Who pays for arson? - everyone pays

Newsboy photo/ Charles Kerr ARSON IS THE SUSPECTED CAUSE of the fire that occurred last fall in a storage building on Visador Road. Jasper Fire Marshal Stephen Williamson says it is still an active investigation and he is waiting for crime lab results that may help identify the culprits.

This is national Arson Awareness Week. Jasper Fire Marshal Stephen Williamson says, "The goal is to reduce this crime by focusing public attention on arson."

The Uniform Crime Report from the U.S. Department of Justice says, "Arson has one of the lowest clearance rates of any major crime, yet is responsible for hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and billions of dollars in property damage each year."

Ultimately, everyone pays the cost of arson in terms of higher insurance rates and higher taxes to support the expense of fighting fires, investigating the aftermath, and prosecuting the criminals, according to insurance industry reports.

Williamson is still investigating fires believed to be arson here in Jasper, including one on Visador Road last Nov. 25. He's waiting for results from a crime lab that may identify the culprits.

"Information from the public would speed the process up," Williamson said. "Information can help solve these crimes, hold people accountable for their actions and keep insurance rates low. Anyone with information about suspected arson is asked to contact me at 384-4651 or in person at city hall."