CONCORD, N.H. ― The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office recognizes Arson Awareness Week from May 4-10, 2025. Preventing arson is not just a job for fire departments. A community approach is essential. It requires the involvement of everyone from educators and parents to neighborhood leaders and law enforcement.
An effective community-based strategy includes education through risk reduction programs, public understanding of fire weather warnings and the dangers of arson, preventing youth firesetting behavior and the timely reporting of suspicious activity.
Areas where homes are built near natural vegetation are especially vulnerable to fire. Communities in these zones can take extra precautions to reduce fuel loads and limit access to ignition sources. Residents can create healthy landscapes around their homes and clear brush and debris away from structures. In wildfire-prone areas, even a single act of firesetting can have devastating consequences.
New Hampshire residents should review weather conditions before burning, as small decisions can result in unintended consequences. Red Flag Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service to notify the public that there is a higher risk for unintentional wildfires. In addition, checking the Daily Fire Danger before doing any outside burning is very important, as it shares how likely wildfires are to ignite and how severely they will burn. Criminal charges could result if a person acted recklessly by ignoring dangerous fire conditions.
The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office encourages parents and educators to be proactive. Using fire safely and teaching children to do the same helps build a culture of prevention. Children and teens may set fires out of curiosity, peer pressure, emotional distress or other behavioral challenges. They should be taught that fire is a tool, not a toy, and should only be handled by adults. The State Fire Marshal’s Office operates the Youth Firesetting Intervention Program, serving individuals under 18 who were referred following a fire incident. Referrals to the Youth Firesetters Program can be submitted via email to [email protected].
We all have a role in fire prevention. Anyone who witnesses suspicious behavior should call or text 911 for immediate response. To share tips about suspicious fires, call the Arson Hotline at 800-400-3526, where all contacts are strictly confidential.
We encourage communities to partner with local agencies for public education and to invite the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office to join your community event by contacting our education team at [email protected]. For more resources and information, visit usfa.fema.gov/prevention/arson.
