Of great concern is the fact that the number of juveniles who set fires is on the rise, not only nationally, but in our own town of Kirkland.

For purposes of evaluating the act of juvenile fire setting, children have been divided into three levels of maturity. In the first group, 2 to 7 year olds, a passing interest in fire is normal. Kid’s at this age are great intimidators of adult actions. Their fire setting behavior usually stems from their desire to imitate adults. When they successfully start a fire, they become scared and will often run for help or try to extinguish the fire. Although fire setting in this age group usually involves boys, we are screening more girls in the past.

The second group includes ages 7 to 13 years. This age group is more apt to understand the dangers of fire setting.

They may set fires for one or more of the following reasons:

• Curiosity
• Situational stress
• Accidental
• Peer pressure
• Inadequate parental supervision

In more extreme cases the fire setting behavior will be motivated by:

• Maliciousness
• Anger
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Antisocial behavior

Though curiosity may be the reason, the consequences should not be underestimated. These fires are among the most threatening to lives and property. If overlooked, it may lead to serious fire setting later in life.

The third age group includes adolescents, age 14 to 18. This age group is either unaware of the consequences for various reasons or fully aware and sets fire to damage, injure, or kill. In both cases their behavior is often because of distress over a significant emotional event. In some cases fire setting may be a reaction of an otherwise normal child to extreme stress or anxiety.

To successfully provide a program that will help the child to overcome the desire to engage n fire setting, it is crucial to determine what is causing the behavior. The Kirkland Fire Department Fire Stoppers program uses a screening process developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This is a three-step process where the parent(s) is/are interviewed, the child is interviewed, and the parents fills out a questionnaire. These forms are scored to determine if educational intervention, counseling, or both are indicated for the child and/or parents.

Clearly youthful fire setting is a cause for concern for the child, his family, and the community at large.

Please contact the Kirkland Fire Department, Prevention Services if you are concerned about the fire setting behavior in your family. We want to help. Call 425-828-1287 to find out about the Fire Stoppers program.