Fire Lover: A True Story

Fire Lover recounts the hunt for the most prolific American arsonist of the twentieth century. The story centers on John Orr, who grew up in Los Angeles idolizing law enforcement. After being rejected by both the LAPD and LAFD, he joined the Glendale Fire Department, where he rose to fire captain and became one of Southern California's most respected arson investigators. Orr led a double life marked by womanizing and a desire for recognition. While he investigated numerous arson cases, one serial arsonist eluded him: the so-called Pillow Pyro. This criminal set fires in homes, retail stores, and dry brush fields, causing millions of dollars in property damage and the deaths of four people. After years of evading capture, the arsonist made a critical mistake that would transform Orr's life. Based on meticulous research, interviews, case records, and thousands of pages of court transcripts, this account examines the investigation and the contrasting cultures of law enforcement and firefighting.