Arson - Is a very serious crime, and it can result in loss of life, serious injuries, financial loss and environmental damage.

It is a crime that involves a person behaving ‘recklessly’ or ‘intending’ to damage property or ‘intending’ to endanger someone’s life using fire. Deliberate fire setting is a wider term used by fire and rescue services covering all fires that are thought to have been started deliberately. These include nuisance fires (refuse, bins and grass fires etc). Deliberate nuisance fires fall very clearly within a broad definition of anti-social behaviour and there are close parallels with juvenile nuisance.

Every year, a number of nuisance fires lead to larger very expensive fires through uncontrolled fire spread. Failing to tackle deliberate fire setting can allow some youths to develop into arsonists who see fire as a weapon of revenge.

What you can do to prevent arson?

Basic steps you can take to help protect your property are;

• Minimise the amount of combustible material that is left in and around buildings.
• Ensure your property is secure with adequate locks on doors and windows and the provision of security lighting.
• Carry out a fire risk assessment, fit smoke alarms and plan an effective escape route.
• If possible park vehicles in a well lit area, fit an anti-theft device and don't leave valuables on show.

Protecting Your Home

Whilst less likely to be as a result of an opportunistic attack, domestic arson is often linked to other crimes such as burglary, domestic violence or hate-related crimes.

It is preferable to prevent a fire in the first place and preventing arson in the home is closely linked with preventing intruders gaining access - ensure all windows and doors are locked at night and when the house is empty. If there have been arson attacks in the local area, you might want to consider installing an arson-proof letterbox.

‘Roughly 50% of commercial and domestic burglaries in the Isle of Man are committed through an open door or window. Your property may have good door and window locks fitted but they are useless if you forget to use them. Think security – don’t just assume that they are locked – check them! Help us the keep the Island a safe place to live.’

Protecting Your Business

Arson is the single most common cause of fire on business premises and the majority of arson attacks are down to opportunistic vandalism. A frightening statistic is that up to 80% of businesses never fully recover from a serious fire.

‘Roughly 50% of commercial and domestic burglaries in the Isle of Man are committed through an open door or window. Your property may have good door and window locks fitted but they are useless if you forget to use them. Think security – don’t just assume that they are locked – check them! Help us the keep the Island a safe place to live.’

Protecting Your Vehicle

Vehicle arson is the single most common type of arson accounting for a large amount of all deliberate fires. The vast majority of car fires are started to cover up other criminal activity or simply as an act of vandalism.

Wherever possible park vehicles in a well lit area, fit an anti-theft device and don't leave valuables on show.

Places of Worship

Hundreds of major arson attacks on places of worship happen each year in the UK and they face unique problems that can make them specific targets:

• Religious articles often have a high value and may not be locked away at night.
• There may be expensive equipment left on-site, such as a PA system or musical instruments.
• Places of worship can attract people looking for shelter who may start fires either accidentally or deliberately.
• Places of worship may be a target for hate crime in some areas.

Protecting Our Schools

There are hundreds of arson attacks in the UK on schools each year and incredibly a third of these happen during normal school hours. Typically carried out by either a pupil or ex-pupils who live in the local area, these attacks are often opportunistic. 

Summary

If you live in a mixed occupancy building for example a flat, ensure the fire alarm is maintained and tested monthly, ensure that your domestic smoke detectors are tested weekly, keep fire exits and escape routes clear, be careful with combustibles in rear yards/outhouses etc and ensure that all fire fighting equipment is kept in good working order.

 

For more info on the fire precautions flats regulations follow this link

If you require more advice on Arson Reduction?

Contact – Fire Safety Department 647303

Email - iomfire@gov.im

Web - www.iomfire.com

Police - Force Crime Reduction Officer - Direct Number 631473 mike.radcliffe@gov.im