Orr was born on April 26, 1949, and began his career with the Glendale Fire Department in 1969. He quickly rose through the ranks and became a respected arson investigator, known for his expertise in the field. However, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a series of mysterious fires broke out in Southern California, many of which were linked to a pattern of arson. Orr's downfall began in 1991 when he was arrested for setting a string of fires in Glendale. He was eventually convicted of multiple counts of arson and murder for setting a fire at a hardware store that resulted in the deaths of four people. In 1998, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

It was later discovered that Orr had been responsible for over 2,000 fires during his career as an arsonist, resulting in millions of dollars in damages and numerous injuries and fatalities. His case has been the subject of extensive media coverage and has been studied by criminal profilers and forensic psychologists. Orr's story has also been the subject of books and documentaries, exploring the mind of a serial arsonist and the challenges of investigating and prosecuting such cases. Despite his incarceration, Orr's legacy continues to fascinate and horrify those interested in the psychology of criminal behavior.