Arson
Arson
ARSON
Arson is the willful and malicious burning of the house or house of the
other man. Present laws on arson have extended the scope of the
crime and cover all kinds of buildings and structures even including
personal property. Now the crime of arson includes the burning of one’s
property. (Under the Old Common Law)
Arson is the malicious destruction of property by fire and the extent of
liabilities depends on:
a. Kind and character of the building
b. Location
c. Extent of damage or value
d. Its state of being inhabited or not (RPC)
Arson is the malicious burning of a building or property a dwelling house
(Webster)
ELEMENTS OF ARSON
ORIGIN OF FIRE
MOTIVE
IDENTIFICATION OF PRIME SUSPECT
IDENTIFICATION OF FIRE SETTER
ORIGIN OF FIRE
HEAT – A heat source is responsible for the initial
ignition of fire, and is also needed to maintain the fire
and enable it to spread. Heat allows fire to spread by
drying out and preheating nearby fuel and warming
surrounding air.
FUEL – Fuel is any kind of combustible material. It’s
characterized by its moisture content, size, shape,
quantity and the arrangement in which it is spread
over the landscape. The moisture content determines
how easily it will burn.
OXYGEN – Air contains about 21 percent oxygen,
and most fires require at least 16 percent oxygen
content to burn. Oxygen supports the chemical
processes that occur during fire. When fuel burns, it
reacts with oxygen from the surrounding air, releasing
ELEMENTS OF FIRE heat and generating combustion products (gases,
smoke, embers, etc.). This process is known as
oxidation.
ORIGIN OF FIRE
Causes of Fire
A.Natural Cause without Human Intervention
B. Accidental Cause with or without human intervention
C.Arson or Touch of Fires (a set fire) – when all natural and
accidental causes have investigator to determine if it is in
fact a “touch off” fire.
MOTIVE
FIVE MOTIVES THAT PREDOMINATE IN ARSON CASES
1. Economic Gain
2. Concealment of Crime
3. Punitive Measure
4. Malicious Vandalism
5. Pyromania