Question of the Month:

(August 2010)

"Why do I need to come speak with the fire department? The fire my son started was only this big!" (The mother was holding both hands to indicate the size of a bowling ball.)

When I first heard this question by a parent, it was at a meeting that had been ordered by a probation officer as part of a juvenile diversion program. Children, who have been involved with "fire play," where police became involved, will often be given a choice: Be processed through the juvenile court system or successfully complete a fire education program at your local fire district. Most choose the education, many begrudgingly so.

To be honest - I love when I get asked this question. Why? Because it reminds me of my priorities; that this is a much larger issue than just the juvenile. If the parent thinks these "small fires" are nothing to worry about, then how can you convince their young child that it is dangerous and potentially a life changing or even life-ending event?

The National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA - nfpa.org), in a 2006 report, stated an estimated 14,500 structure fires involving "fire play" (most often caused from children using matches and lighters) were reported to fire departments in the United States. These included:

1) 130 civilian deaths

2) 810 civilian injuries

3) $328,000,000 in property damage

According to Bingham Child Guidance Center located in Louisville, Ky., a facility providing therapy to children and adults for over 100 years, approximately one-half of the 600,000 fires reported annually were started by children. However, experts suggest that this represents only 10 percent of actual fires set by children as most are extinguished by family members who did not report them to authorities. Though studies vary slightly, statistics suggest that upward of 80 percent of boys and 50 percent of girls will "play" or experiment with fire between the ages of 4 and 17.

Parents have a huge responsibility in their child's "fire play." Even though "fire play" is common, the potential for disaster is ever present. When we meet, I pose the following questions to the parent: Do you smoke? Use candles or incense? Is there a wood stove in the house? In other words, are there matches and lighters within easy reach of the child? Children are curious. Children watch and do what they see their parents or older siblings do.

How is the child supervised? Most "fire play" by younger children is done alone - away from the watchful eyes of adults. Most often the fires are set in their bedroom, the garage; anywhere out of view. This is why so many young children who die or are injured in fires are the ones who set the fire themselves. Fire can get out of control so quickly that even if there was an adult nearby, it may be too late to prevent injury or even worse.

We then spend time discussing fire behavior and review several newspaper articles from recent years of fires involving children and "fire play" in our area. The tragic deaths of two young boys from Coeur d'Alene while family members were home at the time. A duplex fire destroying two homes in the Spokane Valley after two 9-year-old boys started the fire with a lighter. A picture of "Kari," a very special friend of mine from the burn camp where I have been a counselor. She is scarred from just below her nose down to her knees after having had her clothes set on fire when she was very young by other children.

The objective to the parents and child: There is no such thing as a "small fire." Almost all fires begin with a spark or flame no larger than a thumbnail. I explain that the only way to keep a fire from starting is to eliminate one of the essential requirements of all fires. Air? Not likely as we tend to need that on a constant basis. Fuel? Just as tough to avoid as WE are fuel. Our hair, skin, fingers. Heat source? That's it! Matches. A lighter perhaps, or even a stove. Children can easily avoid using or getting close to these, therefore making the start of a fire nearly impossible. No heat source - No fire!

For those mature enough to process the content (I have age appropriate videos for younger children), I end the final session by showing two videos. The first is titled "The Living Room Fire" developed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. In it, we watch as a typical living room goes up in flames after paper in a trash can is set on fire from a single match. A timer appears in the corner. No words are necessary. Just the timer. Forty-five seconds - flames begin to involve the couch. One minute 55 seconds - the smoke alarm sounds in the hallway. Two minutes 20 seconds - FLASHOVER! Approaching 1,200 degrees, the room and all its combustible materials spontaneously ignite. Any person still in the room would not survive. Video over, eyes usually wider, especially the parents. Small fire? There is no such thing when a child is involved!

Now I have the attention of the parent(s). This is usually when the mother or father looks over and makes eye contact with their child. Often there are tears. Lots of tears as the parent realizes just how fast fire can spread and what may have happened as a result of their child's "small fire."

I often will go a step further if I feel it is necessary. Usually holding the child's hand in mine, I whisper that we don't want them to get hurt. Their parents don't want them to get hurt. We don't want them to hurt others. I almost plead with them to stay away from matches and lighters. Find something else to do - ANYTHING! Or seek the help of an adult if others are "playing" with fire. I try to impress upon them that they can save the lives of others by making sure a fire doesn't start in the first place.

We then watch a video reviewing the experiences of four young burn survivors, and how their burns have changed their lives. This is not for the weak of heart. We see the boys and girl as they go through their therapy after surviving horrific burns. Actual footage is used, the kids speaking out to other children. "Don't do it! Don't play with fire. You do not want to be burned. Learn from our mistakes," they plead. It comes to an end with one young boy sharing, "It is like torture when you get burned. All you can do when in the hospital and your face is bandaged is to scream silently. A scream that no one hears and they keep working on you anyway."

This is when I turn to the parent(s) and explain their role in helping their child avoid setting fires. Keep the matches and lighters out of view and out of reach. Don't allow the child (especially those prone to "fire play") to light candles, campfires, wood stoves, etc. That is the responsibility of the adult.

Have working smoke detectors, especially in the rooms of the child with a history of lighting fires. I have been told more than once that the smoke detector installed in their child's room alerted them to their child starting fires, as the child's bedroom door was shut. Parents, be aware where your child is and what they are doing. Supervision, or lack of, is perhaps the most important variable in youth set fires.

Leaning over the table, making direct eye contact with the child, I ask them to do me a favor. Placing my business card in front of them, I write my personal cell phone number on it saying, "We care about you. If you need help reminding your mom and dad to keep your house safer by keeping matches and lighters out of view of you and your brothers and sisters, please give me a call." Then to the parent; "Call me in a month to let me know how they are doing."

I can only hope that over the many years speaking with parents and children that I was able to get most of them to realize there is no small fire. Both the parents and child are responsible and can make a difference in keeping their family safer from fires - especially those started by children.

Stay safe out there!

Jim Lyon is the public education specialist/information officer with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue (KCFR). If you have a question about emergency services in your area, please submit your question to "Ask Firefighter Jim" at askffjim@kootenaifire.com. Visit our Web page at www.kootenaifire.com for additional information and to read archives of previously answered questions under the link, "Prevention."

According to the National Fire Protection Administration (nfpa.org):

• 50 percent of fires due to "fire play" are started by children 5 years old and younger

• 63 percent of fatalities from "playing" with fire are 5 years old and younger

• Almost half (42 percent) of youth set home fires began in the bedroom

Parents, if you would like help with a child who has shown an excessive fascination with fire or engaged in risky fire behavior, please do not hesitate to call your local fire department. Intervention has been shown to be one of, if not the most important factor in stopping juvenile "fire play."