Maryland State Fire Marshal
News Release Martin O’Malley Governor
Brian S. Geraci State Fire Marshal
GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY PROCLAIMS “ARSON AWARENESS WEEK” – MAY 4 – 10, 2014 STATEWIDE (May 2, 2014) – Governor Martin O’Malley, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the U.S. Fire Administration are teaming up once again to promote arson awareness throughout Maryland. National Arson Awareness Week has been scheduled for May 4-10, 2014. The purpose for this week is to address these costly fires and to take steps to combat this heinous crime. This year’s theme is, “Vehicle Arson – A Combustible Crime”. A report from the U.S. Fire Administration reveals that during 2008 – 2010, 14% of all fires in the United States were vehicle fires. Of these fires, 7% were determined to be arson. In 2013, Maryland law enforcement agencies investigated 106 intentional vehicle fires accounting for nearly 5% of the reported 2,199 reported vehicle fires in the State. Motivations behind vehicle arsons are typically: Revenge, Concealment of a crime, Curiosity, Excitement, Insurance fraud and Vandalism. Revenge - According to the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, the most common motive (41 percent) for a serial arsonist is revenge. An arsonist will target the home of someone in retaliation for an actual or perceived injustice against him or her. A car is viewed as an extension of the individual and is a very personal target for revenge arson. Concealing another crime - Arson is sometimes used to mask or conceal another crime, such as murder. The criminal sets the crime scene ablaze, hoping that the victim’s death will be attributed to the fire and not murder. Other crimes, such as burglary and larceny, are also commonly covered up by an arson fire. Page 1 of 4