Greenwood Arson Award now up to $25,000; citizens urged to call with tips

SEATTLE - A $25,000 award fund is now available to anyone with information that leads to the apprehension of the arsonist(s) responsible for setting multiple fires in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle.

The Taproot Theatre Company has put forward an additional $15,000 in conjunction to the $10,000 Arson Award Fund sponsored by NW Insurance Council and Arson Alarm Foundation. One of the fires caused $2 million in damage to the Taproot Theatre and four restaurants on Oct. 23.

Anyone with information about these arson fires is urged to call the Arson Hotline (800-55-ARSON) or local authorities. Callers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for an award.

"Arsonists hurt all of us by destroying lives and property and by driving up insurance rates," said Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president." We urge citizens to call the Arson Hotline with any information they have about this series of arsons."

Arson is a deadly and costly crime, killing hundreds of people each year and destroying hundreds of millions of dollars in property. Nationally, arson kills more than 300 people each year and injures thousands.

Firefighters are put at needless risk. Nationally, arsonists set more than 30,000 fires that destroyed $878 million worth of property in 2007.

These fires include factories, residential buildings, churches and motor vehicles, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Arson is a difficult crime to solve. In fact, FBI statistics show only 17 percent of all arson offenses result in arrests.

NW Insurance Council and Arson Alarm Foundation offer an annual $10,000 Arson Award Fund for Washington residents who provide tips to authorities that result in the arrest or conviction of arsonists.

If you have information about an arson or suspicious fire, call the Arson Hotline at 800-55-ARSON or contact your local authorities. You may be eligible for an award.

The Arson Alarm Foundation has awarded more than $100,000 to Washington citizens over the past 12 years. NW Insurance Council and Arson Alarm have sponsored the Arson Award Fund since 1978.

For more information about arson, visit NW Insurance Council.

NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, public-education organization funded by member insurance companies in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Arson Alarm Foundation is a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce loss of life and property by increasing arson awareness.

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