The Arson Years—Catching Bad Guys

This chapter, titled “The Arson Years—Catching Bad Guys,” recounts the author's experiences as a fire investigator in the 1980s and 1990s. It highlights how arsonists, often of below-average intelligence, frequently made mistakes that led to them being exposed as the frauds that they were. The author describes various cases where homeowners attempted insurance fraud through arson but were caught due to careless errors or attempts to stage the scene. The author also discusses the evolution of fire investigation as a profession, including the introduction of certification in 1986 and the development of both laboratory and scene inspection standards. The chapter describes the publication of NFPA 921 in 1992, which standardized fire investigation practices but faced initial resistance from old school investigators. The chapter concludes by noting the insurance industry's increasing interest in pursuing subrogation to recoup losses.