Increase in vehicular fires raises suspicion

A vehicle burning in the north of Dominica

Chief Fire Officer of the Dominica Fire and Ambulance Services, Josiah Dupuis, has revealed, based on statistics  that there has been an increase in vehicular fires across the island and most are under suspicion of deliberate actions.

Dupuis said that in 2016, a total of 18 vehicular fires were reported to the department, which is more than double the number of seven which were reported in 2015.

“What is more alarming about our data is if we look back at the last eleven months, we have found that we have a total of 26 vehicle fires. Therein lays the alarming results of our data collection. I am sure you the viewer would have seen burnt vehicles, or what is left of them, all across the island,” he said at a press conference at the Fire Headquarters in Roseau on Monday.

Considering the documented 26 vehicle fires reported from a one year period of June 2016 to July 2017, where 14 reports came over just the first six months of 2017, Dupuis noted that these were as a result of something more than just “natural causes.”

Dupuis spoke at a press conference on Monday

“I am here to state very clearly that the Fire Service is aware that there is much more than natural causes being the results of the fires that we are seeing, and that we take it very seriously,” he said.

With regard to vehicle owners who damage or set fire to their own vehicles, Dupuis said that investigations into these cases are going to be more in depth and sound.

“Many of those who would have gotten away, I want to say that very clearly, those who would have gotten away with deliberately setting their vehicles on fire for whatever reason, we are going to be careful in uncovering every stone from hence forth to ensure that we do not see these patterns continue or to get worse,” Dupuis said.

He noted that in situations where “would be vehicle burners” are involved, the Fire Service is “really on their trail,” and this point is one that should be expressed with much clarity.

These statistics, according to Dupuis,  are the cause of suspicion regarding the nature of each case, especially over the last eleven-month period.

The Fire Service did not arrive at a specific percentage of reported vehicular fires that are marked as suspicious, but it is “high,” said Dupuis.

He and the Fire and Ambulance Service intend to raise the public’s awareness of the fact that the Service is in tune with the possibilities concerning these vehicular fires, and so hopes to effect a sense of caution among vehicle owners and “would-be vehicle burners.”

 

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50 Comments

  1. Positive
    July 25, 2017

    We have a lot of vehicles in dominica, if 17 burn that’s a small percentage. Everyone acting like people just burning their vehicles, these things happen, Wasnt it last month? a jeep just exploded close to Sagicor. Im not saying insurance fraud isnt a thing but, where’s the proof, plus it can really happen by accident. and 1 vehicles out of 1000s, is not alot…

  2. Anthony P. Ismael: Free Pampers Minister
    July 25, 2017

    How do you spell Insurance Payoff? :-P :-P :-P :-P

    • Mogli
      July 25, 2017

      It spells……..gas container + matches + vehicle = burned vehicle………the square root of that = “insurance pay-off”
      :lol: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  3. FORKIT
    July 25, 2017

    i hope the fire chief can prove his theory… there was not investigations done but he behaving like people burning their vehicle… u may run in problems if you accuse someone with out proof…. just to add, i hope your staff is adequately trained to investigate such fires

  4. Observer
    July 25, 2017

    Now after this press conference lets see if the vehicular fires are going to be abated.

  5. danja plea
    July 25, 2017

    Chief what about those who does crash their rides and pay people to crash them…

  6. Sylvia JnoBaptiste
    July 24, 2017

    Chief Fire Office, are investigations complete on the cause of the fire in Silver Lake on Dec. 26 2016? What were the findings of the Fire Department?

  7. SN
    July 24, 2017

    Are the fires occurring in older or new model vehicles? If in older vehicles, it is possible a function of age. DA has quite a lot of older model vehicles and with the rise in number of older vehicles, this may be an innocent phenomenon. I am not dismissing the possibility of insurance fraud, but it is worth considering this angle. The other thing is relativity. Compared to the number of vehicles, the number of fires may be relative and may actually be a very small percentage.

