The prevention of arson in dwelling places
There are many different motives for arson. A home may be set
on fire to cover criminal activity, because of a local disagreement, family
arguments, revenge or for racial reasons. Random reasons include children
playing with fire and fires started by people with psychiatric disorders. A
significant number of arson fires in homes are started by the owners either to
make a fraudulent insurance claim or in an attempt to be re-housed.
Be prepared
Where a house is otherwise secure the letterbox presents an
easy way to introduce fire into a property thereby effectively cutting off the
main means of escape. Consideration should be given to either eliminating the
need for a slot in the front door by fitting a box to the outside wall or
installing a metal box inside the door to catch the mail.
An arson fire is more likely to develop and spreads quickly.
Smoke detectors are one of the most important fire safety investments that
anyone can make. Fitting a smoke alarm will not stop an arson attack but will
provide valuable extra time to escape. Smoke alarms should comply with BS5446
Part 1 and have the British Standard Kitemark.
The following guidance in relation to smoke alarms should be
followed:
- One alarm per floor fitted in accordance with the manufacturers
instructions
- Check the alarm is working properly once a month
- Replace the battery once a year
- Vacuum and wipe the casing and slots once a year to ensure that dust is
not blocking the sensors
- Plan an escape from the home in the event of a fire, talk about it with
the family and/or other occupants and rehearse it
- At night close all doors that open onto the staircase. This will reduce
the speed with which the fire will spread and provide additional time in
which to escape.
Security
The best defence against arson – as well as burglary – is
to have effective security. It does not have to be expensive. A few simple
measures can reduce the risk of arson attack on a home.
- Be alert to strangers loitering in the street. If they are there for
sometime and you do not recognize them, call the police.
- Visible intruder alarms boxes on the outside of homes make burglars and
other intruders think twice about entering.
- Make sure that access is denied to flat roofs and other points from which
entry may be gained via first floor windows.
- Make sure that there is a strong front door and that it is fitted with
strong locks and a chain. Breaking a pane of glass in the door should not
allow the night-latch to be reached on the inside.
- Consider planting thorny bushes along perimeter fences.
- Close all windows when the house is unoccupied – even small windows can
allow a young person to enter.
- Consider security lighting. Intruders like to work in the dark. Security
lighting can be a good deterrent.
- Never leave spare keys hidden under the doormat or elsewhere.
- Lock all doors, including garages and sheds when the house is unoccupied.
- Ensure that there is no combustible material lying around for an arsonist.
- Don’t let rubbish accumulate and keep wheelie-bins away from the house.