JUVENILE FIRE SETTER INTERVENTION PROGRAM
By Captain Jeff Blake

The Bend Fire Department Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention program consists of one Juvenile Fire Setter Coordinator and nine Juvenile Fire Setter Interventionists. The Fire Setter program is used to assess a juvenile's risk of continued fire setting behavior and to determine the course of action to correct the child's behavior.

Currently, the Bend Fire Department averages eight to ten fire setter contacts a month. The fire department works with local police agencies, school districts, and other children service agencies, such as Services to Children and Families, Kids Center and Cascade Children Treatment Center. Educating a juvenile on the dangers of fire setting and holding them accountable is a major goal of the Bend Fire Department Juvenile Fire Setter Program.

A juvenile fire setter can be any child who plays with fire, lights a match or actually tries to do harm to something or someone with the use of fire. Fire setters can be young or old, male or female and come from varying socio-economic backgrounds. It is very common for any child to experiment with a match or a lighter, and sometimes even accidentally light something on fire. The problem begins when a child has been educated about the dangers, and disciplined for his actions and still chooses to play with or light fires.

In order for the fire department to gain a better understanding of the child's behavior we conduct an assessment of the fire setter. The assessment is a standardized questionnaire that identifies a child's behavior, medical history, and family background. The assessment is conducted in three phases: a child interview, family interview and a parent questionnaire. Once the assessment is completed and scored the results will give the fire department a guideline for intervention and education for that particular child. It is recommended that all kids who have been discovered playing with fire or have started an unwanted fire be given a fire setter assessment.

What to do if your child is playing with fire?

1. Make sure a working smoke detector is in your home.
2. Have a home escape plan and practice it.
3. Find all matches and lighters in your house and lock them up.
4. If you are a smoker, keep your lighter with you at all times.  Use child resistant lighters.
5. Establish a rule that your child is never to have matches or lighters.
6. Increase supervision of fire setting children. Do not let them play alone or unsupervised in other children's homes where lighters or matches might be available.
7. Check any secret hiding places that may contain any matches or lighters.
8. Lock up all flammable liquids such as gasoline, lighter fluid or charcoal starter fluid.
9. Make sure to watch your actions.  Kids learn from their parents.  Always be responsible when using fire.
10. Contact the Bend Fire Department Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program (Fire Prevention Division) at (541) 322-6309.
11. Visit the Oregon State Fire Marshal's web site for more Juvenile Fire Setter information.