McKINNEY, TEXAS – The McKinney Fire Department is pleased to partner with the U.S. Fire Administration and other agencies across the country in recognition of Arson Awareness Week, May 5-11, 2013. The theme is “Reducing Residential Arson.”
Between Jan 1, 2008 and May 8, 2013, there were a total of 209 reported arson fires in McKinney, resulting in an estimated loss of $5.5 million. Arson robs our community of valuable assets, lives and property. Arson results in higher insurance premiums, loss of revenue and a decrease in property values.
In the USA over 55 percent of all arsonists are younger than 19. Adolescents and children set fires for a variety of reasons, which may include curiosity, experimentation, a cry for help, thrill-seeking, willful intent to cause destruction or as a result of mental or emotional disorders. The fatality rate for intentionally set residential fires is more than twice that of other residential fires.
Fires set by children are common and a problem affecting many families. While curiosity about fire is natural, firesetting is not. It is dangerous and deadly. It is not safe to think that youth firesetting behavior is only a phase.
Alarmingly, McKinney is seeing an escalation in the number of arson fires suspected set by adolescents. Between March 29 and May 8, 2013, a total of eight such fires have been reported in McKinney. The fires range from trash receptacles in an alley to $80,000 in damage to a single family home. Firesetting is illegal and perpetrators may be charged with arson, regardless of age.
The McKinney Fire Dept. has partnered with the Texas Advisory Council on Arson to offer a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) responsible for recent arson activities in McKinney. If you have information, contact McKinney Police Detective Jeff Taylor at 972-547-2700 or ATAC at 1-877-434-7345.
If you suspect your child, or someone you know is displaying firesetting behavior, remember that you are not the only parent to face this problem. The McKinney Fire Department offers a Juvenile Firesetter Intervention & Education program. For information visit www.mckinneyfire.org or call 972-547-2893.