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The MAIAAI is pleased to be providing frequent updates about arson-related cases and news from around the Greater New England area and around the country. Be sure to check back periodically to view relevant articles and publications!
The MAIAAI is always looking for new ways to present current and pertinent material to its members and guests, so if there’s an article that you would like to see shared on this site, feel free to send an e-mail with the site information to: info@maiaai.com
In the News....
Feds prepare to pass Li-ion battery legislationFireRescue1 The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act is expected to be passed by Congress in the coming days WASHINGTON — Dangerous lithium-ion batteries that have caused scores of fires in New York City — taking 18 lives in the process over the past two years — will no longer be allowed to be sold in the U.S. under a new federal measure poised to be voted on, officials said Wednesday. Following a round of budget negotiations, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) managed to insert the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act into a massive budget bill expected to be approved by Congress in the coming days. |
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2 dead inside abandoned Atlanta church fireFireRescue1 ATLANTA — Two people were found dead inside an abandoned church in northwest Atlanta late Tuesday night, according to authorities. Atlanta fire officials said they got a call around 11:30 p.m. about an abandoned church in the 600 block of Cameron M. Alexander Boulevard that was fully engulfed in flames. It was the former home to the Amazing Grace Christian Community Church, according to online property records. |
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Boston Fire Department celebrating first female firefighter’s 40 years of service7 News WHDH BOSTON (WHDH) - The Boston Fire Department on Saturday will celebrate the service of Patty Donovan, who became the city’s first female firefighter 40 years ago, and her inspirational story that has motivated more women to join. |
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NYC man torched Verizon van during wild road rage outburst — in front of his young childNew York Post A Brooklyn man was hit with federal arson charges Thursday for allegedly hurling “an explosive device” into a Verizon work van during a wild road rage beef, prosecutors said. |
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McDonald's employee sentenced to prison for setting dumpster fire because restaurant was too crowdedFox Business A McDonald's employee working at a store in Savannah, Georgia, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to lighting a fire inside a dumpster to clear out customers because the restaurant was overcrowded. Joshua Daryl McGregor, 34, was working at the restaurant on 2701 Montgomery Ave. in April 2023 when he became frustrated that the store was too busy, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a press release. |
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Streaker runs throughout N.C. hospital after setting fire in bathroomFireRescue1 A Saturday fire reportedly caused by a streaker at Haywood Regional Medical Center led to severe water damage in the emergency and radiology departments. When the Junaluska Fire Department arrived at Haywood Regional Medical Center on Saturday, the emergency prompting the call — a fire — had already been put out. |
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Alleged arsonist, 26, set NY state trooper’s childhood home on fire over traffic ticketsNew York Post Tyler Williams, 26, was booked into Orange County Jail Wednesday after he allegedly lit up the Warwick house belonging to the father of the state trooper in an act of vengeance, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said. |
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Georgia man charged with murdering law student, setting fire to apartment in 23-year-old cold case denied bondNew York Post A 48-year-old Georgia man charged with murdering 23-year-old first-year law student Tara Louise Baker and setting fire to her apartment 23 years ago has been denied bond in Athens. |
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Home Depot to pay $1.3M for code violations after fire destroys Calif. storeFireRescue1 Home Depot will pay $1.3 million after an investigation found that a bevy of fire code violations, including non-functioning sprinklers, helped a 2022 arson fire completely destroy a South San Jose store and pollute the air for several days in surrounding neighborhoods. |
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Photos: 15 Ore. police cruisers torched by arsonistFireRescue1 Fifteen or more parked police cars were badly damaged in a fire at a training facility early Thursday morning, the Portland Police Bureau said. The bureau said an arsonist set the fire, but it did not announce any arrests. |
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Teen faces 60 years in prison after setting fire to wrong home over stolen iPhone, killing family of fiveNew York Post A Colorado youngster faces up to 60 years in prison for killing an innocent family of five by setting fire to the wrong home — in a barbaric revenge plot over his stolen iPhone. |
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12-year-old girl mourned after death in Middleborough fireNBC Boston A family's worst nightmare played out over the weekend in Middleborough, Massachusetts, as a devastating house fire left a young daughter dead. The victim, identified Monday as 12-year-old Jasmine Lane, was a student at Nichols Middle School. Students and staff returned to the classroom as they mourn a life taken too soon. |
