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Youth Fire Education Classes

West Valley Youth Firesetter Intervention Program

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), children under age 15 start one of every seven structure fires in which a fatality occurs. National Safe Kids statistics show curiosity fires are the leading cause of death and injury for kids nine and under.

It is estimated that juveniles set approximately 50 percent of all arson fires. These fires cause hundreds of millions of dollars of damage and thousands of needless injuries and deaths each year. Studies have shown that the majority of normal children possess an interest in fire and nearly half have engaged in firesetting.

While the majority of child set fires are set out of curiosity and experimentation, the damage caused can be devastating. Clearly the problem of juvenile firesetting and arson is a costly and often deadly problem. Whether the result of a curious child playing with matches or the malicious act of a troubled youth, firesetting is a serious problem that requires a special response from the fire service.

Juvenile firesetting must be viewed as a community problem, and as such, it deserves community-wide attention. Although fire departments may take the lead role in developing programs for juvenile firesetters, their efforts alone will not resolve the problem. It is crucial that there be working linkage established between the various community agencies capable of helping juvenile firesetters and their families. Schools, the fire service, law enforcement, juvenile justice and mental health must all establish open communication channels with one another so that an organized effort is mounted to reduce juvenile involvement in firesetting and arson related activities.

The West Valley Youth Firesetter Intervention Program in partnership with Phoenix Fire Department’s Youth Firesetter Intervention Program provides educational intervention classes once per month.  The primary goal of the Youth Firesetter Intervention Program is to identify children at risk for participating in unsupervised firesetting incidents and then providing educational intervention in an attempt to stop the firesetting behavior. The program is offered, free of charge, to any Valley youth between the ages of 3-17. The lessons include fire safety education, fire science, the consequences of firesetting, burn injuries, choices, and Arizona Arson and Fireworks Laws. The program also provides a parent education group that provides educational information on home fire safety, the Arizona Arson and Fireworks Laws, the categories of firesetters and consequences of youth firesetting. 

The Phoenix and West Valley Partnership offers free classes one Saturday of every month.  For more information or to sign your child up for an intervention class please contact Dr. Janet Boberg at 623-930-3458.

Please fax referrals to: 

Dr. Janet Boberg, Glendale Fire Dept. Fax:(623) 915-7960.