Arson News

Father, Son Arrested in Wildfire That Threatened Lake Tahoe

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)–A father and son were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of starting a massive California wildfire that destroyed many homes and forced tens of thousands of people to flee Lake Tahoe communities earlier this year, authorities said. David Scott …

1946 Atlanta Fire Still Deadliest Hotel Blaze in U.S. History

ATLANTA (AP) — There’s a reason that the death toll of the Winecoff hotel fire in December 1946 has never been surpassed. Immediately after the disaster that killed 119 people, cities across the country began to re-examine their fire codes. …

Catholic Bishops Seek Answers in Rising Vandalism Incidents

It was after a pair of Catholic churches caught ablaze last summer, one in Southern California and another in Florida, that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops decided to start documenting and tracking vandalism at Catholic sites across the country. …

Surfboards Burn in Blaze Next to Historic Waikiki Hotel

HONOLULU (AP) — Surfboards stored next to a historic Waikiki hotel went up in flames Sunday for the second time in less than two years. Firefighters called to the scene found several storage racks of surfboards at a beach alleyway …

Teams Check Destruction From Northern California Forest Fire

REDDING, Calif. (AP) — Damage assessment teams went out Saturday to determine how many buildings have burned in a forest fire that has displaced thousands of residents in Northern California. Firefighters working in steep, drought-stricken terrain hope calmer weather over …

Arson Suspected in Fire at Historic Kansas City Church

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal investigation is underway after arson damaged a historic Kansas City, Missouri, church that now serves a congregation predominantly made up of people from the South Sudan. John Ham of the Kansas City office …

Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Fire That Destroyed Theater

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut man was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for setting fires including the 2019 blaze that destroyed a well-known Shakespearean theater in a shoreline town. Christopher Sakowicz told the judge at his sentencing …

Greece Wildfires: Firefighters Get Upper Hand on 2 Blazes

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Despite strong winds, firefighting aircraft and ground forces in Greece gained the upper hand late Monday over two new blazes that broke out in areas already scarred by major wildfires this summer. The first broke out …

Viewpoint: When Alarm Bells Ring – Warning Signs for Arson Fraud

Arson fraud continues to remain a significant issue for the insurance industry. Undetected, arson fraud results in claims being paid undeservingly to those deceiving the system designed to protect the honest and loyal customer. The financial consequences can ultimately raise …

Wisc. Supreme: No Coverage for Wife After Husband Torches House

Ismet Islami’s estranged husband burned down her house in 2013. All parties involved agreed that she played no part in the arson. In fact, she was out of the country at the time. Nevertheless, a divided Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled …