HLS 15RS-2233 ORIGINAL 2015 Regular Session HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 62 BY REPRESENTATIVE ADAMS SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Designates May 3 through 9, 2015, as Arson Awareness Week in the state of Louisiana 1 A RESOLUTION 2To designate May 3 through May 9, 2015, as Arson Awareness Week in the state of 3 Louisiana. 4 WHEREAS, the theme for 2015 Arson Awareness Week is, "Accelerant Detection 5Canines Sniffing Out Arson"; and 6 WHEREAS, according to the United States Fire Administration, from 2010 to 2012, 7an estimated 17,400 intentionally set fires in residential buildings were reported to United 8States fire departments each year, resulting in 275 civilian deaths, 800 civilian injuries, and 9513 million dollars in property loss; for this same time period, an estimated 9,000 10intentionally set fires occurred in nonresidential buildings each year resulting in 282 million 11dollars in property loss; and 12 WHEREAS, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from 2009 to 2013, 13there was an average of 53,127 arsons reported with an average dollar loss of $15,086 per 14incident; and 15 WHEREAS, an accelerant detection canine is trained to sniff out minute traces of 16ignitable liquid accelerants that may have been used to start a fire; each dog is part of a team 17that is comprised of the canine and its handler; and 18 WHEREAS, these exceptionally trained canines possess superior abilities in 19identifying odors and discriminating among scents; it takes a trained canine roughly thirty 20minutes to work a fire scene; and Page 1 of 2 HLS 15RS-2233 ORIGINAL HR NO. 62 1 WHEREAS, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal maintains nine canine teams across the 2state, four of which include accelerant detection canines that provide the citizens of 3Louisiana with great service; and 4 WHEREAS, the week of May 3 through May 9, 2015, is designated to focus on the 5value and outstanding contribution accelerant detection canines provide to Louisiana fire 6departments, law enforcement agencies, and communities. 7 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the 8Legislature of Louisiana does hereby designate May 3 through May 9, 2015, as Arson 9Awareness Week in the state of Louisiana and does hereby pay special tribute to all fire and 10law enforcement investigative agencies for their dedicated and tireless service to the citizens 11of Louisiana. 12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted 13to H. "Butch" Browning, chief and Brant L. Thompson, deputy chief of the Louisiana Office 14of State Fire Marshal. DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HR 62 Original 2015 Regular Session Adams Designates May 3 through May 9, 2015, as Arson Awareness Week in the state of La. Page 2 of 2