$10,000 Award Fund offered in wake of Vancouver house fire

SEATTLE - NW Insurance Council and Arson Alarm Foundation are offering a $10,000 award fund to anyone who has information that helps investigators track down the arsonist(s) responsible for setting fire to a Vancouver home Tuesday night.

The blaze caused an estimated $170,000 in damage. Anyone with information about this arson is encouraged 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." Citizens are encouraged to call the Arson Hotline with any information they have about this fire."

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, down 1.2 percent from $889 million in 2006. 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 serving 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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