THE PURPOSE OF THE HEARING WAS TO FIND THE MEANS FOR CREATING A COORDINATED EFFORT AMONG AGENCIES ON ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM OF ARSON. NEW YORK REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH P. ADDABBO STATED THAT ESTIMATES SHOW THAT PROPERTY DAMAGE IS UP TO 4 BILLION DOLLARS AND OVER 1,000 PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR FROM ARSON-RELATED CRIMES. A BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS (BATF) REPORT ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 1979 NOTED THAT ONLY 127 OUT OF 578 INVESTIGATIONS WERE SUCCESSFUL AND 54 DEFENDANTS WERE PROSECUTED, WHILE ONLY 13 WERE FOUND GUILTY. THE WITNESSES REPRESENT THE RIDGEWOOD TIMES, BATF, FBI, U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS, MAYOR CAREY'S ARSON STRIKE FORCE, NEW YORK CITY FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS, NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND LEAA. THESE WITNESSES OUTLINED THE PROBLEMS THAT LOCAL AGENCIES FACE COMBATTING ARSON CRIMES AND GENERALLY AGREE THAT MAJOR CITIES NEED STRONGER LEGISLATION AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. INFORMATION FROM SIGNIFICANT INVESTIGATIONS AND A LETTER FROM LEAA TO ADDABBO, CONCERNING FUNDS TO NEW YORK, ARE INCLUDED. (JLF)