ARSON :: essays research papers

U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION COMBATS NATION'S ARSON PROBLEM Arson Awareness Week Targets Juvenile Firesetting WASHINGTON (FEMA) -- Everyday brings news of a serious national problem - arson. This year, Arson Awareness Week, May 5-12, focuses on juvenile firesetting because young people currently represent about 55 percent of arson arrests, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Arson is not a hidden crime. It's murder by fire, a violent crime against property and people. Every year arson kills 700 people, destroys 100,000 buildings and costs more than $1.4 billion," U.S. Fire Administrator Carrye Brown said. "There are, however, effective ways citizens, along with law enforcement and the fire service, can ensure the culprits are brought to justice." Brown said that everyone should take steps to prevent arson in their communities. Arson exists in various forms -- juvenile firesetting, vandalism, pyromania, a murder weapon, and concealment of a crime. "We must identify the faces of arson. In addition to kids setting fires, incidents of adult firesetting are increasing, " she said. Charles Evancho, national arson expert and chief of arson, Detroit Fire Department said, "Arson is one of the most difficult crimes to prosecute successfully. Often the criminal justice system does not view arson as a serious crime. The challenge is to develop sentencing for adults and juveniles." Last year, USFA, provided $2 million to 12 states to develop anti-arson programs. In Colorado, for example, USFA grants support a juvenile firesetter prevention program in partnership with a treatment center for abused children. "We need grant programs and partnerships like this," Brown said. "Arson must be tackled on several fronts and people must protect themselves by strengthening prevention and apprehension efforts." Brown offered the following advice: -- Ask local law enforcement and fire officials to identify buildings at risk for arson. -- Organize arson block watches to monitor run-down and vacant buildings, and report suspicious activity. -- Keep boxes, trash, wood and other combustibles away from buildings. -- Make sure everyone in the family knows two ways to escape from their home. Install smoke detectors on each level of your home and check the batteries every month. Seconds count in any fire. USFA supports the nation's firefighters with training, fire data analysis, public education and research in fire protection technologies. For more information about arson and other fire issues, call FEMA's Fax-On-Demand at (202) 646-FEMA. For Internet users, arson facts are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.fema.gov/usfa/usfa.htm. Jump to the U.S. Fire Administration