5% of All Texas Vehicle Fires Are Arson, Fire Marshal Says

In Texas, approximately five percent of all vehicle fires are intentionally set, which accounts for $3.5 million in vehicle fire losses, according the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office.

“Vehicle arson is not a victimless crime,” said Texas State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy. “It’s not just higher premiums that we all have to pay, but in a car fire the responding firefighters are exposed to a dangerous combination of fuel and fire. People can and do get hurt.”

The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program indicates that over the last 10 years vehicle arsons accounted for 26.5 percent of all arson cases annually.

Setting unwanted vehicles on fire for insurance payouts is among the most common insurance crimes.

“While it may seem obvious to most people, it bears repeating that setting a vehicle on fire for profit is insurance fraud,” said Insurance Commissioner Julia Rathgeber. “Intentionally set vehicle fires contribute to insurance losses and ultimately lead to higher auto rates for everyone.”

The Texas State Fire Marshall’s Office, the Texas Department of Insurance, and hundreds of local fire agencies are joining the U.S. Fire Administration in the Vehicle Arson – a Combustible Crime campaign for Arson Awareness Week, May 4-10, 2014.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is a division of the Texas Department of Insurance

Source: Texas Department of Insurance