Arson Watch Program; Getting Started
By: Lance Winslow
Fire season has apparently started and it is time to set up an Arson Mobile Watch Program to protect your community. Usually the best time to set up an Arson Mobile Watch Program would be before the fire season starts, but it may also be easier to find volunteers once it has started because of the Fear Factor. Those of us who live in fire prone areas know all to well that one idiot can change the community forever. The trick is to prevent arson by creating visibility and letting any would be arsonist, know that your community is on the look out.
Once you have rounded up a group of local volunteers you will need to seal the deal and get personal commitments from everyone to see the program through. You also need to weed out any questionables, as 35-40% of all arson set fires are done by those who are or consider themselves fire fighters. It is an unfortunate truth indeed, but one you must be aware of. A complete arson mobile watch program is available at; www.LanceWinslow.org.
Let me recommend a few ideas for your first meeting agenda.
FIRST MEETING AGENDA (SAMPLE)
THE 5 ARSON MOBILE WATCH COMMANDMENTS:
1. Participants have no police powers.
2. Participants will always obey laws.
3. Participants will OBSERVE and REPORT suspicious behavior. This is a non-confrontational program.
4. Participants will call first and attack small fires immediately after pin-pointing locations to authorities.
5. Participants will not try to extinguish large fires or block access.
HAND OUT POCKET PROCEDURE MANUALS THAT OUTLINES:
1. Do’s and Don’ts
2. When to call 911 vs. when to call non-emergency dispatch
3. What constitutes suspicious circumstances
4. Phone numbers
5. Fire fighting techniques for small brush fires
6. When to back off and get out
EXPLAIN TO PARTICIPANTS:
1. How to quickly notice vehicle descriptions, license plates, and suspect descriptions.
2. Show a video from dispatch that discusses the procedure for calling dispatch.
3. Importance of program during dry years.
4. Show videos on camp fires and brush fires.
5. Explanation of lightening started fires.
6. Discuss how to protect a crime scene.
7. Optional Truck Mounted Spray Rigs.
I sincerely hope that this article helps you in establishing an Arson Watch Program for your community if you live in a fire prone area. Not all fires are set by arsonists; most fires are caused by lightening, but if you can prevent those set deliberately by sick humans then you can save your community from the worst evil results of fire. With a proper arson Mobile Watch you can program the community to be alert and quick on the draw to call in fires as they get started and this insures they will be put out quickly before reaching the point of the huge fires we often see on our TV sets during problematic fire seasons. 2005 and 2006 look to be just those types of years; it therefore behooves you to start your Arson Mobile Watch Program as soon as possible. Think on this and act.
Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/