The week of May 5 – 11 is National Arson Awareness Week. This week is sponsored by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and its partners: the National Fire Protection Association, International Association of Arson Investigators, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, National Association of State Fire Marshals, National Volunteer Fire Council, Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, and the Insurance Committee for Arson Control. This week will be used to focus public attention on residential arson and provide communities with tools to reduce the incidence of this crime.1 The goal for this year’s Arson Awareness Week is to provide all residents with strategies to combat arson in their neighborhoods to go along with the theme of “Reducing Residential Arson”.2 Even though efforts have been made to reduce arson there are still an estimated 16,800 intentionally set fires in residential buildings annually in the U.S., which have resulted in approximately 280 deaths, 775 injuries, and $593 million in property loss each year.3 By bringing awareness to residential arson and general fire safety during this week long event there will hopefully be a decrease in those numbers in the coming years.
Having the knowledge and background about fire safety, motivations for arson, and fire rescue techniques is a good starting point in helping to achieve the overall goal of National Arson Awareness Week. The main goal of this awareness week is to provide communities and residents with tools and strategies to reduce arson and implement fire safety strategies. Awareness can start with publicly accessible web-based training opportunities. TRAIN, the premier learning management system (LMS) for professionals and volunteers who protect the public’s health, offers trainings at the local, state and national level that public health and emergency management professionals can utilize to gain knowledge and skills in the arson/fire subject area. Some of the trainings include:
For more information within the fire subject area, create a TRAIN account today and start learning now by taking one of the many courses offered. To access additional resources, publications, and trainings please explore the USFA Resources for Reducing Residential Arson’s page.
1. Reducing Residential Arson. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/prevention_education/strategies/arson/index.shtm. Accessed April 24, 2013.
2. Reducing Residential Arson. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/prevention_education/strategies/arson/index.shtm. Accessed April 24, 2013.
3. Residential Arson Facts. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/prevention_education/strategies/arson/aaw13/facts.shtm. Accessed April 26, 2013.