Fire Department members will conduct interviews and under the supervision of the Fire Investigation Unit, will direct the firesetter to one of three courses of action. A home fire safety inspection will be provided as needed to assist the concerned family. The first level will be to provide fire safety education to both the youths and their parents during monthly classes conducted by the Fire Department. The second level of intervention will be to refer the youth to a mental health professional for follow-up evaluation and care. The third level will be to arrest the youth and process them through the juvenile justice system.
Youths become firesetters for a variety of reasons.
The magnitude of the emotional and economic pain and suffering they cause varies tremendously. By utilizing a consortium of School Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, Mental Health Professionals and Community Leaders, the Fire Department will address the communities needs for Intervention and Public Safety. It will provide the appropriate level of intervention to those children or young adults who are threats to society.