You can help the Fire District fight fires! Call the Arson Tip Line to leave a recorded message, in English or Spanish, about fire-related criminal activity. You can leave an anonymous tip, but sometimes the Fire Investigator needs to call you back for more information, so we ask for your name and phone number. All investigations are treated confidentially.

Community involvement is critical to solving cases of arson. In general, the citizens of Contra Costa County are very helpful in providing authorities information about crimes that have occurred in their communities.

You can make a difference. When you call the Arson Tip Line, don’t worry if you think the information you have seems too little or unimportant. Some of our best tips come from citizens who were not aware that what they saw was really very important to the investigation of an incident.

Arson is a Crime

Across the U.S. in 2002, there were an estimated 131,000 intentional (arson) structure and vehicle fires. These fires resulted in 730 civilian deaths, 2,200 civilian injuries and $2.2 billion in direct property damage.

In the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District area of responsibility, there were approximately 442 Fire Investigation Unit cases in 2004. Of those cases, 65 % (286) were determined to be arson or suspicious fires.

Every year in early May, the United States Fire Administration, a division of the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes national Arson Awareness Week across the United States.

In Contra Costa County call toll-free 1-866-50-ARSON