Announcements
Juvenile Arson Intervention Program
-The Problem-
"Each year in the United States, an estimated 700 children aged five and under die in home
fires. Representing 20 percent of the fire deaths each year, this age group has a fire risk that
is double the national average. Children playing with matches and lighters and other fire sources
started about 91,810 fires per year from 1993 through 1997, which resulted in an estimated 338
deaths and 2,624 injuries each year. Preschool children are the most frequent victims of fires
started by children playing with matches or lighters."
The State of Utah has developed a program called the Child Firesetting and Juvenile Arson Intervention Program. This program was developed to teach children who have a history of playing with fire or demonstate arson tendancies. Children involved in fireplay can be classified into one of three basic categories: curiosity, reactionary, and extreme concern.
Curiosity is a term that means a child's firesetting will most likely be resolved through educational intervention. The child's firesetting behavior is typically a result of a lack of information about fire and its consequences.
Reactionary is a term describing the firesetting behavior as a reaction to some type of stress or crisis occurring in the life of the child and/or family. Educational intervention alone, while important, will not likely resolve the firesetting behavior. Some type of behavior modification is more often necessary. This need may require mental health intervention, medical treatment, parental intervention/training, or other such assistance.
Extreme Concern represents children who have an immediate need for some type of intervention beyond education. When a child presents a behavior profile that, coupled with the firesetting behavior, makes it appear likely that the firesetting behavior will continue before the family can access qualified assistance, they are categorized as Extreme Concern fire setting. Urgency is the key criteria for this category.
At Logan Fire Department we have personnel who are specially trained in the Utah Juvenile Setter program and are would love to help you catch a small problem before it becomes a large one. If you are interested in finding out more about this program contact Fire Marshal Craig Humphreys by email or (435) 716-9515. We would like to invited those outside of Logan City as well as Logan's citizens.
