In the small town of Colorado Springs a new and innovative program has been started. The dramatic and stunning statistics of children who set fires is a loud wake up call to the parents of potential fire setters everywhere. Children set 397 fires in the year 2008. For the first time in history more children are setting fires than adults.
The goal of the program is initially to lay out and define the Red Flags of the potential fire setter. Collecting fire materials, poor self esteem, daydreaming about fires, watching fires without the desire to put it out and history of abuse, are only a few of the things to watch out for.
The fire department in Colorado Springs has focused specifically on ages between 3 and 7. The goals are to educate in the dangers of fire setting and show the effects from damage done to victims. The program includes a face to face with victims of severe burns, a dramatic but effective tactic. The victims stand and express their fears, talking about their terrifying experiences.
Upon examining this program I learned a few things I had been unaware of and also found that I would add a few things to the program. I would add visits to the hospital burn units and counseling sessions with family members. I would have the children do a community program where they work with burn victims and their families. I would add as much interaction with the victims and the potential traumas of the fire setters’ victims.
It is imperative that the interaction is supervised by a licensed psychologist who specializes in this sort of behavior. Identifying the causation and desire could go along way to preventing future problems.
As a side note: more than half or the known serial murderers were fire setters as children.
Resources:
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Retrieved, July 11 2008
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/fs9751.pdf
Until tomorrow. Fortune favors the brave! Samantha Shu
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