  8. Iamanidiot
    July 24, 2017

    A fire can be started very simple thou, touch the right two wires together, how are you’ll going to find that out? Sometimes innocently, guys want to have speakers, and tv and music etc etc in their car and try to do the electrical themselves and burn the vehicle.
    Hope you’ll not talking investigation like finding a bottle of gas next to the burnt vehicle? What real investigation can the fire department do anyways, the police force can barely solve a case if everything doesn’t fall smack in their lap. And even when it fall in their lap they fumble it. Telling me fire department going to investigate and solve vehicle fires? lol .

    Not doubting people burn their vehicles to get insurance money…i’m just doubting you carrying out an investigation to prove it.

  9. Let The Truth Be Known - Original
    July 24, 2017

    These many vehicular fires in Dominica will eventually be found suspicious and will raise eyebrows.
    When a fire breaks out, do not assume it is just a fire through negligence or an accident.
    When the fire subsides, use the ashes to conduct your investigation. Similar to business/ house fires; any fire for that matter.

  10. Shameless
    July 24, 2017

    How many of them were insured by Mr. Tongue company……hmmmmmm! I guess he feeling the pain now having to pay for the claims 8) . Looks like things are getting harder in Dca when man cannot pay for their ride and taking the easy way out. Dca nice man :twisted:

    Assertive like the rod of Moses! :twisted:

  11. Fire Man
    July 24, 2017

    Dupuis who are you working for? Concern yourself with the unequipped fire officers who get limited representation from you. Your inability to recognize your officers need something basic as a mask to effectively combat fire is concerning. Now stop servicing the insurance company and serve who you were charge to serve. You sound pathetic saying you are looking out for car burners, what happen you afraid fire. Stop playing politics!

  12. Tobby
    July 24, 2017

    The fire dept will come on site and extinguish the fire, but after doing such once suspected to be criminally or others words arson the police will be involve as well to investigate in details. Fire officers do not investigate arson but they will determine what they suspect before the police comes in.

    • Anthony P. Ismael: Free Pampers Minister
      July 25, 2017

      And therein lies the problem. What training do police officers have investigate such incidents? Fire Science is a completely different animal. Although police officers will ultimately be involved, we need fire scientist on the island to investigate these incidents.

  13. %
    July 24, 2017

    It could be that the vehicle owners have been paralysed by 17 years of brutal leadership of the DLP,that have plunged them into abject povery,and therefore they cannot service these vehicles.I wonder if any of these vehicles belong to the few GREEDIES,that’s pillaging the resources of Dominica!NO! These GREEDIES have obliterated Dominica’s middle class.You all must stop skirting around the issues, and painting Dominica as an ideal island.Dominica under the Skerrit led DLP, is a very badly broken country,while I blame these vehicle owners if the allegation is true,WHO FEELS IT KNOW IT!
    SKERRIT MUST GO
    SKERRIT MUST GO
    SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!

    • my 2 cents
      July 25, 2017

      make excuses for them. sing all you want but as long as alyou party leader remains the same skerrit will be staying.

    • back at you %
      July 26, 2017

      My My …you are really a j______ss. fill in the blanks.

  14. Engineer
    July 24, 2017

    The beautiful nature island with a bunch of very ill minded people. Dominica will always be at the bottom in moving forward in the Caribbean. If they can’t pay their vehicles ,they would burn them just to put the country’s financial institutions at a lost.

  15. Roosie
    July 24, 2017

    If Dupuis is so interested in vehicular fires did I hear him express such concern over the GON Emmanuel fire?
    Just asking!

  16. July 24, 2017

    Fire services, and the Police working together to Arrest the alleged would be offenders. Hense its very important and the pre requiste training and equipments given to the police and fire Department to carry out their duties in an efficient manner. for over five decades im hearing the same tune being played, that our police and fire Department are ill equipped to conduct their duties, in a timely and efficent manner, be mindful that although there might be suspicion that crimes are committed, the onus is to prove those allegations beyond Reasonable doubt. we can do better in 2017. I Rest!! fed up with the Bla, Bla, bla. always ten step behind.

  17. July 24, 2017

    Here are possibilities:

    (1) People burning their own vehicules. But it seems unlikely since it is happening all across the island. Who is putting the idea in their minds :?: So many in short periods of time :?:

    (2) A serial arsonist :?: One sick person travelling hither and yon doing this.

