According to London Fire Brigade, it’s estimated that 1 in every 4 fires in London is started by a child or a young person.
In the USA, more than 49,000 fires reported to fire departments in the United States each year are caused by children playing with fire — with 43 percent of house fires caused by children under the age of 6, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
There are signs that your child might be playing with fire. Burn holes in carpets, clothes, curtains, burnt paper in sinks or bins, hidden matches or lighters in your child’s rooms, burnt objects inside home or garden, signs of burns on windowsills, smell of smoke in the house or on your child’s clothes are the most important signs of fire-setting behaviour.
There are many reasons for a kid to play with fire. For toddlers it’s all about curiosity. But older children may express their feelings, anger, distress by setting fires.
Without any proper help from a professional this fire setting behaviour will increase and lead to much more serious consequences.
For older kids lighting candles or incense sticks may seem harmless, but left unattended it may lead to serious injuries or even death.
What Can You Do About It?
- You should calmly explain your child that fire can result in injuries and deaths and they should NEVER play with fire.
- Tell them it is only safe for an adult to use matches or lighters to set a fire when needed.
- You should keep matches or lighters out of sight and reach of children.
- You should use childproof lighters.
- Be aware and check for the signs mentioned above frequently.
- Kids who have firesetting behaviour will tend to try setting bigger fires so keep any flammable liquids in locked closets.
- Get your fire alarms and smoke detectors maintained regularly.
- Make an escape plan with your family and practise it with regular drills so everyone in the household knows what to do in case of fire.
If you are concerned about your child’s firesetting behaviour, London Fire Brigade’s Juvenile Firesetters Intervention Scheme can help you. This program works with children and young people up to age of 18 who play with fires and have set fires. It is a free service and received nearly 4000 referrals to this day since it’s launch in 2001.
You can contact Juvenile Firesetters Intervention Scheme via their email firesetters@london-fire.gov.uk or their phone 020 8555 1200.
