Hired Arson
Fri, 07/20/2007 - 22:59
I was thinking about writing a short story about a guy who's a hired arsonist and is basically responsible for all of a certain areas fires. Ex. Developers are having trouble selling houses due to an old abandoned eye soar of a bar and they need it cheaply removed. Thats just one idea but i don't really know yet.
Anyone know if people really get paid to do this on a regular basis or if anyone has written anything like it? or if you think its just a horrible idea for a story?
If so, anyone know if theirs anyway to make fires look accidental or not human caused?
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In cases of arson time is really key. If evidence isnt collected within the first few hours after the fire theres not much to collect. Especially in if an accelerant is used. Arson is very easy to detect. Evidence can be found at the point of origin and its routine for an investigator to take all porous materials from the site. Discarded matches can be matched to match books, residue on a suspects shirt can be analyzed and used as evidence, burn marks and scorch patterns are really good at pin pointing arson.
The best way, I think, to get away with an arson would be to attribute it, like in the example you mentioned, to a bum or someone that could have been squatting an accidentally lit the place up. That way its investigated to a point and theres really no way to track the bum, you see? Basically its pretty hard to make a fire that was set on purpose look accidental. Especially in an abandoned building.
Maybe there could be old drums of some sort of accelerant stored in a basement or closet that got too hot? Then the fire would have to be in the summer time. Or, like I said, a derelict could set it up "accidently"... or even for real accidents.
It is possible though for there to be a mishandling of evidence or other circumstances that impedes an arson investigation. Torrential rain storms after the fire or... I dont know... something like that.
In the show Weeds on Showtime, the owner of a bakery needed to get rid of ithe bakery. What happened was an employee "accidentally" set the place on fire and burned it down. Since it was accidental, insurance paid for it.
Im not an expert or anything but Ive taken forensic classes and still have the textbooks if they might help. Dont look to CSI or Law and Order for any answers.