    (3) Copy cat behavior :?: Ask a psychologist about the likelihood of this. The idea would only appeal to individuals pre-disposed to a tendency towards arson. How many people have this condition :?:

    Any one or a combination of these.

    Could there be any connection between missing persons and burned out cars :?: God forbid :!: But I think the police should look closely. You say they already have :?: Of course you are right.

    You are not going to appreciate me for this. But what we have here is another satanic attack. Demons are influencing the minds of people who are still lost in their sins and need an encounter with the risen Christ.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.

    • July 24, 2017

      There is only one cure for such evils. His name is Jesus!

      Lift Jesus higher,
      Life Jesus higher.
      Lift Him up for the world to see.
      For He said *If I be lifted up from the earth,
      I will draw all men unto me.*

      He is not only the Savior. He is the Deliverer, and the Healer of sin sick souls.

      *Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…* (Acts 16:31)

      Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

      • just saying
        July 25, 2017

        or they are burning their vehicles to get insurance money to upgrade!!!! i don’t know of somebody who burned their vehicle for that reason but i know someone who crashed their vehicle (right off) for that reason.

  18. Shaka Zulu
    July 24, 2017

    Here are a few things to consider. What if the vehicles came from the same supplier. What if we were sold rebuild vehicles that had previously been damaged, what if we were sold faulty vehicles. I get where the fire chief is going but he should have been able to determine a pattern based on his investigation of these fires. What have the investigation determined? If the fire chief is saying after 26 fires he did not have a report on cause or most likely cause then the fire department is not and was not doing thier work. If it is really insurance fraud then the fire department only have themselves to blame. People may have realized the fire department was not doing thier jobs hence the increase. Then again it may be other factors. I think after 26 fires there should be no speculation of the cause.

  19. sitter
    July 24, 2017

    insurance money!! wicked souls!

  20. Hugh .G. Recshun
    July 24, 2017

    My problem is they are being left on the roadsides and become dangerous eyesores for all.

  21. July 24, 2017

    Jewish lighting they call in in Amerikka, insurance money they want to replace there old and dilapidated buses, while they laugh all the way to the bank ,pretty soon premium will go up for everybody a few bad apple spoil the show, insurance companies should have there own investigative team to catch this wicked , culprits.

  22. July 24, 2017

    Wicked set of people. Is so they does make things harder on the rest of us.. they doing it to get fresh ride smh

  23. CIA Agent
    July 24, 2017

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but shouldn’t the investigation of arson be handled by the Police Force? Why is the Dominica Fire and Ambulance Services involved with “uncovering every stone from hence forth to ensure that we do not see these patterns continue or to get worse,”?

    Your responsibility Mr. Dupuis is to perform the tasks related to fire and ambulance services to successfully save the public from harm.

    Once that is done and it is determined that a crime may have been committed, the crime scene along with all evidence is to be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Force.

    Along with putting your people in grave danger beyond your scope, your department is not equipped to investigate crime.

    • Me
      July 24, 2017

      His department may not be equipped to investigate a crime but I hope the information he put out will make you think twice the next time you plan on burning your car just to collect insurance moneyand/get a new car and think no one is suspecting

    • badbaje
      July 24, 2017

      To CIA Agent.

      It is well known the Fire Service departments of most countries, are usually more qualified to investigate and find THE CAUSE of a fire, than their police departments. The Fire Service investigates, then pass their findings to the police, who then may charge and prosecute, based on the evidence presented to them by the Fire Service who investigated the incident.

      Do your home work sir.

      • CIA Agent
        July 25, 2017

        badbaje, Dominica is NOT “most countries”.

        Also, I agree with you 100% that “THE CAUSE of a fire” should be investigated by the Fire Department.

        Nonetheless, what I said was that once it is determined that the cause was criminal, the crime scene along with all evidence is to be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Force.

    • JACK
      July 25, 2017

      Well said CIA AGENT.

  24. Dominican
    July 24, 2017

    It would be interesting to learn whether these vehicles were insured against fire. Secondly, who is responsible for removing these wrecks. They don’t exactly enhance the environment and could be a traffic hazard.

  25. July 24, 2017

    They’re intentionally damaging their vehicles to receive insurance money. This is fraud. The police and insurance companies should conduct thorough investigations as well.

