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Press Office
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security
Press Release
May 7, 2018
Contact: USFA Press Office (301) 447-1853
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY’S
UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION
2018 ARSON AWARENESS WEEK: REDUCING ARSON AT VACANT AND ABANDONED
BUILDINGS
USFA Announces the 2018 Arson Awareness
Week Theme
Emmitsburg,
MD – The theme for the 2018 Arson Awareness Week is Reducing Arson at Vacant
and Abandoned Buildings. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) is
pleased to announce first-time partner: the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD).
USFA will also partner with an important group of
organizations comprised of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and
Explosives, International Association
of Arson Investigators, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Fire
Protection Association, Coalition Against Insurance Fraud and the Insurance
Committee for Arson Control.
The week of May 6 to 12 will be used to focus on the importance of a
cooperative effort with fire and emergency service departments, law enforcement
and public works to help prevent the horrendous crime of arson at vacant and
abandoned buildings.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire
Incident Reporting System, at 34 percent, intentional actions were the leading
cause of vacant residential building fires.
The ATF’s Bomb Arson Tracking System, reported there have
been an average of 550 incendiary/arson fires per year at abandoned and vacant
properties for the 10-year period from 2007 to 2016.
“Unsecured vacant or abandoned structures create an
inherent risk to the courageous firefighters that respond to these fires,” said USFA
Administrator Keith Bryant.
HUD Community Development Block Grants have provided
grants to communities that suffered from foreclosures and abandonment. HUD purchased and redevelop foreclosed and
abandoned homes and residential properties assisting in the rejuvenation and
revitalization of communities nationwide.
For more information regarding the 2018 Arson Awareness
Week, visit the USFA website.
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