Did you know. . . . . . that arson has been described as the fastest-growing crime in America? . . . that arson is the most expensive crime committed? . . . that over 8 billion dollars was estimated lost due to fires in 1994? . . . that an estimated 86,000 structure fires of incendiary or suspicious origin were reported in 1994? David Redsicker provides these statistics and much more, including practical methods, information, and advice for investigating these types of crimes, in Practical Fire and Arson Investigation, Second Edition. Extensively rewritten second edition of this practical manual - More than 40% new material! Practical Fire and Arson Investigation, Second Edition is a significantly revised, updated, and expanded new edition of this best-selling book in the Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations series, edited by Vernon Geberth. As in the first edition, specific details on the basic principles are presented, and advanced applied techniques for conducting a thorough fire and arson investigation are detailed. New topics covered in the Second Edition include:

• Extensively rewritten chapters on determining origin and cause, eliminating accidental fire causes, investigating fatal fires and vehicular fires, and documenting the fire/crime scene
• Fire scene photography using "painting with light"
• Importance of evidence preservation and analysis in civil litigation of liability and product defects

Standing Watch: The Fire Towers of Arizona explores the eighty one fire towers and cabins of Arizona, discussing the history of the towers and the lookout's role in guarding our forest against the threat of wildfire. The introduction discusses how the towers were built and the history of the Forest Service as it relates to the towers over the last 100 years. The photos give readers a close up glimpse of each tower while individual tower narratives detail the lives of the lookouts as they serve in isolated posts. Standing Watch also gives readers profiles of an Apache Hot Shot crew, a Navajo Fire Technician, two devastating wildfires as well as a personal look at a couple standing watch in southern Arizona. The book is an excellent introduction to these unique historical structures. The book is divided by agency, detailing towers for the six national forests, four native tribes, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. A description of the tree towers from the early 1900's is included. Standing Watch is truly a unique tribute to the men and women who stand watch over the precious national resource represented in the vast forests of Arizona. The book is a valuable addition for any reader interested in the outdoors and the history of the southwest region of the United States.