State fire marshal urges public to learn about arson prevention during Arson Awareness Week, May 1-7      

National focus for week is on arson problem in schools

[MAY 7, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Each year, arson fires cause millions of dollars of property damage as well as many deaths and serious injuries. To help people better understand the crime of arson and what they can do to prevent it, the Office of the State Fire Marshal is observing Arson Awareness Week during the week of May 1-7. This year's theme, "School Arson -- A Burning Subject," focuses attention on the danger of arson fires in schools.

"We all know that arson is a problem, but many people don't realize the serious problems associated with arson fires at schools," said State Fire Marshal J.T. Somer. "While many of these incidents are small -- a child sets fire to toilet paper or paper towels in the bathroom -- many others are more serious, resulting in thousands of dollars of property damage and injuries to students, staff and firefighters. In many cases, it's students who set the fire, so we're working hard to make people more aware of the problem and what can be done to stop juvenile fire-setters."

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 37 percent of all school structure fires and 52 percent of middle school and high school structure fires are caused by arson, and more than half of these fires occur during the hours students are at school. While fatalities from school fires are rare, the injuries caused by these fires are higher than those of all other nonresidential structure fires.

Somer said that beyond schools, the crime of youth fire-setting and juvenile arson accounts for over 50 percent of all intentionally set fires. Besides the cost of the damaged property, there is also the cost to the community in resources to fight the problem.

Local fire departments and law enforcement agencies can get assistance in fire investigations from the Arson Investigation Division of the fire marshal's office. In 2004, the division investigated nearly 1,100 fires, of which 335 cases were determined to be incendiary. These investigations resulted in the arrest of 85 adult and juvenile suspects.

The state's arson investigators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide assistance to communities for fire investigations. Requests from local officials for assistance and tips from the public are received through a 24-hour toll-free line at [phone]. Agencies requesting assistance are immediately connected with an arson duty investigator, who has the authority to dispatch an arson investigator anywhere in the state anytime, day or night. With arson investigators located around the state, response time to any request is usually under three hours.

People calling the toll-free line with information that may prevent arson or lead to the arrest of an arsonist are eligible for a monetary award from the Illinois Arson Award Program, which is funded by the Illinois Fair Plan and monitored by the Illinois Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention.

In addition to state's certified arson investigators, state canine units are often asked to assist with fire investigations when arson may be suspected. The canines are trained to detect minute traces of accelerants that may be used in arson fires and can lead investigators to a specific location where physical samples can be secured, analyzed and confirmed by special laboratories. There are currently four state-certified accelerant-detecting canines located around the state, and in 2004 they assisted with 223 fire investigations.

"Arson is a serious crime that affects everyone in the community by destroying property and endangering lives," said Richard Crum, manager of the arson division of the fire marshal's office. "Everyone can play an important role in preventing potential arsons and helping us solve investigations. Arson Awareness Week gives us an opportunity to make the public more aware of what they can do to help make their communities safer."

While children are naturally curious about fire, it's important that parents teach children that matches and lighters are tools, not toys.

Some tips to help prevent juvenile arson:

• Control access -- Keep matches and lighters in a safe place, high and out of reach of young children, who can climb to reach things. Lock up matches and lighters if necessary.
• Adult modeling -- Set a good example. Most kids learn how to use fire by watching the adults around them. If adults don't respect fire, their children won't. Emphasize to your children that fire is a tool that is just as dangerous as power tools or guns.
• Parental awareness -- Take notice of your children and their surroundings. If they are in possession of matches or lighters or if you find signs of extinguished fires (burned matches, burnt paper, burns on carpet), talk with them.
• Intervention -- Don't ignore obvious warning signals. When kids use fire in unsupervised or inappropriate ways, serious problems can occur. Whether for education or an in-depth evaluation, seek the appropriate help before a large, destructive fire occurs.
• Find help -- Your local fire department is often the best point of first contact when you need help with a child who is misusing fire or fire tools.
• Talk to children about the cruel realities of fires and the law. Fire can destroy property, injure others or take lives. Juvenile fire-setters may also face legal consequences.

Parents seeking information about juvenile fire-setting can contact the Illinois Youthful Firesetters Hotline at [phone]. Callers are linked to a coordinator who assists the family in an evaluation of the child. All intervention and counseling is confidential.

Arson Awareness Week is promoted nationally by the U.S. Fire Administration and the International Association of Arson Investigators.

[News release from the Office of the State Fire Marshal]