Arson
How to combat arson in schools
This document is published for archival/historical purposes. It will not be updated.
This guide is addressed primarily at school governors, head teachers, school premises managers, LEAs and local authority risk managers. It aims to alert those responsible for school premises to the continuing dangers of arson attacks on schools, and suggests means by which such potential can be reduced.
Title: How to combat arson in schools
Authors: Arson Prevention Bureau / Association of British Insurers
Number of pages: 22
Date published: May 2003
School fires -accidental as well as malicious -are all too common. In 1996,local authority fire brigades attended 2003 school fires of which 1402 (70%) were thought to have been started deliberately. Evidence from research carried out by the Arson Prevention Bureau suggests that this is not the full picture as fire brigades are not always called to fires, particularly if they self-extinguish or are put-out by staff.
Zurich Municipal, the principal insurer for schools, estimates that the cost of school fires in 1996 was £55 million, of which 75% was attributed to arson. Some fires result in losses in excess of £1million. Every fire in a school has the potential to cause considerable damage and disruption, and can also threaten the lives of children, school staff and others who may be on the premises, including those attending evening classes.
The majority of fires are at night or when the school is closed during holiday periods and casualties are rare. Sadly, this cannot be taken for granted. In 1990, 3 young boys were killed in a school shed fire in Essex.
CASE STUDIES OF SCHOOL ARSON ATTACKS
Arson at a School in Greater Manchester - Loss £1.5 million
This multi-storey 'system-built 'school is located in an area with a relatively low level of crime. The school had not suffered from any previous fires but incidents of vandalism had been encountered on a frequent basis. There was unrestricted access to the site with little boundary protection. The design and layout of the school created a number of vulnerable concealed recessed courtyard areas. Little existed in terms of compartmentation and fire stopping in voids. There was no automatic fire detection or sprinkler system.
A member of the Council's own security force discovered the fire at 03.12 hrs. upon responding to an intruder alarm activation. A severe fire was found in the maths/technology block of the school. By 03.30hrs, ten fire engines were at the scene. The fire completely destroyed the maths and technology block, which represented about 20%of the school classroom accommodation. The origin of the fire was found to be in a recessed courtyard to the rear of the block probably as a result of deliberate ignition by intruders
Arson at a School in the North -Loss £3.7 million
This was a single storey comprehensive school. The school had neither automatic fire detection nor a sprinkler system.
The fire was discovered by a caretaker at 22.20hrs. who, after hearing the intruder alarm activating, responded by inspecting the alarm control panel. Further investigation established that one part of the building was smoke logged. The fire brigade was called and arrived within 10 minutes. Investigations established that the fire had started in a doorway recess adjacent to a classroom and quickly spread to timber walling, entering the roof void at eaves level. The roof void had no fire breaks and the fire therefore spread at great speed engulfing all of the lower school. The fire was stopped at 03. 30 hrs, but not before the entire lower school had been gutted. Two children under 10 years of age were suspected by the police to be involved.
The report presents practical advice and tools for head teachers, caretakers, LEAs and school planners under the following headings.
Nature of the problem: Who are the arsonists?
Assessing a school 's vulnerability to arson attack
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations,1997
Developing an action plan against arson
Vulnerability assessment
Checklist for head teachers
Monthly checklist for site manager
Police response to intruder alarm systems on school premises
Download: How to Combat Arson in Schools (2003)
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Last update: Tuesday, August 26, 2008