Firefighter dousing a large fire taking over an establishment | blogspot.com
The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office said that they were looking for the individuals who started two different fires in the Claiborne County neighborhood of Jones Ridge.
On September 19, the first fire was started, destroying a barn in the process.
The second fire broke out Thursday night and into Friday morning. The sheriff’s office claims that damaged cut hay was burned in a field.
The owners of the property were offering a $10,000 prize for information that led to an arrest.
The Criminal Investigations Division of the sheriff’s office was asked to be contacted at 423-626-2501 by anyone with knowledge of the fires.
If information leads to the arrest of the individuals responsible for starting two different fires in Claiborne County, there is a $10,000 prize available.
Preventing and fighting against arson
Arson is a severe, pervasive crime that results in a great deal of property damage as well as a great deal of injuries and fatalities each year. The good news is that you may be surprised to learn how much you can do to avoid arson and safeguard people and property.
The most recent year for which data is available, 2019, had 33,395 arrests nationwide, according to the FBI. This is a little decrease from the previous year’s total of 35,107 arsons.2 In Washington State, there were 935 arsons in 2019, which was likewise less than the 1,025 arsons recorded in 2018.
In general, there have been more arsons in Washington State since 2012. Over that period, the population of the state has also grown, although not at a rate that has kept up with the overall number of arsons.
“You don’t only hear about arson from the national news, read about it in your neighborhood newspaper, or watch it in movies. Chris Thielbar, a senior special investigator at Country Financial and president of the Arson Alarm Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Washington State devoted to preventing arson, stated, “It is a very real, very serious, expensive, and occasionally deadly crime, and it is very much alive right here in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest.”
The FBI reports that the average arson in 2019 resulted in losses of $16,371, but that’s only the beginning of the tale. Compared to a car or other piece of property, the average damage to a structure was $29,568. The average damage to single-family houses was $30,308, while the average damage to commercial premises not utilized for manufacturing or industry was $36,402. Buildings used for manufacturing and industry incurred damage expenditures that were the highest by far, averaging $190,336.
According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) research, deliberate fires result in approximately $1 billion in property losses, 440 civilian deaths, and 1,310 civilian injuries annually.
Not all deliberate fires are considered arson because, according to the report’s definition, arson also calls for the fire starter to have planned to inflict harm and to be capable of harboring criminal intent. For instance, arson charges may not be brought against minors in certain countries, and setting fire to one’s own property may be allowed in others. Arson, however, encompasses the majority of purposeful fires, and the evidence indicates that arson results in considerable harm.
Making your house or place of business less of a desirable target for would-be arsonists is the key to safeguarding it against arson at all times, according to Captain Michael Perkow, the head of the Seattle Fire Department’s fire investigation team.
According to Perkow, “having a lot of stuff piled around your house or place of business, or even just dry grass there, makes things easier for people who are looking for a crime of opportunity.” He advises using the following safeguards:
- Adequately light the area around your home or business.
- Keep trashcans and other waste receptacles in your garage or other locked or gated areas.
- Keep the area around your home or business clear of combustible material or debris.
- Consider installing security cameras or doorbell cameras along with signs alerting people they’re being recorded.
- Properly secure construction or other work sites by making paint, wood, construction debris or anything else combustible inaccessible.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees AAW, includes the U.S. Fire Administration, which offers advice on avoiding arson at construction sites, unoccupied and abandoned structures, and in the wilderness, where wildfire arson happens.
Keeping the area surrounding your house or place of business free of flammable debris may help lower the danger of wildfire property damage if you live or operate in a region that is prone to wildfires.
Calling 911 should be your first course of action if you witness what appears to be arson, according to Perkow. “Be ready to converse with dispatchers from both the police and fire departments. Both sorts of dispatchers will want information regarding the location of the incident, but the fire dispatcher will be more interested in what is really on fire, such as a house, business, car, or other object, according to Perkow. If you witnessed someone fleeing the scene, the police dispatcher will want to have a description.
After an incident, report any information you have to the Arson Alarm Foundation (AAF) by contacting 1-800-55-ARSON (1-800-552-5566) or by visiting the AAF website and completing the online form. You can also get in touch with the local police enforcement or fire department. Information leading to the solution of an arson case can earn awards of up to $10,000 from the AAF, which also takes anonymous reports. The AAF is proudly sponsored by WSRB.
