April 30, 2009 - Shreveport Fire Arson Division recognizes National Arson Awareness Week for 2009

National Theme for 2009: Arson for Profit

The Shreveport Fire Department’s Fire Investigations Division will recognize the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Arson Awareness Week campaign which runs Sunday, May 3^rd through Saturday, May 9^th. The National Theme for 2009 is “Arson for Profit.”
“Approximately 44 percent of fires investigated by the Shreveport Fire Department from 2006 through 2008 were determined intentionally set,” according to Chief Randy Stephens, SFD’s Chief of Fire Investigations. “This a growing trend which has an adverse affect on our community. The public should be aware that this is a crime which is punishable with jail time and/or heavy fines.”

The SFD’s Fire Investigations Division has a total of three full-time investigators and a supervisor on staff with over 35 years of experience and training combined. Also supporting the department’s manpower, this division has two specially trained K-9s that are trained to detect accelerants and explosives.
During this week, investigators want to draw attention to the increasing statistics to arson for profit and pledge that all available resources will be used to reduce this crime. Arson for profit places a heavy burden on the economy through loss of businesses and payout from insurance companies.