Charleston , Kanawha County , West Virginia

The West Virginia Arson Hotline Program announced it has increased the reward from $2,500 to up to $5,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone who commits the crimes of arson and/or insurance fraud.

The increase in reward money was made at the request of the West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office and in conjunction with the West Virginia FAIR Plan.

The Arson Hotline program provides a toll-free number to speak with law enforcement investigators about any knowledge they may have concerning a suspicious fire and is completely confidential. The Arson Hotline number is 800-233-3473 (FIRE).

The Arson Hotline Program was set up in the late 1980s and has paid out more than $90,000 in rewards to more than 100 different callers. Funding for both the operation and the rewards comes from the West Virginia Essential Property Insurance Association, also known as the West Virginia FAIR Plan. The FAIR Plan is a not-for-profit association that offers a basic, affordable property insurance policy to those West Virginia property owners who have been unable to find such coverage in the voluntary market.

Every year in West Virginia, incidents of arson are reported from almost every corner of the state. In just the first four months of 2012, the West Virginia State Fire Marshal's office investigated 305 arson events. During that same time period, the Arson Hotline received 55 tips that combined to shed enough light on 22 arsons with the potential for prosecution.

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