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Who is a Youthful Fire Setter
A youthful fire setter can be any child who is
curious about fire, frequently plays with matches or lighters or has set
fires in or near your home. This problem is not limited to a certain
race, gender, or economic status.
Risks and Consequences
The National Fire Protection Association has
found that “children playing with fire accounts for the largest number
of home fire deaths among children under 1O years old.” Playing with
fire is responsible for 39 percent of fire deaths among children 5 and
younger, or nearly two of every five deaths in this high-risk age group.
It’s also the leading cause of fatal fires for children between the ages
of 6 and 9. Incendiary or suspicious fires are the most prevalent cause
of fire death for teens in the 10-19 year old age group.
Warning Signs
A youthful fire setter usually exhibits warning
signs. Warning signs may include: setting one or more fires; difficulty
with authority figures or schoolwork;
hyperactivity; inattentiveness; poor
problem-solving skills; low self-esteem; no responsibility for their
actions and has the need to be with peers younger than themselves or
they may be loners. Initial signs that you can look for are burnt
matches, kids playing with lighters, or evidence of small fires burning
in or around the home. If this behavior is not changed, young fire
setters often set larger and more dangerous fires as they get older.
Fire setting may begin as curiosity, but often leads to serious
intentional fire setting, which is arson. Arson is a leading cause of
fire deaths and injuries in the home.
Where is Help?
Youthful fire setting can be prevented when
parents, teachers, firefighters, law enforcement authorities and all
caregivers become aware of fire setting. If you have a child that
exhibits these signs of fire setting, please call for free confidential
help from the Illinois Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialists.
For Questions and Counseling
Illinois Youthful Fire setters Intervention
Hotline 800-446-1589
Office of the Illinois State Fire
Marshal 217-785-5406
Burn Camp, Illinois Fire Safety
Alliance 800-634-0911
(Burn Camp is a free resource for children who suffer
from physical or emotional scars from a fire or scalding.)
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