Woodland Arson Dominican Republic Law Enforcement is one of the answers.

I recently read the article below along with a few comments that were posted. It seems like from the comments and the article the Dominican Republic has a huge Arson problem. However it also seems to me that their answer is personnel and equipment.
IF in fact 98% of all there fires are arson, equipment is NOT going to prevent them. Oh yes it will help in the mitigation of the fires once they start.
What is needed is a STRONG LAW ENFORCEMENT program.

The Southern Region of the US which covers the states from VA to FL to TX, 13 in all, has a great Wildland Arson program along with some of the best trained Investigators could be an example of how to combat this very difficult situation.

Next week about 25 trained Wildfire Investigators from several states and agencies will be taking advanced training hosted by the VA Dept Of Forestry in Charlottesville VA.

Wildland Fire Investigation Case Development (FI-310) 5 Training Days

Description

Wildland Fire Investigation Case Development (FI-310) (WFICD)  is based on the certification standards and training programs for wildland fire investigators put in place by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). It is intended to provide the students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and manage more complex fire investigation cases, in particular where serial arson is involved. The training focuses on case development, management, and organization as it pertains to wildland fire investigations and builds upon the information presented in the Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination Training Program (WFOCD/FI-210). Wildland fires result in tremendous devastation of public resources and private property. The increasing frequency of these types of fires has brought on a need for additional, specially trained fire investigators.  The program is a combination of lecture, break-out sessions, and a practical exercise. In the break-out sessions and the final practical exercise, student teams will plan, analyze, organize, and conduct a complex, serial arson investigation.

It is a PROVEN "recipe" get to the wildfires soon, protect the lives and property of those affected, suppress the fire AND begin investigation as soon as possible. Finding out the origin and cause of the fires are critical in the law enforcement and PREVENTION of these fires.

IF ANYONE has any contacts with folks in the Dominican Republic let them know there are folks and programs that can help.



The Aricle

Constanza, Dominican Republic.- The Environment Ministry on Tuesday announced a plan to prevent and mitigate forest fires, and put a halt to arson in protected areas nationwide.

Environment minister Bautista Rojas also announced progress in the recovery of the more than 400 hectares charred during last July’s fire in Valle Nuevo National Park, Constanza (central).

The official presented the plan whose initial cost is RD$30.0 million in four months, during a tour of Valle Nuevo with journalists.

He said the new plan aims to bolster efforts to prevent fires, adding 180 forest rangers for a total of 800 across the country.

The official said among the new equipment obtained figure motorcycles and trucks, to be stationed at the most affected sites, especially national parks.

Fire season

According to Geronimo Abreu, head of the of the Ministry’s national fire management program, the forest fire season starts January and ends in April. He said 98% of the blazes are arson, adding that there have been more than eight fires so far this year, one of them set by minors.

Valle Nuevo recovers

The more than 400 hectares of forests in Valle Nuevo charred by a fire last July, blamed on lightning ,have begun to recover after restoration, Rojas said.