Urban community intervention to prevent Halloween arson - Detroit, Michigan, 1985-1996

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 11, 1997

Arson, the second leading cause of residential fire-associated deaths in the United States, accounts for approximately 700 deaths annually, destroys homes, and destabilizes neighborhoods (1-3). In Detroit, Michigan (1990 population: 1,027,974), arson accounted for nearly half (46.3%) of all fire-related deaths since 1984 (4). During the late 1970s, pre-Halloween pranks traditionally associated in some parts of the United States with the night of October 30 turned destructive in Detroit, with hundreds of fires set throughout the city. By 1984, October 30 became known as "Devil's Night" and had evolved to 3 consecutive nights of arson on October 29-31; in that year, a record 810 fires were reported (5). In 1985, Detroit began a citywide intervention campaign against arson and vandalism during the 3-day Halloween period using data from an ongoing fire surveillance system maintained by the Detroit Fire Department (DFD) to target areas at high risk for arson. This report describes the intervention implemented by the city of Detroit from 1985 through 1996 and the impact of the intervention in preventing Halloween arson; approximately 34,000 volunteers participated in 1996 (6), and the number of fires during this 3-day period decreased to the average number of fires for any other 3-day period during the remainder of the year.

Intervention Design

Since 1985, the annual citywide antiarson intervention has been developed and implemented by the Anti-Arson Initiative Steering Committee (comprising representatives from city government departments and agencies, community organizations, and the private sector). Information from previous intervention programs and fire incidence data obtained from the Detroit Fire Incident Reporting System (DFIRS) were used to plan the annual antiarson intervention (7,8). Information in the DFIRS database is obtained from incident and casualty reports documenting the nature of each incident to which the DFD responds; date, time, and location of occurrence; probable cause; associated injuries and/or fatalities; and other information. The DFD Arson Section investigates a proportion of "incendiary" (i.e., confirmed) or "suspected" arson fires, including all multiple alarm fires and those that involve a death or injury, criminal activity, occupied dwelling, or explosion. From 1985 through 1996, DFIRS information was used to monitor annual and monthly trends in fire incidence and to plot maps detailing the location of fires reported during the previous year, by type, in each census tract within the metropolitan area. The steering committee used these maps, along with Detroit Police Department maps indicating the location of various crimes committed during the previous year, to 1) identify areas at high risk for Halloween arson and vandalism, 2) develop volunteer deployment plans, 3) estimate equipment and supply requirements, 4) prioritize areas for demolition of vacant buildings, and 5) determine the location of temporary DFD command posts during Halloween. Staff at nine neighborhood city halls, 13 police precincts, and nine fire battalions coordinated decentralized action plans complementing the overall city plan.

The antiarson intervention implemented by the city of Detroit from 1985 through 1996 included eight key elements. First, all available city firefighters were stationed at strategically located DFD command posts, and police officers and other city employees patrolled designated areas of the city. Second, potential arson targets were eliminated or reduced by demolishing abandoned buildings, towing abandoned vehicles, removing tires from dump sites, and emptying large trash receptacles. Third, city residents were recruited to serve as volunteers from community organizations, religious groups, schools, unions, and the private sector. Fourth, volunteers received orientation for guarding abandoned neighborhood buildings, patrolling designated neighborhoods in vehicles, providing administrative support at operational centers throughout the city, and keeping outdoor lights on throughout the night. Fifth, an aggressive education/public relations campaign informed residents about Halloween antiarson intervention plans, the dangers of arson, and suggestions for preventing arson. Sixth, structured activities for children and teenagers--including movie marathons, teen dances, overnight slumber parties, carnivals, and other activities--were sponsored by the city of Detroit, community organizations, churches, and other groups. Seventh, Detroit's year-round youth curfew was extended to begin at 6:00 p.m. on October 30 and continue through 6:00 a.m. on October 31 for youth aged [less than or equal to] 17 years unaccompanied by an adult. Finally, since 1995, an emergency city ordinance has prohibited the dispensing of fuel into portable containers, except in certain emergency circumstances, during Halloween.

Fire Trends and Fire-Related Deaths, 1979-1996

Following an increase in the number of total Halloween fires from 1979 through 1984, the number of Halloween fires reported annually declined from 810 in 1984 to 142 in 1996 (Figure 1). From 1991 through 1996 (with the exception of 1994), the number of Halloween fires ranged from 142 to 167, within the range of the number of fires expected to occur during any 3-day period in Detroit (Figure 1).