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Ga. man suffers burns to 75% of body using lighter on bag of chipsFireRescue1 DALTON, Ga. — A 75-year-old man accidentally set himself on fire when he tried using a lighter to open a bag of chips, a Georgia official said. The fire broke out at about 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 3 in Dalton, a spokesperson for the city said in a news release. |
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Port Newark ship fire tied to faulty Jeep transmissionNJ Spotlight News The U.S. Coast Guard’s public hearing into the fatal ship fire in Port Newark last summer spent much of its third day, Friday, centered on what caused a Jeep to burst into flames and spark the larger blaze. |
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Arson likely caused fire that damaged vital artery of Los Angeles freeway, Gov. Newsom saysNew York Post Arson was the cause of a massive weekend fire that charred and indefinitely closed a vital section of a Los Angeles freeway, causing major traffic headaches for hundreds of thousands of commuters, California authorities said Monday. |
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What a moron! Moment arsonist from city of Morón, Argentina, sets himself on fireNew York Post A wild video captured the moment a hapless arsonist accidentally set himself on fire while apparently trying to torch a politician’s office in the aptly named city of Morón, Argentina. |
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Man believed to have set palm trees on fire for more than 20 years caught in GalvestonYouTube GALVESTON, Texas — Galveston residents are able to sleep a little easier Monday night knowing an accused serial arsonist has been caught. Officials think Jason Smith, 53, is responsible for nearly 30 fires in the past 20 years. |
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Man arrested after setting Detroit gas station on fireCBS News - Detroit A man who poured a trash can full of gas into a Detroit gas station and then set it on fire has been arrested, police said. The incident happened on Tuesday, June 20, at the Sunoco gas station in the 19300 block of W. 7 Mile Road. There's a lot to this case," Detroit Police Chief James White said. "The motives are totally unclear. But I think we know that this person was not dealing with, you know, their normal state of cognition. I mean, there's something going on with that person." |
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South Carolina house fire kills six, suspect arrested for trying to murder sole survivorNew York Post A South Carolina house fire killed six people and left one in critical condition, leading police to arrest a man for attempted murder. Colleton County officials said first responders were alerted to a fire in Green Pond at around 11 a.m. on Sunday and upon responding firefighters discovered six bodies inside a burning home. |
In Other News....Remembering Figo: A special dog from Afghanistan to Lowell LOWELL — The move was drastic for the former military dog Figo. The German shepherd — with his military “brand number” K345 tattooed to his ear — went from bomb sniffing in Afghanistan to his days of retirement that included games of keep away with a rubber toy in a Lowell home’s backyard. Sean McKenna, who served as a K-9 handler in the Air Force, was partnered with Figo and then adopted the thoroughly trained animal when the dog was retired from service at age 9 |
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Whitman men charged with setting vehicles on fire WHITMAN — Two town residents set three vehicles on fire Tuesday morning, left the scene, then returned and spoke to investigators before being arrested, officials said. Shaun Minnock, 23, and Zachary Ralph, 22, were each arraigned in Brockton District Court on Friday on three counts of burning a motor vehicle and single counts of wanton destruction of property over $1,200 and trespassing. |
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New Bedford Man Arrested for Recent Suspicious Fires NEW BEDFORD — An arrest has been made in two fires set earlier this week in New Bedford. 30-year-old Jose DeBritto of New Bedford was arrested Thursday night and charged with setting two fires Wednesday night and Thursday morning in the city. The arrest was announced by State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn, New Bedford Police Chief Joseph Cordeiro and New Bedford Fire Chief Michael Gomes. |
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Officials investigating attempted arson to East Bridgewater home EAST BRIDGEWATER – Town and state authorities are asking for the public’s help after someone attempted to burn down a home that was under construction. Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, Fire Chief Timothy M. Harhen and Police Chief Scott Allen asked for the public’s help on Monday evening after evidence of attempted arson was found in the attic of the home at 77 Captain’s Way. |
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First Responders Converge On Massachusetts To Learn How To Deal With Makeshift Drug Labs DENNIS (CBS) – First responders got a look at what they will face when they’re taking action at an improvised drug lab. Members of law enforcement and firefighters from all corners of the country converged Thursday on a clandestine drug lab assembled in a landfill. The makeshift lab was in a back corner of Dennis’ Public Works Facility. |
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