Iowa Department of Public Safety
Larry L. Noble, Commissioner
215 East 7th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319

Raymond A. Reynolds, Director

PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS FROM ARSON

Take time during Arson Awareness Week to evaluate your business’ security level and how you can protect it from arson in the future. 

Des Moines, IOWA --- Each year more than 316,600 intentional fires, resulting in billions of dollars of damage, are reported to fire departments across the United States.  And over 70 percent of businesses involved in a major fire either do not reopen, or subsequently fail within 3 years of a fire.  This makes it even more important for you to take steps now to protect your business from arson.

May 2-8, 2010, during Arson Awareness Week, the state Fire Marshal will send out one tip each day to help Iowa Business owners protect themselves, their employees and their property from arson.

Between 2000 and 2004 in the United States there was an estimated annual average of:

• 330 intentional fires in eating and drinking establishments.  Direct property damages totaling $12 million.
• 280 intentional structure fires in office properties.*  Direct property damages totaling $18 million.
• 173 intentional fires in religious properties.  Direct property damage totaling $18.6 million.

Now is the time to take steps to protect your business from arson.  After all, it’s not just the place you go to work every day.  Your business is your passion and your livelihood.  Don’t let an arsonist take that away from you.

To view the proclamation in which Governor Culver declares May 2-8, 2010, Arson Awareness Week in Iowa, visit this link.

*Totals regarding intentionally set fires in office properties between 2000 and 2004 exclude the events of September 11, 2001.

To enroll in the DPS E-mail Notification system simply log on to https://dpsemailnotify.iowa.gov and follow the instructions to enroll as a new user.