Alpena Recognizes Arson Awareness Week
This week is Arson Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is Preventing Arson at Houses of Worship.
Put in place by Governor Rick Snyder, May 7th– 13th will be dedicated to emphasizing the costly consequences of arson, and to encourage citizens to work together to prevent arson in their neighborhoods and communities. More specifically, this week is paying attention to preventing arson at places of worship.
“Approximately half of all reported fires in houses of worship half of them are cause by arson which is a pretty huge percentage which represents a pretty big problem,” said Chief Dave Robinson, Arson Investigator.
According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, an estimated 1,669 fires were intentionally set in Michigan in 2016– resulting in two deaths, 14 injuries, and losses exceeding $18.9 million dollars. Although this is a statewide issue, its also one that we’ve experienced here in Alpena.
“Well it has occurred in Alpena, not that its just indicative of downstate. There has been past fires in the Alpena area that definitely have been arson and affects everyone,” said Robinson.
Through awareness and prevention, officials are hoping that this will hopefully reduce the amount of arson not just in our area, but everywhere.
Anyone with information about arson or suspicious fires should call 1–800–44–arson.
