The FDNY has dramatically underreported the number of city arsons to a national database that tracks the crimes.
The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) cites only 11 intentionally set fires in New York City for 2011, the latest data it has received. But the FDNY made 187 arson arrests that year — and its own Bureau of Fire Investigation counted 2,103 “incendiary” or deliberately set fires, including 1,306 in occupied buildings.
In 2010, the FDNY reported 19 intentionally set fires to NFIRS, but 2,241 in its own reports and 161 arson arrests. One man was charged with igniting a fire in his Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, tenement, killing five Guatemalan immigrants.
Arson killed nine people in the city last year.
The failure to inform the national database has alarmed state fire officials.
“We routinely tell local fire departments to do thorough and accurate data reporting,” said Paul Martin, the state’s chief of fire investigations and inspections. “It does not appear, though, they’re sharing information.”
Martin called it “a disconnect” between fire investigators and other personnel who report to NFIRS.
The National Association of State Fire Marshals is studying the underreporting,, a problem in many cities, as detailed by Scripps News
as the data aid insurance companies, government agencies and researchers.
“They need to be complete and accurate,” said association president Bill Degnan.
An FDNY spokesman said the investigation bureau is working to link its database to NFIRS “to provide a more accurate and current reporting system.”