The Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program is a statewide standardized program to provide prevention education/intervention and referrals if warranted for the children and families of Illinois to reduce the frequency and severity of fires set by juveniles. Partnering with the fire service, this program provides a coordinated referral center for the assessment and treatment of juvenile fire setters and their families, thereby slowing down the often devastating results of fire setting. Prevention education can quell the youth fire problem, but only when properly targeted, designed, and delivered. The behaviors causing the problem must be considered because what motivates their behavior is the surest clue to solving the youth fire setting problem.

Juvenile Fire Setter Interventionists are Illinois state certified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal through the IFSA Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program. Interventionists are trained in accordance to the National Fire Protection Association 1035 Standards regarding juvenile fire setting. Interventionists work confidentially with communities to provide juvenile fire setters and their families fire safety education and prevention.

Every day children throughout our state are playing with fire. 50% of all arson arrests are juveniles.

Have you ever visited the website YouTube? How many videos of children engaging in unsafe fire activity can you find? Search for “fire fun” or “set yourself on fire” or “burning stuff”. There are hundreds of videos of children playing with fire. Laughing as burning leaves are blowing through a park… Spraying clothes with chemicals to make them burn… Making designs with hand sanitizers… The list goes on and on.

Chances are that these fire setting children are familiar with Stop, Drop, and Roll, have heard the phrase Fire is a Tool, Not a Toy, and may have even been to their local fire department for a station visit or open house. Are there any fire setters in your community?

Why are children engaging in unsafe fire behavior? What can be done to help these children understand the dangers of these types of activities? The danger not only to themselves, but their family members, community members and the first responders should something go horribly wrong.

Illinois is unique in that we have a statewide juvenile fire setter program through the IFSA providing a comprehensive, standardized program throughout the state. Every child identified as engaging in unsafe fire activity should have the opportunity to go through the Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program (JFSIP). With proper intervention comes a better understanding of the fire setting behavior. Through intervention, the risk of repeat fire setting is drastically reduced. Is there a JFSIP Interventionist in your organization?

In 2009, 119 children, in 32 communities, completed the statewide Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program. The interventionists who reported interventions are minimal compared to the number of interventionists that are state certified. Some interventions get completed “during the call” without any formal paperwork ever being completed. We are continuing to see interventionists who are just finding out about the updated program. The 119 reported interventions completed provides a snapshot, not a complete picture of the juvenile fire setting problem. Juvenile fire setting statistics are an important tool in determining the scope of the problem, providing appropriate resources, and securing adequate materials needed to quell unsafe fire related activities. The IFSA is diligently working towards providing accurate information regarding juvenile fire setting. The Juvenile Fire Setting Reporting System, created as part of the JFSIP, has the ability to provide statistics for the state, counties and communities on juvenile fire setting. In order to get the most accurate data possible, all juvenile started fires should be reported through this system.

If you don’t have a state certified interventionist on your department consider attending one of our certification courses being offered throughout the state. The IFSA is able to provide interventionists with a number of resources not only to complete interventions but to identify child fire setters before a serious incident occurs.

Every day children throughout our state are playing with fire. 50% of all arson arrests are juveniles. Only through identification, intervention and education can we change this alarming statistic.

To identify the fire setting behavior of juveniles involved in the unsanctioned/ unsupervised use of fire, determine the motivation for the fire setting behavior, and provide prevention education/intervention and referrals if warranted for these children and their families.

The overall goal of the IFSA Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program is to reduce the frequency and severity of the tragedy and trauma caused by child and youth fire related activities.

To assist this goal there are four core objectives.

1. To research, develop, implement and coordinate a Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program in Illinois.
2. To provide a structured program to assist fire fighters and other agencies who encounter a child engaged in unsafe fire related activities.
3. To provide support to families and individuals who are affected by a child in their care playing with fire in the form of information, advice, educational resources and referral of other agencies that may also assist.
4. Increase community awareness, prevention education and confidence in regards to juvenile fires setting issues.