Youth Fire Setter Intervention Program
Youth fire setting is never harmless and should always be taken seriously by adults.
What To Look For:
- If your child is playing with matches or lighters and trying to purposely burn things
- Carrying fire-starting materials in pockets or if they are hidden in their room
- Being very inquisitive about fire and how certain things will burn
Facts:
- Fire setting can happen from as young as 5 and progress into adolescence.
- Children setting things on fire is not a phase they will just grow out of. If the matter is not dealt with it will only get worse.
- A child setting a fire is not a pyromaniac. This is usually a result of many issues, which if dealt with early can be stopped.
Prevention:
Parents are the 1st resource that children will gain knowledge from. Certain things need to be instilled into children from when they are very young. Here are things to consider:
- Teach your children that matches and lighters are to be used by adults only
- Make your home fire safe - keep all matches, lighters and candles out of reach
- Always teach and practice fire safety at home
Statistics:
- 75% of child-play incidents involve matches and lighters
- Half of child fire setting cases in homes start in the bedroom
- Children under 5 years old have the highest fatality in fire-play incidents
Who Can Help:
Parents, you are the first line of defense for your children. If you are suspicious of your child playing with fire, seek help immediately. If you are in Illinois you can call the Youthful Fire Center Hotline at 800-446-1589 to be given a name of someone close that can help you.
The Youth Fire Setter Intervention Program
The Youth Fire Setter Intervention Program is dedicated to reducing the frequency and severity of the tragedy and trauma caused by children and their fire related activities.
It is a statewide standardized program to provide prevention education/intervention and referrals if warranted for the children and families of Illinois to reduce the frequency and severity of fires set by juveniles. The components of this program are:
- Identification System
- Intake Process
- Interview/Screening Strategies
- Education/Intervention Services
- Evaluation/Follow-Up - The Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program is confidential and available to anyone at no cost.
A trained certified interventionist, can vary the program content based on the needs, age, maturity and understanding of the child.
Fire Station Partners
Partnering with the fire service, this program will provide a coordinated referral center for the assessment and treatment of youth fire setters and their families, thereby slowing down the often devastating results of fire setting. Prevention education can quell the youth fire problem, but only when properly targeted, designed and delivered. The behaviors causing the problem must be considered because what motivates their behavior is the surest clue to solving the youth fire setting problem.
The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) began managing the Youth Fire Setter Intervention Program in 2008. The IFSA updated the Youth Fire Setter Intervention Program, reworking the curriculum and providing the interventionists with standardized resources throughout the state, allowing for increased success and support to address the needs of the fire setting problem.
Within the State of Illinois, there has been no prior detailed statistical data available regarding juveniles and fire setting. The IFSA has created a standardized reporting system as a means to discern the juvenile fire setting incident and the surrounding circumstances.
For more information, contact the IFSA Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program at 800-634-0911.
The Youth Fire Setting Problem
- 14,500 child-playing structure fires reported
- 130 civilian deaths
- 810 civilian injuries
- $328 million in direct damage
- 85% of fires reported are in the home
- 33% of fire play reported under the age of 4
- 63% of fatal victims are under the age of 5
Why Youths Set Fires
In order to understand why fire setting behavior occurs, it is best to look at where and why children set fires. The levels of risk are based on the likelihood of the youth to repeat fire setting incidents.
- Little Risk/Curiosity -Curiosity and experimentation is the most common motivator in unsupervised fire setting. Most fire setters fall into this category. Many of these incidents may go unreported. With early identification and education, these fire setters have little risk for future involvement in fire setting.
- Moderate Risk/Troubled -Youths who fall into this category may have a history of fire setting and without intervention, will most likely set fires again. This fire setting may be a cry for help. The earlier a youth is identified and provided with appropriate intervention, reduces the possibility of future fire setting. Without intervention, there is a significant chance of future fire setting.
- Moderate Risk/Delinquent -Youths who fall into the delinquent category differ from those in the prior categories in that they exhibit a certain pattern of aggressive, deviant, and sometimes criminal behavior. These behaviors may begin to surface at a young age. A defiant and stubborn preschooler may turn into a deceptive child or pre-teen and may engage in fire setting, petty theft and vandalism as a teenager. Family dynamics and anti-social behavior can also play a role.
- Definite Risk/Criminal -Less than 1% of fire setters fall into this category. These youths may be hospitalized or are being treated for a mental disorder. They can best be helped by mental health professionals.
- Youth Fire Setters Interventionists -Youth Fire Setter Interventionists are Illinois State certified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal through the IFSA Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program . Interventionists are trained in accordance to the National Fire Protection Association 1035 standards regarding youth fire setting. Interventionists work confidentially with communities to provide youth fire setters and their family’s fire safety education and prevention.
