The U.S. Fire Administration announced the theme for the 2009 Arson Awareness Week: "Arson for Profit." From May 3 to May 9, the USFA and partnering agencies will emphasize statistics about arson for profit in their public-education efforts in the hope of expanding the resources and support necessary to reduce this crime.

The USFA's National Fire Incident Reporting System showed the two leading causes of civilian deaths are arson, at 28%, and smoking, at 18%. Arson is, by far, the leading cause of property loss, at 26%.

The USFA is partnering with the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI).

For more information, including a media kit for the 2009 Arson Awareness Week campaign, go to USFA's Arson Awareness Week page