Youth Firesetter Prevention and Intervention

Curiosity about fire is part of a child’s growth process, which leads children to experimentation.

Fires often happen when children are bored or have inadequate supervision. Firesetting behavior in some children is a way of expressing frustration, abuse, and other emotional needs. The child could also have experienced a life changing event, such as divorce or the loss of a loved one. 

Rockingham County Fire & Rescue provides Youth Firesetter Prevention and Intervention programs to help stop this behavior. There is no charge for these services and all information is kept confidential.

Factors influencing firesetting behaviors:

• Easy access to ignition materials (matches, lighters)
• Lack of appropriate supervision
• Lack of fire safety education
• Access to the internet

Types of Firesetters:

• Curiosity/Experimentation: Curious about fire, lack of understanding of consequences and has easy access to ignition materials
• Crisis/Troubled: Child has experienced a recent trauma and is expressing anger, sadness or other emotion
• Thrill-seeking/Risk-taking: Peer influenced or gang involvement, has easy access to ignition materials
• Delinquent/Criminal/Strategic: Child has a motive or willful intent to cause destruction
• Pathological: Child may have a physical or mental disease which causes them to use fire to cope. This child needs treatment in a hospital or residential program.

Who can refer a child?

• Parents/guardians
• Law enforcement agencies
• Schools
• Social Services
• Courts and Probation offices
• Fire personnel

What are some components of the firesetter program?

• Understanding fire behavior
• Consequences, choices and responsibilities
• Causes and effects of fire
• Fire and life safety

For more information contact 540-564-3175 and ask for the Fire & Life Safety Division