock the bank's doors or drive home.

Crime solved. Arrest complete.

Hallock's seventh grade students participated in a three-phase curriculum that took nearly the entire semester to cover – involving extensive research, investigation labs, and a school-wide arson crime simulation, that ended in a mock arrest.

America's Fire Departments Worried Over Impact of Continued Recession

The current economic crisis is negatively affecting fire departments across the country, according to a survey of firefighters.

Solving arson cases remains difficult task

During the first quarter of 2009, SLED's Arson Team received 49 requests for assistance investigation of suspicious fires. Of the 25 requests ruled arson, there have been four arrests and a total of $915,000 in property damage.

Arson for profit

While local investigators are the first step in a process that may result in a criminal investigation, the end result may not always be a criminal charge. The real victory, Gallagher and Crampton said, may be the insurance company refusing to pay the loss in highly suspicious cases. 

Juveniles play with fire at higher rate

Juvenile arson and accidental fires result in more than 300 deaths and 2,000 injuries annually, as well as $300 million in property damage, according to Focus Adolescent Services, a Web site providing information, resources and support about family and teen issues.

Bunkie crime scene expert has 'wall of knowledge"

Detective Chad Jeansonne sat at his desk dwarfed by the "wall of knowledge" behind him. The plaques, certificates and diplomas plastered the walls all the way to the ceiling.

The ICAC Quick Notes e-Newsletter is published for those who would like the latest arson news updates,  If you wish to unsubscribe from our e-Newsletter mailing list, simply reply to this message with the word "unsubscribe" (and nothing else) in the subject line.
 

Click here to be added to the e-newsletter mailing list.

Please direct all requests or comments to webmaster@arsoncontrol.org.