The Baton Rouge Fire Department is noticing an increase in arson cases in the past three years. In the past two weeks at least nine arson cases were reported by BRFD.
In a third of these cases, people were inside the home at the time of the fire. At least one person was killed. fire department spokesperson, Justin Hill says arson is part of the uptick in crime since the start of the pandemic.
The motive behind setting something on fire can be for multiple reasons.
“They may be personal reasons. They may be some mental health issues. They may be some financial gain they are trying to seek,” Hill said.
Hill says BRFD investigators are working hard to crack down on the arsonist.
BRFD averages a 30 percent clearance rate on cases, the national average is 23 percent.