  26. correct lyrics
    July 24, 2017

    So Mr. Dupuis, what is more alarming to you is that there were 8 vehicular fires so far for 2017; and you (the Fire Service) are aware Sir that the setting of the fires are more than natural causes ? Hmm that worries me. Please forgive my ignorance but wouldn’t that be a matter for, not Fire Chief but Police Chief. where do you hand over to us , sorry, I mean the police.

    • July 24, 2017

      Such a foolish comment. Obviously, the fire department has to carry out their investigations as well. Do you think they just out fires and go home? They must work to determine the cause of every fire reported you dumbrain!

      • correct lyrics
        July 24, 2017

        Ok Smarty, my ignorance was not forgiven. Please enlighten me how does the fire service be on the trail of “arsonist”, and whether that wouldn’t be a police matter then. As far as I am concern they would be assisting in the investigation only to a degree, if possible to determine cause of fire which has absolutely no bearing on motivation, intent, malice or otherwise of the suspect. That’s my point.

      • badbaje
        July 24, 2017

        JoeBoy, thanks for enlightening “correct lyrics”, who obviously does not know, nor understand the function of the Fire Service when it comes to investigating fire, including the cause of fires.

      • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
        July 24, 2017

        You are correct. The Fire Department performs its investigation. If proven it is not a natural cause, then their finding is handed over to the Chief of Police who will do their own investigation and search for, to arrest the perpetrator.
        It is usually stated if the fire is suspicious or not.
        The Fire Department’s job is to answer to fire calls, whatever the nature and put out the fire.
        We have in Toronto The Fire Marshall who first conducts the investigation into fires and of course suspicious ones. They do a good job. It does not take them too long to determine if a fire is suspicious or not.

      • ATKINSON
        July 25, 2017

        “Lyrics” comment is not foolish, Fire dept. investigates fire that are classified arson, which legally means the burning of a building, commercial or private house, not a vehicle. A burn vehicle would be classified as Criminal mischief,or damaging property. After the fire fighters but out the fire and they should call the police to make a report, because it could be an accident,or mechanical defect that cause the fire, but if not and determine suspicious, a criminal act. the police makes its a crime scene, impound the evidence the vehicle, interview any witness, determine who is the owner and or a driver if driven, and any DNA evidence, and make arrest if need be, that the police job, not the fire. fire fighter does not make arrest in dominica, but things here are backwards anway

    • Me
      July 24, 2017

      @ correct lyrics…your statement ‘where do you hand over to us, sorry, I mean the police” If your are a police officer as you may claim to be…maybe you should get your azzz off the stool at the rum bar at the police station and do your job and not let the fire department do it for you. If I were you, I would not comment

    • ATKINSON
      July 25, 2017

      you are right lyrics, it’s the police responsible to investigate burnt vehicles, But here we do thing upside down hey maybe we will start seeing the police putting out fires :mrgreen:

  27. The Darkness
    July 24, 2017

    Good luck with your statics and late start on this…

    I swear… Why did you guys procrastinate on something like this? When you are done asking civilians to fill in your reports, with their investigations… the please act on “your” findings and “Statistics” gathered.

  28. jaded
    July 24, 2017

    Sounds like insurance fraud. The insurance companies should also investigate. Premiums will keep going up for everybody.

    • FORKIT
      July 25, 2017

      how do you know that these vehicles have full comprehensive insurance

      • July 28, 2017

        Both the police and the fire department should investigate. Let then trace the cars to their owners
        if possible. Did they have full insurance? Was there payouts?

        If these cases were properly investigated they would already have this information unless the vehicles were damaged beyond identifying. There is a lot to cover and it takes time but I am surprised we have not received more information. How about it D.N.O. :?:

        Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. (Former licensed private investigator.)

  29. July 24, 2017

    Insurance money with intent to commit fraud or criminal intentions. This needs looking into seriously before lives are lost.

  30. Sa y sa mwem
    July 24, 2017

    Insurance fraud..but the way Dominica set up my people have no choice..

    • Tjebe fort
      July 24, 2017

      That is crap. You always have a choice, you may not like it but you always have a choice, especially to stay honest.

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