Contact: Mark Buff
Phone: 804/ 371-0220
www.vafire.com
Contact: Tamra Talmadge-Anderson
Phone: 804/ 371-7006
www.dhcd.virginia.gov
Contact: Corinne Geller
Phone: 804/ 674-2789
www.vsp.virginia.gov

STATE AGENCIES ENCOURAGE VIRGINIANS TO RECOGNIZE
MAY 7-13, 2006 AS ARSON AWARENESS WEEK

RICHMOND, VA - - Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has recognized May 7-13, 2006 as Arson Awareness Week in the Commonwealth of Virginia and called this observance to the attention of all citizens by official proclamation.

The theme for this year’s Arson Awareness Week is Wildfire Arson – Preparedness and Prevention. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) sponsor Arson Awareness Week annually. The goal this year is to focus the public’s attention on the wildfire arson problem, particularly in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI).

In conjunction with Governor Kaine’s proclamation, the Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO), Virginia State Police (VSP), Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP), and Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) are encouraging citizens to be proactive in preventing, mitigating and preparing for wildfire arson.

Arson and other uncontrolled wildland fires pose a serious threat to lives, property and natural resources. Rural and suburban communities built within forested or grassland areas are particularly at risk. This area, neither strictly rural nor urban, is called the WUI. Housing and other development within the WUI can increase the risk of wildfire. Wildfire arson in these areas can have devastating effects; the damage associated with wildland arson, acreage and dollar losses, is more than all other causes associated with wildland fires.

"Wildland arson continues to be a problem in the Commonwealth," said State Forester Carl E. Garrison III. "Since the first of this year, a total of 140 wildland arson fires have been reported in Virginia. Arsonists usually set fires in their local areas, and doing so in the wildland urban interface is a major threat to life and property. In addition to precautions such as having an evacuation plan in the event of a wildfire, citizens in more remote areas should be aware of any unusual activity. Arson investigators rely on the public for information to bring arsonists to justice.”

Preventative measures that citizens can take include: clearing trees and brush; placing fuel tanks away from structures; incorporating landscaping efforts designed to provide a defensible space around structures; maintaining adequate outside water sources; maintaining adequate ingress and egress routes to facilitate firefighting efforts, and using fire-resistant, noncombustible building materials in construction.

In the area of mitigation, citizens can assist by being vigilant and monitoring any suspicious persons and vehicles, forming Neighborhood Watch Programs, and supporting adoption of local WUI building codes and weed abatement ordinances for structures built near wooded areas.

Finally, be prepared in the event of a wildfire, whether arson related or naturally occurring. Call for help (use a cell phone if your electrical power has been interrupted); close all entrances, windows and other openings; have tools (shovel, rake and long water hose) and water accessible; dress to protect yourself; wet down the roof; turn off residential fuel sources, and be ready to evacuate your family and pets to a safe location if necessary.

For more information on prevention and preparedness, please visit www.firewise.org; www.firewisevirginia.org and www.ready.gov. For more information on Arson Awareness Week, please contact the USFA at 888-603-3100.

For additional information, please contact: Virginia State Police: Arson Division; Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office; Virginia Department of Fire Programs, or the Virginia Department of Foresty.
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