School Personnel Information
During 2005, the Phoenix Fire Department Youth Firesetter Intervention Program received 99 youth firesetter referrals from Phoenix area schools for fire misuse on or near school campuses. The school firesetter referrals included the following school fire situations:
- Using matches, lighters, a heated light bulb or a magnifying glass to light toilet paper or other combustibles on fire in the school bathroom, classroom or playground.
- Lighting firecrackers, smoke bombs or other firework type of devices on school property.
- Lighting paper or other products on fire in a trashcan or dumpster on or near the school campus.
- Lighting warming fires at a school bus stop.
- Using chemicals such as pool acid or other chemicals to cause a fire in a science classroom or on other school property.
- Using a spray can and a lighter to make a fire torch on or near school property.
- Setting off a fueled rocket on the school playground during recess.
- Flicking lit matches across the classroom or into another student’s hair causing minor burns.
- Placing paper on the overhead projector light bulb until the heat caused the paper to catch on fire.
- Igniting lighters during a class movie.
- Setting off the school fire alarm when there was no fire
- Bringing assignments or schoolbooks to school with burned pages or edges.
- Performing lighter tricks in school classrooms or on school campuses.
- Lighting fires on the school bus.
- Making, possessing, and/or activating any kind of bomb-like device on or near a school campus.
What to do if a child brings matches or lighters to school or sets a school fire:
- Follow school policy and procedures and the state laws regarding school fires.
- Do not just chalk it up to kids being kids, this child may be sending a message that he/she needs help.
- As part of your school discipline policy, incorporate mandatory attendance at a youth firesetter class offered by your local fire department.
- If your school has counselors or social workers, notify the counselor or social worker of the firesetting incident and have him/her work with the child to find out why the child set the fire.
- Notify your local fire or police department of the fire incident, even if the fire was small and was put out by school personnel. This child is in need of assistance. Please call your local fire department.
- Notify the child’s parent or guardian of the incident and the referral to a youth firesetter program.
Remember, if a child sets a fire in a school building it is considered a felony crime.
How to Make the Referral
Step I: If the fire has not been completely extinguished contact 9-1-1 immediately!
Step II: Contact your local fire department’s youth firesetter intervention program as soon after the fire incident as possible. Phoenix Fire Department’s Youth Firesetter Program telephone number is 602-262-7757.
Step III: The school administrator should decide if prosecution of the child is desired. A child as young as eight years of age can be referred to the juvenile court for prosecution.
Step IV: If no prosecution is desired, a referral to your local fire department’s youth intervention program is recommended. Through the program the child will will receive fire safety education, information on the legal consequences of firesetting, how firesetting impacts the community, and how to make better regarding the use of fire. Counseling for the child and his or her family is provided through some youth firesetter programs.
Last modified on
03/11/2008 15:38:42
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