[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 65 (Thursday, May 6, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4931-S4932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ARSON AWARENESS WEEK

 Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, this is Arson Awareness Week in our 
nation. As Chairman of the Congressional Fire Service Caucus. I want to 
remind all Americans of the blight of arson that kills over 700 
innocent victims each year and destroys millions of dollars of 
property. Additionally, firefighters who have been summoned to 
extinguish the blaze die needlessly.
  Arson has many faces. The misguided youth that sets fires for 
excitement; criminals that use fire in an attempt to cover another 
crime; persons using fire as a weapon to intimidate; the property owner 
attempting to solve financial problems by defrauding an insurance 
company; or the terrorist who uses fire to attack our democracy.
  No matter what the motive, arson in our society cannot be tolerated. 
Every level of our law enforcement community fights the war against 
arson. Local and state fire marshals are often assisted by the Bureau 
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in conducting investigations to bring 
the arsonist to justice.
  The United States Fire Administration in FEMA and the Center for Fire 
Research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the 
Commerce Department are important federal partners in furthering 
research to learn how arson fires are started and how set fires can be 
detected. Our National Fire Academy provides training in arson 
investigation for many state and local law enforcement personnel.
  But we should not assume that government alone can solve the arson 
problem. Private enterprise, especially the insurance industry has 
taken a much higher profile in attacking the arson problem by 
investigating claims and cooperating with law enforcement personnel. 
This trend must continue to take the profit out of arson. The insurance 
industry has also contributed to teaching the public about arson by 
sponsoring education programs such as Arson Awareness Week. The Fire 
Administration helps supports Arson Awareness Week by working with the 
International Association of Arson Investigators. This is the 50th 
Anniversary of the IAAI. Over seven thousand

[[Page S4932]]

members worldwide working together to control arson are making a 
difference.
  I send my congratulations to the IAAI during Arson Awareness Week. I 
am particularly proud of the Delaware Chapter of the IAAI. Some of best 
that Delaware has to offer from the fire service, law enforcement, the 
insurance industry and the private sector work hard to protect and 
educate us about arson. As we go about our busy week, let us not forget 
that we must all work to snuff out the arsonist match.

                          ____________________