JUVENILE FIRESETTER EDUCATION/INTERVENTION

Nationally, over 50% of all arson arrests are youth under the age of eighteen. Addressing this behavior in juveniles can help prevent injuries and property loss, and is believed to reduce the number of adult arsonists in our society. Call 925-941-3327 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

It is normal for a child to be curious about fire. Children want to learn about the world around them. Because your child is curious about fire does not mean there is something wrong with him/her. But when the interest becomes dangerous behavior such as unsupervised experimentation with fire, intervention is essential. If you suspect that your child is lighting fires, playing with matches, lighters, fireworks, or has even had one fire experimentation incident, you need to take action. Ignoring the problem won't make it go away.

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District has a Juvenile Firesetter Education/Intervention program to help parents and kids. This program is designed to educate children about the dangers of fire. When you call our office, a one-on-one appointment will be made with your child and a custodial parent or guardian. Your family will be seen at one of our locations in Central, West or East County by a highly trained Fire Prevention Specialist. The program is free of charge to residents in our Fire District.

Your child will learn why fire is dangerous for juveniles, how quickly fire spreads, what "Arson" means, and the consequences of burns, i.e. the pain and lifetime scars. He/she will also learn that arson is a crime. An educational video will be shown appropriate to his/her age, and possibly an essay assigned to be written by the child. This essay will be titled, "What I Learned About The Dangers Of Fire".

By addressing your child's fireplay early, you can take a positive step in insuring that your child will not be included in those statistics.