FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2009
Contact: Jason Moon 517-335-1700

LANSING – In partnership with the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the Bureau of Fire Services and the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) today announced the theme for 2009 Arson Awareness Week is Arson for Profit. State and federal agencies around the country will use the week of May 3rd to the 9th to focus public attention on the alarming statistics about Arson for Profit and the importance of reducing this terrible crime. 

Arson for Profit, or economic arson, occurs when businesses or individuals set fires to reduce financial loss, recoup initial investments, or dispose of depreciated assets, usually for a payout from insurance companies.

“Economic arson is a heinous crime where crooks looking for an insurance bailout put Michigan firefighters and innocent citizens in severe danger,” incoming State Fire Marshal Ron Farr said.

According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, last year there were 1,300 arson fires and 3,600 suspicious fires in Michigan, resulting in 35 civilian deaths, 102 injuries and losses of over $120 million.

“Torching a home, car or business results in higher insurance premiums for all consumers,” OFIR Commissioner Ken Ross said. "The impact on rates can be substantial."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2007 Uniform Crime Reporting statistics showed the average dollar loss for all types of arson was $17,289. For structures, arson damages were $32,364 on average and $7,890 for motor vehicles. Arsons of industrial and manufacturing structures resulted in the highest average dollar losses—an average of $114,699 per arson.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2005, an estimated 323,900 intentional fires reported to U.S. fire departments resulted in 490 civilian fire deaths, 3 firefighter on duty deaths (at the scene of, during response or return to, or from an intentional fire), 1,500 civilian fire injuries, 7,600 firefighter on duty injuries (at the scene of an intentional fire but not including response/return injuries) and $1.102 billion in direct property dam­age.

For more information on Arson Awareness Week, visit: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/subjects/arson/arson_awareness.shtm