By Tony Rizzo
The Kansas City Star, Mo.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Fire Department lost a "near and dear friend" when Terrance Crockett died battling an intentionally set fire in March , an official said.

But prompted by Crockett's death, the department announced a campaign Tuesday to go after arsonists through a community outreach effort and a statewide reward fund.

A large banner advertising the Missouri Arson Hotline and a reward of up to $5,000 was planted in front of the boarded up, burned out house in the 5500 block of Prospect Avenue where Crockett collapsed while battling a blaze March 17.

The department intends to plant similar signs at the scene of other arson fires in an effort to engage neighborhood residents and passersby in the fight, said Chief Fire Marshal Floyd Peoples.

"The focus is really on our neighborhoods," he said.

To highlight how big the problem is, Peoples said Kansas City firefighters had fought 190 arson fires in the last 12-month period.

The state fire marshal's office runs the arson line, which is funded by the private insurance industry.

As with the TIPS Hotline, callers can remain anonymous.

Crockett, 48, was a 10-year department veteran. After collapsing inside the Prospect house he was taken to a nearby hospital but could not be revived. He was the first Kansas City firefighter to die in the line of duty since 2004.

Although an official cause of death has not been released, homicide detectives are involved in the investigation. A felony murder charge potentially could be filed, because Crockett died as a result of the felony crime of arson.

Copyright 2008 The Kansas City Star