Youth Firesetter Intervention Program (Northern and Southern Nevada) in Partnership with the Firefighters Burn Institute

Mission: To provide a cohesive partnership among community agencies, interacting together, to reduce the number of fires, injuries and deaths by providing assistance and education to youths who exhibit firesetting behavior.

Who We Are: The Youth Firesetter Intervention Program is comprised of fire, probation, burn and healthcare professionals. As a team, the group provides a coordinated effort in helping youth firesetters and their families receive the assistance they need through assessments, psychological referrals and education.

Why Youth Firesetter Intervention:

30% of arson arrests in Nevada in 2017 were those under the age of 17.

Over 2,300 juveniles are arrested each year for the crime of arson. Of these arrests, over half are juveniles under 15 years of age.

The average dollar loss from arson in Nevada is 8 million dollars annually.

In Nevada at the age of 10, a juvenile can be arrested and charged for the crime of arson.

The Program:

Educational intervention is performed in cooperation with the fire risk assessment interview and screening. Age appropriate education strategies are used to help the child and the family understand and correct the contributing factors to the firesetting behaviors. After a fire risk assessment is completed, children attend age-appropriate classes, while parents or guardians attend informational training seminars.

Families will learn safe and responsible behaviors related to fire use in the home as well as financial, emotional and social consequences of firesetting.

Class Topics Include: Fire safety education, Fire hazard recognition, Home escape planning, Responsibility and leadership skills, Consequences, Communication, Thinking errors, Peer pressure, and Dealing with sharing feelings.

Facts of Fireplay:

Each year, fires started by youths account for an average of:

56,000 Fires

110 Civilian Deaths

880 Civilian Injuries

$286,000,000 Direct Property Damage

 

Program Coordinator:

Steven Taulbee, Youth Firesetter Program Manager

Staulbee@lasvegasnevada.gov

702-415-1691

Link to Youth Firesetter Referral:

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