Fire Lover

John Orr dreamed of being a policeman, but when he was turned down for the job, he decided to serve the public as a fireman instead. But something went awry, and while Orr became one of California's top arson investigators, he was also putting his knowledge of criminal techniques to use committing the crimes he made his living trying to prevent. Acclaimed true-crime author Joseph Wambaugh (The Onion Field, The Blooding) traced Orr's descent into a life of crime and ultimate denouement with Fire Lover, and here he details his many findings and leads viewers on a riveting trip into crime and compulsion. From the first flames to the verdict that capped the prolific criminal career, Wambaugh chronicles Orr's divided existence with an objective, unblinking eye.

• documentary