Illinois Arson Award Committee

The Illinois Arson Award Committee has been established as a program to encourage citizen cooperation with authorities in the investigation and arrest of arsonists.  The program has been funded by the Illinois FAIR Plan Association in the amount of $10,000 from which awards in varying amounts may be paid to persons who provided information on an arsonist which leads to his/her arrest or the suppression of arson in Illinois.

An Arson Hot Line number 1-800-252-2947 has been instituted for citizens to call in their information, or they can contact any local fire or law enforcement agency in their area.  To participate in the program, the investigative agency should follow these rules:

1.  Following final disposition of a case, awards may be paid for information that has:

     A.  Been a significant contribution to an arson investigation which leads to the case being cleared
           by arrest or exceptional circumstances, or

     B.  Reduced the loss or potential loss of life and property through arson, or

     C.  Led to an arrest and/or conviction of the arson perpetrator or conspirator.

2.  Nominations for awards must use the written form provided by the Committee for that purpose
     and will be accepted only from Illinois law enforcement and fire service agencies,
     State's Attorneys, State Fire Marshal or officers of an insurance company licensed to do business
     in Illinois.

3.  Award nominations should be sent 30 days in advance of a committee meeting and sent to:

Gordon Balsano
Illinois FAIR Plan Association
P.O. Box 81469
Chicago, Il. 60681-0469

Telephone contact is 312-861-0385 ext. 232

They shall be examined for completeness and forwarded to the Chairman to be presented for consideration at the next Awards Committee meeting.

4.  Law enforcement employees, members of the fire service, Office of the State Fire Marshal (or
     their agents), public officials, prosecutor personnel, insurance industry employees, members of
     the Committee and the families of all aforesaid individuals shall be ineligible for monetary
     awards.

5.  Complete authority for the approval or rejection of a nominee for an award shall be vested in the
     Committee.  The decision and determinations of the Committee in this regard will be final and
     binding on all parties.

Note that special recognition awards to agencies, organizations, or their members, deemed worthy because of their significant contribution to arson suppression, prevention or investigation in Illinois may be awarded by the Committee in the form of plaques, equipment or scholarships.  Nominees for such awards may be made by a member of the Committee or submitted to the Committee by any Illinois public official or officer of an insurance company licensed to do business in Illinois.

Any questions may be directed to 1-312-861-0385 ext. 232