To The Leader

The hot, dry weather conditions have resulted in a number of wildfires across the state, stretching rural firefighters to their limits, and this is made worse when someone intentionally sets a fire.  To combat the work of arsonists, all fire chiefs, fire marshals and local law enforcement officers are urged to take advantage of the Texas Arson Hotline. The Texas Arson Hotline, through funds provided by ATAC, rewards anonymous callers who turn in suspects who have intentionally set fires.

“The Texas Arson Hotline assists fire investigators with information that leads to suspects in suspicious fires,” said ATAC spokesperson Mark Hanna. “ATAC places arson hotline posters at the scene of intentionally set fires in order to provide the public a phone number to call if they have any information about the crime.”

The Texas Arson Hotline is open 24 hours, seven days a week and the phone number is 1-877- 4 FIRE 45 (1-877-434-7345). Once a call comes into the Texas Arson Hotline, the operator notifies the State Fire Marshal’s Office who in turn notifies fire investigators in the local area.

If the call results in indictments or arrests, the tipster is paid within a matter of days. ATAC provides rewards up to $1,000 for anonymous callers with valuable information on suspicious fires.  ATAC is comprised of fire and insurance special investigators throughout the state.

Fire and local law enforcement officials in need of Texas Arson Hotline posters should contact Hanna at mhanna@insurancecouncil.org or the State Fire Marshal’s Office at Kyle.Morris@tdi.Texas.gov.