OHIO BLUE RIBBON | Arson rewards

The Ohio Blue Ribbon Arson Committee — firefighters, police officers and insurance officials — offers rewards, up to $5,000, for information leading to the identification of those responsible for an act of arson. The fund was established in 1978, with reward money provided by the insurance industry.

The program works by placing posters at the sites of suspicious fires. Individuals with information concerning the cause of the fire call local police or fire officials, whose telephone number is listed on the poster.

Awards from the fund are made by the Blue Ribbon Arson Committee.

Since its inception, the blue ribbon program has awarded 387 rewards totaling $388,800 to recipients, many of whom request anonymity.

ARSON FACTS:

Vandalism is the leading cause of arson.

Between 20 percent and 25 percent of arson cases are drug-related.

Children under 18 are responsible for half of the arson cases in the United States.

Source: Ohio Insurance Institute