Arson Arson happens when someone starts a fire on purpose. It is important for security guards to be on the lookout for this. Prevention is the key to dealing with arson. Think about what you would look for if you wanted to burn the building down, and then try to make sure these conditions do not exist. Do thorough patrols to make sure that there are no obvious ways for someone to break into your site and start a fire. Make sure that there is nothing lying around either inside or outside your site that can be easily ignited. Make sure all trash cans get emptied every night. When you are on patrol, check to make sure that there are no tree limbs under the building eaves. If suspicious people are hanging around on the site you are guarding, approach them with caution, and try to find out their purpose for being there. If a fire has started and you suspect arson, take special care that nothing is touched, so that all evidence is preserved.