In the United States, one out of eight fatal structural fires is started by a preteen and over one-half of the arson cases involve preteens. More than one-third of the children who die in structural fires do so in fires started by them or other children.
Fires are the primary cause of children's deaths while at home.
If fire gets on a child's clothes, serious injury or death can be prevented by stopping, dropping, covering the face, and rolling from side to side. Teach this skill. Practice setting off the smoke detector as everyone in the home practices a fire evacuation drill. In a fire drill or in the event of a fire, everyone should go to and stay at a designated meeting place outside the home or school. Searches for individuals who are already outside a burning structure unnecessarily endanger firefighters and other searchers.