HomeMy WebLinkAboutJUVENILE_FIRE_SAFETY_PROGRAMJUVENILE FIRE SAFETY PROGRAM
JUVENILE FIRE SAFETY PROGRAM
JUVENILE FIRE SAFETY PROGRAM
The majority of child-set fires are started out of curiosity, not malice; yet, the
damage they cause, in both economic and human costs, is real and devastating.
For example:*
♦ Each year in the US fires started by juveniles cause $235 million in damages
♦ In the US over 50,000 fires annually are set by juveniles.
♦ Children make up roughly 15% of all fire deaths in the US.
♦ Each year hundreds of the fires that kill children are set by children.
Due to these startling statistics, the Oshkosh Fire Department has developed the
Juvenile Fire Safety (JFS) Program. This program was designed to educate the
families of our community to the realities of fire and to give them the tools
necessary to change this dangerous behavior.
* All statistics 2014 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
CURIOSITY OR CONCERN?
Children are naturally curious about things they don’t understand—including fire.
Therefore, how does a parent know whether their child’s interest in fire is cause
for concern?
Some warning signs are:
♦ Playing with matches or lighters
♦ Trying to burn things
♦ Lying about his/her involvement in a known fire-setting episode
♦ Stockpiling of flammable materials
♦ Finding unexplained burnt matches or materials
♦ Extreme interest in fire
Parents who become aware of any of the above warning signs should take
it very seriously. Immediate acknowledgement along with effective
educational intervention is crucial to alleviating this behavior.
HOW DOES THE JFS PROGRAM WORK?
The Oshkosh Fire Department offers families assistance in dealing with juvenile
fire-setters. An interview will be conducted by trained personnel with both the
parent(s) and the child(ren) to determine the severity of the problem and
a plan of action to deal with it. If the situation involves an accidental fire or a fire
set out of curiosity, the JFS Program is offered to the family at no cost. This
class provides information on the proper use of fire as well as fire safety and
prevention practices. The sessions are approximately an hour in length and are
held weekly until the instructor is satisfied that the child is no longer a threat to
him/herself or his/her family.
If the extent of the fire-setting problem is beyond the scope of the JFS
Program we can also assist the family by referring them to other available
community resources. YOU CAN DO
WHAT YOU CAN DO
♦ Lead by example. You cannot expect your child to treat fire any differently than
you do.
♦ Explain to children why they cannot use fire. Simply saying, “DON’T” is not
enough.
♦ Treat matches and lighters like the tools that they are. Give them the same
respect you would give to other dangerous tools (knives, power tools, etc.) that
are in your house.
♦ Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
♦ Punishment and scare tactics will not satisfy a child’s curiosity about fire.
Education is the best means to prevention.
♦ Reward children for the correct choices/behaviors regarding matches and
lighters.
Take the initiative! If you feel your child has developed an unhealthy
fascination with fire, call the Public Education Division today at 236-5249.
Multiple fatality fire in Oshkosh set by a juvenile.
The child who lit the fire was one of the fatalities.