[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL ARSON AWARENESS WEEK

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                        HON. ROBERT E. WISE, JR.

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 1997

  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge National Arson 
Awareness Week and to support efforts to prevent arson such as the 
Target Arson project.
  As a Member of Congress, I have supported fire prevention efforts on 
the floor of the House of Representatives and in West Virginia. Most of 
my work has been helping our children learn valuable fire safety 
lessons. Two years ago I worked with the Martinsburg Fire Department 
and the Berkeley County Office of Emergency Services to have a fire 
prevention video produced. The video, ``House on Wheels Fire 
Education,'' was distributed to all elementary schools in West Virginia 
with the assistance of State Farm Insurance.
  Arson is different from most other crimes. It is a cowardly criminal 
act. It is committed without regard to who might be hurt. Innocent 
victims, even firefighters can be harmed by an arsonist. Each year 
1,000 people die from an estimated 332,000 arson fires. Direct property 
loss is in excess of $1.6 billion. Since 1984 arson fire deaths have 
increased 33 percent.
  Unfortunately, West Virginians were not spared from the scourge of 
arson. The United States Fire Administration's Annual Report to 
Congress states that in 1994, 18.4 percent of all reported fires in 
West Virginia were caused by arson, with losses exceeding $1.6 million.
  Earlier this week I participated in an arson investigation 
demonstration with Captain, West Virginia's only four-legged arson 
investigator. Captain is an arsonist's worst nightmare. He is a black 
labrador retriever who works for the State of West Virginia and is 
trained to locate the origins of arson incidents.
  Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local 
firefighters, police officers and other members of the community are 
participating in Target Arson, a public awareness campaign that is part 
of National Arson Awareness Week. Target Arson is aimed at educating 
our children and the general public about the dangers of arson, its 
consequences and how to prevent it.
  Let us pause, Mr. Speaker, during National Arson Awareness Week to 
honor all those men, women and four-footed allies dedicated to fighting 
the war against arson and urge all Americans to support their efforts.

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