State Fire Marshal Urges Neighborhood Development of Local Watch Programs for Community Arson Prevention

LANSING, MI - Monday, May 3, 2010 - In partnership with the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the Bureau of Fire Services announced Friday the theme for 2010 Arson Awareness Week is Community Arson Prevention.

State and federal agencies around the country will use the week of May 2-8, 2010, to focus public attention on the horrific crime of arson and provide communities with tools and strategies to combat arson in their neighborhoods, businesses, schools and places or worship.

“Arson is a major criminal activity in Michigan and robs communities of its valuable assets – lives and property,” said State Fire Marshal Ronald R. Farr. “Arson destroys more than buildings: it can devastate a community resulting in the decline of the neighborhood through increased insurance premiums, loss of business revenue, and a decrease in property values.”

According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, last year there were 2,714 arson fires and 9,053 suspicious fires in Michigan, resulting in 72 civilian deaths, 146 civilian injuries and losses of over $290 million.

“All communities in Michigan can develop an Arson Watch Program to put the ‘neighbor’ back into the neighborhood,” said Farr. “It brings together the fire service, law enforcement, and citizens to reduce the heinous crime of arson whether it’s coming from youngsters setting nuisance fires to a full-blown crisis with a serial arsonist.”

Communities can develop a Watch Program, partnering with their local fire department, law enforcement, insurance providers, business leaders, churches, and local community groups.

Neighborhoods can reduce the likelihood of arson occurring by promoting neighborhood watches and educate people about recognizing and reporting unusual activities along with implementing improved internal and external security for homes and businesses.

The Michigan Arson Prevention Committee (MAPC), formed in 1973, is Michigan's front line task force against arson. The MAPC acts as a coordinating body between state and local agencies and the insurance industry, marshaling all available facilities and services in a unified effort to reduce loss of life and property caused by arson. The Arson Control subcommittee of the MAPC provides awards of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of an arsonist. Since the program's inception in 1975, it has paid out more than $660,000 in awards.

The program is responsible for putting 1,121 arsonists where they belong...behind bars. To report arson by phone, call toll-free 1.800.44.ARSON. To report arson via email reward@miarsonprevention.org .

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) 2008 Uniform Crime Reporting statistics showed the average dollar loss for all types of arson was $16,015. For structures, arson damages were $32,364 on average and $7,890 for motor vehicles. Arsons of industrial and manufacturing structures resulted in the highest average dollar losses – an average of $212,388 per arson, representing a 54 percent increase over the average in 2007.

According to the USFA’s National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) data and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an estimated average of 316,000 intentional fires are reported to fire departments in the United States each year causing injuries to 7,825 firefighters and civilians. In 2006, 10 firefighters died as a result of arson. In addition to needless injury and death, an estimated $1.1 billion in direct property loss occurs annually.

For more information about Community Arson Prevention, visit http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/subjects/arson/arson_awareness.shtm. Visit the Bureau of Fire Services website at www.michigan.gov/bfs for more fire safety information. For more information about DELEG, please visit www.michigan.gov/deleg. Follow DELEG at http://twitter.com/MIDELEG or visit the "DELEG" page on Facebook and Become a Fan.