Introduction
One of many public safety professions, firefighters are on call twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. They are ready at a moment’s notice to risk their lives in order to save others. They are regarded with the highest of honor, trust and admiration by people all over the world. Best known for putting out fires, running into a burning buildings and saving lives in various forms of distress. Heroes of life safety and property conservation, firefighters are global icons, and uphold a community image being good and trustworthy. One unfortunate aspect of the fire service generally unheard in the public eye is that of a firefighter arsonist. This long-standing problem that impacts fire departments and communities across the …show more content…
The FBI behavioral science research defines motive as an inner drive or impulse that the is cause, reason or incentive that induces or prompts a specific behavior (Icove, DeHaan, & Haynes, 2013, p. 228). Firefighter arsonist share the same traits as civilian arsonist; however, their motives are more specific to the fire service. For example, the primary motives for firefighter arson seem to be the need to be seen as a hero, to practice extinguishing fires, or to earn extra money (Firefighter Arson, 2003, p. …show more content…
The data suggest that firefighters become arsonist after becoming a firefighter and they had no previous history of arson (Firefighter arson report, 2011, p. 5). These individuals are typically young and energetically fill with ambition. They are recognized as the most helpful, dedicated and trustworthy members of their departments. Fire service leaders need to apply their due diligence with new recruits and all department members, educate them on the seriousness and repercussions of setting fire and honesty about the call volume and the potential for boredom. Additionally, department members need to be aware of what constitutes arson and how arsonist are prosecuted in their
One of many public safety professions, firefighters are on call twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. They are ready at a moment’s notice to risk their lives in order to save others. They are regarded with the highest of honor, trust and admiration by people all over the world. Best known for putting out fires, running into a burning buildings and saving lives in various forms of distress. Heroes of life safety and property conservation, firefighters are global icons, and uphold a community image being good and trustworthy. One unfortunate aspect of the fire service generally unheard in the public eye is that of a firefighter arsonist. This long-standing problem that impacts fire departments and communities across the …show more content…
The FBI behavioral science research defines motive as an inner drive or impulse that the is cause, reason or incentive that induces or prompts a specific behavior (Icove, DeHaan, & Haynes, 2013, p. 228). Firefighter arsonist share the same traits as civilian arsonist; however, their motives are more specific to the fire service. For example, the primary motives for firefighter arson seem to be the need to be seen as a hero, to practice extinguishing fires, or to earn extra money (Firefighter Arson, 2003, p. …show more content…
The data suggest that firefighters become arsonist after becoming a firefighter and they had no previous history of arson (Firefighter arson report, 2011, p. 5). These individuals are typically young and energetically fill with ambition. They are recognized as the most helpful, dedicated and trustworthy members of their departments. Fire service leaders need to apply their due diligence with new recruits and all department members, educate them on the seriousness and repercussions of setting fire and honesty about the call volume and the potential for boredom. Additionally, department members need to be aware of what constitutes arson and how arsonist are prosecuted in their