By Doug Nelson
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has proclaimed May 5th-11th, 2024, as Arson Awareness Week in the State. This aligns with the National Arson Awareness Week. This year’s theme is “Protecting Houses of Worship Against Arson.” The United States Fire Administration (USFA) is hosting a webinar on May 6th to learn more about this focus. Further information and messaging can be found at the USFA’s website here.
Each year, approximately 7% of our fires in North Dakota are intentionally set. This is hundreds of fires and associated losses. As defined in the National Fire Protection Association’s 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, incendiary fires are “A fire that is intentionally ignited in an area or under circumstances where and when there should not be a fire. Though this may not automatically mean it is arson or a similar crime, it is an issue that needs to be investigated and resolved.
In North Dakota, Arson is a crime under Century Code Chapter 12.1-21 and can be found here. Under the Century Code, arson is a class B felony, which applies to intentionally setting another’s property on fire or their own property on fire with the intent to destroy for collecting insurance. Arson is not the only fire crime in North Dakota; further fire-related crimes can also be found in this section.
At the Office of the State Fire Marshal, we use a team approach to ensure arson fires are prevented, identified and mitigated whenever possible. Working together with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, we communicate between agencies on every fire investigation we are notified of. This allows all agencies to work together from the start and provide the best investigation services and outcomes we can. Local law enforcement and fire departments are also a critical part of this team and effort to identify and stop arson.
Though we are located in the middle of the continent, this does not insulate us from arson in places of worship. In North Dakota, in the last 10 years, there have been three incendiary fires reported in places of worship. According to the USFA, nationally “excluding fires for which a cause was undetermined, 58% of fires in houses of worship were classified as incendiary.” This year, during Arson Awareness Week, help your community remain vigilant by raising awareness of arson and sharing some of the safety messages provided by the USFA and the Governor’s Proclamation.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is an assisting agency. Please contact State Radio at (701)328-9921 to request assistance with any fire investigation.