Arsson in the united states - Essay Example

Arson in the United s This article highlights the basis of arson as to how arson has played a huge role the world over in igniting fires and what destruction it has caused over a period of time. The article discusses the findings of the US Fire Administration which suggests that arson is indeed the leading cause which has been found in fires within the United States and as figures state that it is the second leading cause when it comes to deaths. One should however not forget that it also leads to injuries and loss of property.

Half of the arson fires happen outdoors as the article states and structures and vehicles are in line with how arson catches up fire with their help. Juveniles have been reported to be arrested with arson as well. Arsonists attacks those buildings in which nobody lives and poor neighborhoods are no exceptions to the same finding. The article pinpoints the role that there should be of the municipal and community members and leadership regimes as to how to keep arsonists away and incidences of arson must be reduced drastically has also been raised.

With that, there is a mention of the increase in church arsons for the last ten years or so. The article presents a analysis of 1996-98 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) which emphasizes the point that the per dollar loss due to arson fires were a bit higher than the average of all fires that erupted within the United States, however the death figures and injuries were way lower than the ones expected in such circumstances. The article fathoms that the general public thinks of arson as an insurance gimmick and that companies play with it to benefit their own selves.

But it is a significant point to understand here that arsonists play havoc with life and property all this while and this is indeed an alarming thing to come to terms with. Also the fact that arson fires peak at some specific days of the year raises an eyebrow or two. The authorities at the helm of affairs must ensure that proper and adequate steps are taken to guarantee that the general public remain safe and hazard-free when certain events come up. These events include the Halloween’s, New Year’s, the July 4 Independence Day and so on.

The article also speaks of the 1999 instance when six firefighters from the Worcester Fire Department had to give up their life when they were in the middle of a rescue operation in a cold storage warehouse. In the end, the article highlights the role of the fire departments and government agencies and as to how they are taking certain steps to counter the same problem time and time again. Arson is a problem all over the world but only due to its abundance in the recent times that it has become a huge problem all of a sudden.

Also the fact that it is leading to so many deaths and causing tremendous amounts of losses as far as property is concerned, equals to thinking on attacking the said regime right at the root causes. BIBLIOGRAPHYAuthor Unknown. (2001). Arson in the United States. US Fire Administration, Topical Fire Research Series, Vol. 1, Issue 8, URL: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/tfrs/v1i8.pdfWord Count: 528