Office of the State Fire Marshal promotes Arson Awareness Week

This year's theme: 'Reducing Residential Arson'

[May 07, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Office of the State Fire Marshal joins the national efforts to engage residents in local efforts to reduce arson incidents and educate the community on how to play a key role in creating a safer home environment. The theme for this year's arson awareness week is "Reducing Residential Arson." The campaign runs nationwide during the week of May 5-11.

The goal is to provide communities with the necessary tools and resources to combat arson in their neighborhoods. Another goal is to encourage residents, schools, churches and community organizations to participate in different activities that would help spread the word on residential arson prevention.

"Our communities and residents need to be safe. We believe that being proactive and well-educated can make a big difference," said State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis. "Our agency is committed to go the extra mile to educate our communities statewide on how to prevent residential arson."

Last year in Illinois, OSFM's Arson Division investigated 720 residential fires, and 255 of them were determined as incendiary. The most recent statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that in 2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 28,900 home fires that were classified as intentionally set. Those fires caused the death of 310 civilians, 980 injuries and an estimated $544 million in property damage.

Arson is considered a felony crime, and individuals convicted of such acts face serious consequences including jail time depending on the severity of the acts.

During Arson Awareness Week, residents are encouraged to team up with local fire departments and law enforcement agencies in an effort to educate themselves on how to prevent intentionally set fires.

Below are various ways to play a proactive role in the community:

• Coordinate area cleanups.

• Identify abandoned properties that could be a potential target for arson acts.

• Report garbage or flammable materials that are around properties and could be set on fire.

Parents are also encouraged to remind kids not to play with matches or lighters, and to practice an escape plan in case of an emergency. OSFM also reminds the public that having working smoke alarms in their homes does make a difference between life and death.

For more information and accessibility to resources for the 2013 Arson Awareness Week campaign, visit www.sfm.illinois.gov or www.usfa.fema.gov/aaw.

[Text from Office of the State Fire Marshal file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]