CHAPTER 9

MOTIVES OF
ARSON
WHAT IS MOTIVE?

Motive is the moving cause which induces a

person to commit a crime.

WHAT IS INTENT?

It is the purpose of design with which the act is

done and involves the will
 MOTIVE CAN BE ESTABLISHED BY:
I. ECONOMIC GAIN
II.PROFIT BY THE PERPETRATOR OTHER THAN THE
ASSURED
III.CONCEALMENT OF CRIME
IV.PUNITIVE MEASURE
V.INTIMIDATION OR ECONOMIC DISABLING
PYROMANIA
is the uncontrollable impulse of a person to burn
anything without motivation. Pyromaniacs usually do
not runaway from the scene of the crime, usually
alone and feel satisfied watching the flame.
 TYPES OF PYROMANIACS:

1. Abnormal Youth – Epileptics, imbeciles and morons may set

fire without knowing the seriousness of the act.
2. The Hero Type – a person may set fire on a building,
subsequently pretends to discover it and turn in the alarm so that he
will appear a hero to the public. A person may burn a building and
endeavor to achieve spectacular rescue in order to attract the
attention of spectators.
3. Alcoholics and Drug Addicts – persons who subject themselves
to intense artificial stimulants such as narcotics sometimes develop
a strong urge toward incendiaries.
4. Sexual Deviates – some sex perverts derive sexual stimulation
from setting a fire and watching the flame. Frequently, he is
chronic masturbator who stimulates and enhances his sexual
gratification by means of arson.
 PUBLIC DISTURBANCE

an offender may resort to arson as a means of a public disturbance because a fire attracts people and
destruction causes confusion that gives rise to attendant problems that divert police attention.

VANDALISM

It is a general term denoting intentional burning to destroy properties.

In determining motive, a fire investigator concentrates on three major factors:
1. Points of origin of the fire
2. Modus operandi of the arsonist
3. Identify of persons who might benefits from the fire
INCENDIARY
materials used to start a fire;
MATERIALS - combustible fuels

1. Arson Chemicals (liquids) – are incendiary materials often used by

arsonists as accelerants. Possess excellent properties. Examples:
alcohol, benzene, petroleum ether, gasoline, kerosene, naptha,
turpentine.
2. Gases as acetylene, butane, CO, ethylene, hydrogen, natural gas
propane, these are common gases resulting in fires from explosion.
These when mix with air possess excellent in ignition properties and
when present in an enclosed area can lead to explosion.
3. Solids as chlorates, perchlorates, chromates, bichromates, nitrates,
permanganates – are typical families of oxidizing agents which give off
oxygen on decomposition thus aiding in combustion.