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BILL WEST / Star Beacon
ASHTABULA CITY firefighters John Paul (left) and Doug Roxberry display some
materials they use to educate children about the danger of fire.
Fire is not a toy
Teaching the dangers of fire
Juvenile Fire Setters Program, one of several,
Targets kids who may have set a fire
By LISA DAVIS
Staff Writer
Children don't always understand the dangers or consequences of playing with
fire and for many years fire departments in the area and nationwide have been
trying to educate the young.
There are several programs fire departments use to teach children and adults
about fire safety. One of these programs is the Juvenile Fire Setters Program,
which is a more individualized program. Children range in age from two-years-old
to 17-years-old.
The Geneva and Ashtabula Fire Departments started the program in the late
1980's. The program is designed for children who may have set a fire that the
fire department had to respond or the parents have noticed their child is
interested in fire and are concerned, said Geneva Firefighter Dale Arkenburg.
The program is for children who don't know the proper use of fire or the
consequences of their action when setting a fire, he said.
There are several ways a child may be referred for the special program. The
referred could come from the schools, fire department, court system, parents,
police and juvenile councilors, said Ashtabula Fire Fighter John Paul.
Many times the fire department has responded to a trash, house or woods fire and
the juvenile has been identified as setting that fire, Paul said. There are a
multitude of ways children are sent to the program, Arkenburg said.
"The bottom line is children shouldn't be playing with fire," Arkenburg said.
A problem with younger children is they don't understand the consequences of
setting fire and the older children know those consequences and think they can
control the fire, Arkenburg said.
Once a child has been referred, there is a screening process or initial visit.
At that time, it is determined if the child needs education only or counseling
from a mental health professional as well, Arkenburg said.
Both fire fighters definitely agree that parent or guardian participation is key
to the program being a success for the child. Ashtabula Fire Department in a
year usually has a dozen children who complete the program, while
about double of that number doesn't, Paul said. The reason is the parents lack
of participation, he said. Arkenburg relies on the parents to oversee the child
at home and reinforce what has been taught, he said.
During the education portion of the program both departments use literature,
drawings, videos, home escape plans and items recovered from an actual fire to
educate the child. These are not scare tactics, but are used more to get the
child to understand what could happen, Paul said.
The practical portion is done at home and can consist of counting smoke alarms
or fire extinguishers or actually following the fire escape plan, Arkenburg
said.
"There are a host of exercise to in grain into the child the dangers of fires,"
Arkenburg said.
Written and verbal testing is done at the beginning, middle and end of the
program to see if the child is learning, he said. The program usually last from
one to two months depending on the family schedule. Arkenburg and Paul said one
visit can be from a half hour to and hour long.
In the five years conducting the program, Arkenburg said usually there are five
to seven cases a year that participate in the program in Geneva. To his
knowledge there have been no repeat offenders who have completed the program.
Paul said the same of Ashtabula's program.
"We know if the children do not get help, 80 percent will continue with the
behavior," Arkenburg said. "In all likelihood they won't stop on their own."
Arkenburg is presently the only fire fighter at Geneva who is certified to
conduct the program. At Ashtabula, besides Paul there are five other fire
fighters trained, he said.
The program is a statewide program and Arkenburg, Paul and the other
firefighters are certified in conducting the program as well as other fire
safety programs the departments do throughout the year.
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