Introduction to Fire Science

Some fires are started for the purpose of terrorism. Terrorism is arson, but with a specific motive that is typically related to “social protest against an individual or group”. A string of arsons, therefore, may qualify as domestic terrorism, if there is a definable pattern with respect to the victims of the arson. Often, a group will actually claim responsibility, since creating fear is one of the ultimate objectives of terrorists.

In January 2012 in Los Angeles, a string of arsons occurred, totalling 52 separate fires. A German man was eventually charged with 37 counts of arson relating to this spree. The fires were arson because they were started with an accelerant, and this is also typical of arson committed for terrorism purposes. In this spree, the arsonist was accused of setting the fires out of hatred for Americans. The arsonist even shouted obscenities relating to Americans in the courtroom, further augmenting the idea that this arson spree was a terrorist act (CNN, 2012).

The arsonist was already under investigation in his native Germany for burning down his family home in an apparent insurance fraud attempt. His mother, also wanted in the fraud case in Germany, was arrested in Los Angeles, right before the arson spree began.

For me, this does not constitute domestic terrorism. Setting aside the fact that the arsonist is a German national, he also did not have any political, social or economic motive. He simply set the fires in response to his mother being arrested, and he also appeared to be mentally ill.

Thus, I do not see these arsons as terrorism, domestic or otherwise. They are a criminal lashing out against his mother being arrested. The textbook definition of terrorism is a fairly low bar to clear – social protest – but with that, the targets of the arsons were just random parked cars. These were not strategic targets, and there was no broader agenda than a man with mental illness acting out in a highly generalized manner in retaliation for some perceived slight. I would say that the term terrorism does not mean this type of behavior.

References

CNN. (2012). Los Angeles arson suspect charged with 37 counts. CNN. Retrieved June 11, 2020 from https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/04/us/california-arson/index.html

Section 4: Fire & People, Unit 2: Arson. In possession of the author.