History of Arson in Timeline
Arson is the deliberate act of setting fire to property, encompassing buildings, vehicles, and natural areas. It's classified as a felony, with harsher penalties for endangering lives or property, and can lead to manslaughter or murder charges if deaths occur. A common motive is insurance fraud, where individuals burn their property and falsely claim the cause to collect insurance money.
1972: Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance 1972 (Hong Kong)
The Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance 1972 in Hong Kong mirrored the English Criminal Damage Act 1971, including provisions for arson with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
2006: Esperanza Fire and Raymond Lee Oyler's Conviction
The Esperanza Fire, a devastating wildfire in Southern California in 2006, led to the death of five firefighters. Raymond Lee Oyler was convicted of murder and sentenced to death for arson, marking a significant legal precedent.
2014: Operation Firebird Arson Scheme Begins
The series of arson attacks began in 2014, orchestrated by a group using methods like chicken in boiling oil to simulate cooking accidents for insurance fraud.
July 2016: Amendment to Myanmar Penal Code on Arson
In July 2016, the Myanmar Penal Code was amended to increase the punishment for arson on houses and buildings to up to 20 years in prison.
2018: Operation Firebird Arson Scheme Exposed
Authorities were tipped off about a planned arson incident in 2018, leading to the investigation known as Operation Firebird and the subsequent arrests.
2018: Tyler and Kim Chen's Arson Convictions
In 2018, Tyler Chen was convicted on five counts of arson and two counts of insurance fraud, while his wife, Kim Chen, was convicted on two counts of insurance fraud in Santa Clara County.
2019: Operation Firebird Arson Convictions
The perpetrators of the Operation Firebird arson scheme, including Tyler and Kim Chen, Ha Nguyen, Sandy Ngo, Duyen Pham, and Trang Huynh, were convicted in 2019 on various arson and insurance fraud charges.
2020: El Dorado Fire and Reckless Burning Charges
In 2020, a gender reveal party using a smoke bomb caused the El Dorado Fire in California. This incident, classified as reckless burning, resulted in property damage, a firefighter fatality, and involuntary manslaughter charges for the couple involved.
2021: 2021 Myanmar Coup d'état and Subsequent Arson Campaign
The 2021 Myanmar coup d'état marked the beginning of a widespread arson campaign by the military against civilian targets.
August 2022: Widespread Arson by Burmese Military
By August 2022, following the 2021 coup, the Burmese military had reportedly committed arson on over 28,000 houses, highlighting its use of arson as a weapon against civilians.
2023: 2023 Dublin Riot and Arson
During the 2023 Dublin riot, arson attacks, particularly targeting vehicles, were reported, adding to the historical record of arson in Ireland.
