• Is dedicated to three selfless men– Captain Bennie D. Zellner– Captain Jimmy L. Ayres– Firefighter Jeffrey N. Lindsay

of the Oklahoma City Fire Department

who died in the line of duty in 1989 while fighting a fire set by a four year old boy.

IS THERE STILL A PROBLEM?

• Although the number of child-set fires have decreased, there is still a problem.

• About half of all intentionally set fires are started by children. (Arson in the US, USFA, January 2001)

• Estimated that the vast majority of child set fires are not reported because a family member discovers and extinguishes the fire.

NATIONAL STATISTICS

• In 2002 nationwide: (in 1999)

– 13,900 reported child set fires (41,910)

– 1250 injuries (1901)– 210 deaths

(165)– $339 million in property loss ($272 million)

(Children Playing with Fire, NFPA, Nov. 2005 and 2003)

NATIONAL STATISTICS

• Area of origin:– Bedroom: 52% all sources (63% lighter)

• Source of ignition:– Lighters: 40%– Matches: 31%

• First item ignited:– Mattress or bedding: 32%– Clothing: 11%

(Children Playing with Fire, NFPA, Nov. 2003)

NATIONAL STATISTICS

• 3 / 5 fatal home fires started by children. (Child-set Fires Report, NFPA 2000)

• Fire play is the leading cause of fire deaths among preschoolers. (Child Fire Casualties, USFA, March 2001)

• Nearly HALF of all children have engaged in fire play at some time. (Report on Fire Loss, FEMA, 1998)

FIRE SETTING MOTIVES

• Ages 2 – 7 years old: Fire Interest

• Ages 5 – 10 years old: Fireplay

• Ages 7 – 18 years old: Crisis Fire Setting

A BIT OF HISTORY

• 1989: Research for program begins

• 1991: One time grant of $20,000.00 from the US Department of Justice

• 1992: Regional Program initiated

• 1995: FireSAFE Foundation created

PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS

• Bethany Fire Department• Choctaw Fire Department• Del City Fire Department• Edmond Fire Department• El Reno Fire Department• Guthrie Fire Department• Midwest City Fire Department• Moore Fire Department• Mustang Fire Department• Newalla Fire Department• Newcastle Fire Department• Norman Fire Department

• Oklahoma Air National Guard• Oklahoma City Fire Department• Shawnee Fire Department• Spencer Fire Department• Tinker Air Force Base Fire

Protection Branch• Tulsa Fire Department• The Village Fire Department• Warr Acres Fire Department• Will Rogers World Airport Fire

Department• Yukon Fire Department

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

• Association of Central Oklahoma Governments• Mid-Del Youth and Family Center• Oklahoma State Fire Marshal• Oklahoma State Department of Health• OU Health Sciences -Pediatric Psychology• Oklahoma Air National Guard• Oklahoma City-County Health Department• Oklahoma County District Attorneys Office-Juvenile Justice• Tulsa Fire Marshal's Office• Youth Services for Oklahoma County, Inc.• Oklahoma SAFE KIDS Coalition• Oklahoma City Public Schools• Red Rock Behavioral Health Services• Junior Hospitality• State Farm Insurance• Kirkpatrick Family Fund

RESOURCES & REFERRALS

Fire Service

Parents

Schools

Daycare

Police

Social Service

Mental Health Services

Medical CentersBurn UnitsPediatric Units

Churches

Public Health Agencies

SOCIAL SERVICESCounseling—Youth & FamilyFinancial AssistanceHousing AssistanceChild Protective Services

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESCounseling and TherapyPsychiatric/Clinical EvaluationHospitals and Clinics

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMProsecutorJuvenile CourtProbationDetentionRestitution

JuvenileJuvenileFiresetterFiresetterProgramProgram

OPERATION FIRESAFE

• Objectives: – Reduce incidence of juvenile fireplay– Prevent re-occurrence

• Method:– Educational intervention program for children who

play with fire– Public Awareness Campaigns

• Philosophy:– Successful non-punitive approach– Confidential– Evaluate need for further counseling

PROCESS

• Referrals (identification of need):– About 65% from Fire Department Personnel– About 32% call in from Caregivers– About 2.5% from Courts / Police– About .5% from Other sources

• Gender of fire setters:– 83% males – 17% females

(Oklahoma City Fire Department statistics)

STEPS

• Contact Parents– Explain program– Schedule interview

• Interviews– Releases and background forms– Standard FEMA forms– Separate interviews for caregivers / child

STEPS

• Educational Session– Building rapport – Age appropriate and incident specific– Address at risk behavior– Variety of educational materials / methods

STEPS

• Mental Health Consultation– The FD completes information for counselors– It does not does not conduct evaluations– Report is referred to Mental Health Agency

• Mental Health Referral– Mental Health Agency follows up if

counseling is required

MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING

• Goals:– Help the child and the family– Prevent further fire play or firesetting– Address related issues:

• Lack of supervision• Need for attention• Stress: moving, divorce, death• Mischief, impulsiveness, unresolved issues

IT WORKS!

• Of the 2041 children that have come through the OCFD program since 1991, only 36 or 1.8% have returned for repeated fire play behavior. (As of December 2004)

• Similar trends reported by other participating Fire Departments.

REGIONAL STATISTICS

365

310 295 288

234

163207

171

113

174133 143

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Reported Child-Set Fires in Central Oklahoma

(based on data from Operation FireSAFE, 1993-2004)

YOU CAN HELP

• You can help make a difference by:– Referring caregivers / concerned citizens to

the trained personnel at your fire department.

If you would like moreinformation contact:

Major Tim AdamsOkc. Fire Department

(405) 297-3318