The Louisiana Fire Marshal’s Office has received a $15,000 grant to install video surveillance cameras, which will help state investigators solve arson cases across the state.
National insurance company State Farm awarded the Fire Marshal’s Office with the grant on May 4, The Advocate reports.
The Fire Marshal’s Office has used video surveillance to investigate arson cases for decades; however, the new cameras will have larger capacities, better quality footage and will be less intensive in terms of manpower, according to state officials.
Authorities plan to deploy the new camera equipment in high-arson crime areas.
With older surveillance technology, investigators had to physically download footage captured on camera on-site. The new equipment will allow investigators to remotely access video. The cameras will also have longer battery life.
Louisiana authorities investigate roughly 800-850 fires each year. Of those, it’s estimated about 30 percent of those fires are the works of arsonists.
