ANY PROGRAM FOR COMBATTING ARSON SHOULD TRY TO ORIENT AND TRAIN ARSON AND FIRE INVESTIGATORS; TO CLASSIFY (INCENDIARY) FIRES BY REASON, MOTIVE, AND METHOD; TO INSPECT THE FIRE SCENE; TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE EVIDENCE; TO OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL LABORATORY AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE; AND TO DEFINE THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EVERYONE INVOLVED. BECAUSE SUCH PROGRAM RESOURCES ARE LIMITED AND WIDELY SCATTERED, A RESEARCH TEAM CONDUCTED DISCUSSIONS IN 17 CITIES REGARDING THEIR METHODS AND TECHNIQUES FOR FIGHTING ARSON. THE TEAM CONCLUDED THAT AN ARSON INFORMATION CENTER SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AS A CONTINUING ACTIVITY, WITH EXPERT INPUT AND WITH DISSEMINATION OF SPECIALIZED PRODUCTS TO ANY CITY OR ORGANIZATION CONCERNED WITH ARSON. THE CENTER COULD DEVELOP A COST-EFFECTIVE NATIONAL PROGRAM, MARSHAL INFORMATION RESOURCES, AND REACH FOR SOLUTIONS. SPECIAL GROUPS COULD BE DEVELOPED WITHIN THE CENTER'S FRAMEWORK TO SPECIFY THE NEEDS, FUNCTIONS, AND DUTIES OF CITY AND COUNTY MANAGEMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COULD BE DEVELOPED FOR ARSON AND FIRE FOR CRIME AND ARSON LABORATORY SCIENTISTS, TECHNICIANS, ADMINISTRATORS, INVESTIGATORS, AND PROSECUTORS. FOR ARSON INVESTIGATORS, MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, AND INSURANCE COMPANIES, CASE FILES SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND STANDARDIZED CRITERIA DEVELOPED. FURTHERMORE, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FORENSIC LABORATORIES SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE DETECTION DEVICES AND TECHNIQUES, AND TO BETTER DISSEMINATE KNOWLEDGE TO SCIENTISTS AND ARSON INVESTIGATION UNITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PROCEDURES FOR UTILIZING SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS COULD BE INTRODUCED THROUGH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES. TRAINING, DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION, AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED CAN ALL CONTRIBUTE TO SOLVING THE ARSON PROBLEM. (MHP)