First I will admit that this movie is coming on as I sit here writing. I have, however, read both Joseph Wambaugh's book, Fire Lover, and John Orr's book, Point of Origin.
Point of Origin is a fact-based work of fiction by a firefighter in Southern California. Joseph Wambaugh's book describes him as a wanna-be police officer. (This is based on public records).
Several of the fires that occur in Point of Origin are real fires that were set by John Orr. As determined by different juries.
The reason that the "witnesses see" this other man and believe him to be responsible for the fires is because of the time-delay devices that were used in setting the fires. These fires were actually set 15-30 minutes before they broke into flames and discovered. Witnesses were questioned about people in the area immediately prior to the breakout of the fires. The particular types of incendiary devices used are destroyed by either the fire or the extinguishing process.
5 minutes into the movie and the only difference I see between the books and the movie is that the child in the opening scene, with the ice cream cone and his grandmother, (both were killed in the Ole's Home Repair Store fire).
In real life he was only about 3 years old.
For the best version with all details, please see Fire Lover.
Point of Origin is a fact-based work of fiction by a firefighter in Southern California. Joseph Wambaugh's book describes him as a wanna-be police officer. (This is based on public records).
Several of the fires that occur in Point of Origin are real fires that were set by John Orr. As determined by different juries.
The reason that the "witnesses see" this other man and believe him to be responsible for the fires is because of the time-delay devices that were used in setting the fires. These fires were actually set 15-30 minutes before they broke into flames and discovered. Witnesses were questioned about people in the area immediately prior to the breakout of the fires. The particular types of incendiary devices used are destroyed by either the fire or the extinguishing process.
5 minutes into the movie and the only difference I see between the books and the movie is that the child in the opening scene, with the ice cream cone and his grandmother, (both were killed in the Ole's Home Repair Store fire).
In real life he was only about 3 years old.
For the best version with all details, please see Fire Lover.