Arson Prevention

May is Community Arson Prevention Month. Below is a message from Fire Marshal (and Newman Park Neigghborhood Association board member) Orlando Arriola:

Greetings fellow Newmanistas,

I would like to take this opportunity to convey a fire safety/prevention message to you while also addressing the recent El Paso Times article/Crime Stopper report. The EPFD is investigating a home arson incident in Central El Paso. However please also be comforted in knowing that the incident is considered to be an isolated one.

2011 fire statistics for El Paso, Texas show that the communities in Central (79930) have suffered far less fire occurrences than other parts of the City thus far. All told there have been twenty-eight fires (all types, typically minor in nature such as vehicle, trash/dumpster, grass fires . . . and three structure/residential fires.)

As we proceed through an extremely dry and high fire hazard period, we have been fortunate in Central. As we applaud our community's success, may we also extend the fire safety/prevention example to the rest of our City through positive actions that support this lower fire rate including those initiatives that are directly attributed to our willingness to welcome fire safety in our homes and in maintaining a vigilant watch over our neighborhood.

Please read USFA Community Arson Prevention. You will read about some very helpful community outreach activities that are dependent on being championed and embraced by progressive neighborhood organizations such as ours.

We are also fortunate to have the Sandra Day O'Conner Fire Fighter Academy in our immediate neighborhood. May we continue in community-school partnership toward developing and pursuing the fire safety/prevention initiative.

As always, The EPFD/Fire Prevention Division and I are available to work with both adults and children in the effort and throughout the year. Please keep this in mind as school lets out and the opportunity for potential summer projects presents itself.

Sincerely,

Orlando Arriola