Fire Marshal Raises Awareness of Arson Threat

When were you introduced to the nasty concept of arson? It might have been in a scene from The Wizard of Oz.

"How’s a little fire, Scarecrow?” asked the Wicked Witch of the West before hurling a fireball at the frightened straw man.

Batallion Chief Bill Tyler, the fire marshal for the , is focusing on dousing the entire idea during Arson Awareness Week (May 6-12).

"Using fire as a weapon is not just the stuff of movies, but a real-life occurrence in communities across the United States," he said in a release. "Commonly, the crime of arson is motivated by spite and revenge. Perpetrators strikes with fire at buildings or grasslands — places where people live, work, or socialize — causing injury, property loss and death."

As a crime, arson’s long-standing definition —“the willful and malicious burning of property” — does not do justice to the fact that arson is usually a personal crime directed intentionally against specific victims, Tyler said. Arson fires not only kill civilians but also firefighters called on to put out the blazes.

In 1998, the Novato Fire District implemented guidelines contained in the United States Fire Administration Youth Fire Setting Prevention Program. Since then, NFD staff has interviewed, assigned risk, provided education, and mental health referrals to family services for 106 youths and their families.

Nationally, from 2005 to 2009, fires started by children playing with fire accounted for an average of 56,300 fires with  associated  losses  of  110  civilian  deaths,  880  civilian  injuries  and  $286  million  in  direct  property damage per year. In 2010, according to the FBI, 40 percent of arson arrests were juveniles with 47.6 percent of those children under 16 years of age.  

NFD conducts Youth Fire-Setting Prevention training annually to Novato middle school students called, “In Their Own Words.”  In addition, NFD created an educational video called; “Make the Right Choice” that targets and informs 6 to 12 year olds on the consequences of playing with fire.

Tyler said parents should teach young children that fire is a tool, not a toy. He warns to keep matches and lighters out of reach and set a good example by safely using matches, lighters and fire.

For more information please go to www.novatofire.org - or to see the video join us on Facebook.