ARSON :: essays research papers

U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION COMBATS NATIONSARSON PROBLEM incendiarism Awareness Week Targets recent enkindlesettingWASHINGTON (FEMA) -- Everyday brings news of a serious national problem - arson. Thisyear, Arson Awareness Week, May 5-12, focuses on juvenile firesetting because young people soon 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. Its murder by fire, a violent crime against property and people. Everyyear arson kills 700 people, destroys 100,000 buildings and costs more than $1.4 billion," U.S. FireAdministrator Carrye brown said. "There are, however, effective ways citizens, along with lawenforcement and the fire service, can ensure the culprits are brought to justice." Brown said that everyone should take move to prevent arson in their communities. Arson exists invarious forms -- juvenile firesetting, vandalism, pyromania, a murder weapon, and concealment of acrime. "We must identify the faces of arson. In extension to kids setting fires, incidents of adultfiresetting are increasing, " she said. Charles Evancho, national arson expert and chief of arson, Detroit Fire Department said, "Arson isone of the most difficult crimes to prosecute successfully. oftentimes the criminal justice system does notview 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, forexample, USFA namings support a juvenile firesetter prevention program in partnership with atreatment center for abused children. "We need grant programs and partnerships like this," Brown said. "Arson must be tackled on severalfronts and people must protect themselves by strengthening prevention and apprehension efforts." Brown offered the following advice -- Ask local law enforceme nt and fire officials to identify buildings at risk for arson. -- Organize arson block watches to monitor run-down and vacant buildings, and root wordsuspicious 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. Installsmoke detectors on for each one level of your home and check the batteries every month. Secondscount in any fire. USFA supports the nations firefighters with training, fire data analysis, public education and researchin fire security technologies. For more information about arson and other fire issues, call FEMAsFax-On-Demand at (202) 646-FEMA. For Internet users, arson facts are available on the World long Web at http//www.fema.gov/usfa/usfa.htm. Jump to the U.S. Fire Administration