bristol county

Bristol County

Fire Chiefs

Association

Massachusetts 1997 - 2006 Juvenile Set Fires

2006 MassachusettsJuvenile Set Fires

• 210 Reported Fires

• 7 Civilian Injuries

• 5 Fire Service Injuries

• $956,295 Property Losses

• 17% Increase from 2005

• Statistics are Misleading

2006 MassachusettsJuvenile Set Fire Types

• 76 Structures Fires

• 102 Brush, Tree & Grass Fires

• 10 Special Outside Fires

• 9 Outside Rubbish Fires

• 3 Motor Vehicles

• 10 Not Classified

2006 Massachusetts Juvenile Set Structure Fire Locations

• 25% One & Two Family Homes

• 25% Multifamily Dwellings

– 35% Bedrooms

– 11% Bathrooms

– 5% Kitchens or Garages

• 11% High Schools & Middle Schools

How We Got Here

• November 2007

– Chief Ron Scott – Mattapoisett

– Deputy Chief David Messier - Somerset

– Dave Wood – Fire Investigator Fall River

– Eddie Freitas Public Fire Educator Fairhaven

– Lt. Bill Baraby Fire Investigator Westport

• Approach

– Get it Up and Running

Development

• SFMO– Sgt. Paul Zipper

• Juvenile Justice– Bristol County ADA

• Mental Health– Community Counseling– Bold Program– Star Mental Health– Stevens Home – Corrigan Mental Health

• Existing Programs– Norfolk County– Middlesex County– Phoenix, AZ Fire– Texas Department of

Insurance– Oregon SFMO– NE Juvenile Task Force

Burn Institute– Fire Watch– Fire Smart Kids

Communities Served

• Acushnet• Attleboro• Berkley• Dartmouth• Dighton• Easton• Fairhaven• Fall River• Freetown• Mansfield• Mattapoisett

• New Bedford• North Attleboro• Norton• Raynham• Rehoboth• Seekonk• Somerset• Swansea• Taunton• Westport• Any Other Communities

MentalHealth

Family

Firesetter

Probation

DistrictAttorney

MedicalCommunity

Victims

Fire

Police

Neighbors

Schools

Collaboration

Audience & Considerations

• Juveniles 3 – 17 – Started a Fire or Show Interest in Fire– Court Ordered as Part of a Diversion Program– Concerned Parents

• Identify the Motive

• Provide Education/Awareness

• Report Findings

• Evaluate Program

South CoastJuvenile Fire Awareness

Initiative

A Collaborative Effort by a Concerned Community

South Coast Juvenile Fire Awareness InitiativeA Collaborative Effort by a Concerned Community

MissionTO PROVIDE A MULTIDISIPLINARY AND TO PROVIDE A MULTIDISIPLINARY AND

COMMUNITY BASED PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY BASED PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS, SCHOOLS, POLICE, FIRE, PARENTS, SCHOOLS, POLICE, FIRE,

JUVINILE JUSTICE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND JUVINILE JUSTICE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SOCIAL SERVICES, WHO INTERACT SOCIAL SERVICES, WHO INTERACT

TOGETHER, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TOGETHER, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FIRE INJURIES AND DEATHS BY PROVIDING FIRE INJURIES AND DEATHS BY PROVIDING

ASSISTANCE TO THE CHILDREN & ASSISTANCE TO THE CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS WHO EXHIBIT FIRESETTING ADOLESCENTS WHO EXHIBIT FIRESETTING

AND FIREPLAY BEHAVIOR.AND FIREPLAY BEHAVIOR.


Multidisciplinary AgreementsMultidisciplinary Agreements

• Memorandum of Understanding– Between Agencies & SCJFAI

• Establish Protocols• Provide Assistance

– Educators– Resources

• Provide Awareness– Local Public Service Announcements– Public Appearances

– Between Families & SCJFAI• Contract to Participate


GOALSGOALS

Identify juvenile firesettersIdentify juvenile firesetters

Assess the juvenile firesetter needsAssess the juvenile firesetter needs

Define the MotivationDefine the Motivation

Provide life skills training and educationProvide life skills training and education

Provide referrals to family counselingProvide referrals to family counseling

Evaluate firesetter and program progressEvaluate firesetter and program progress


Identify juvenile firesettersIdentify juvenile firesetters

• Referrals– Concerned Parents– Caregivers– Schools– Law Enforcement– Mental Health– Social Services– Community Youth

Groups.

• Investigation Efforts– Fire Officer/Firefighters

• Suppression

– Witnesses• Interview• Observations

– Fire/Arson Investigations• Origin & Cause Determination• Follow-up Investigations


Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment

• Youths at Risk– Comprehensive Family Fire-Risk Interview– Child Fire-Risk Interview– Comprehensive Parent Fire-Risk Questionnaire

• Determine Risk– Little– Definite– Extreme


Little RiskLittle Risk

• Motivated by Curiosity & Experimentation

• Do not Exhibit Psychological Problems

• Family and Peer Relationships are stable

• School Performance & Behavior meets expectations

• Typically Unsupervised Incidents

• Fire Awareness Education will be Effective


Definite Risk TroubledDefinite Risk Troubled• Troubled

• Cry for Help

• Emotional Conflict Motivates Firesetting

• Fire Awareness Education Helpful

• Psychological Issues Need Addressing– Mental Health– Social Services– Juvenile Justice


Definite Risk DelinquentDefinite Risk Delinquent

• Exhibit Behavioral Patterns• Serious Emotional & Family Dysfunction• Behavior Harder to Reverse• Early Identification is Critical• Fire Awareness Education Helpful• Biggest and Costliest Challenge• Juvenile Justice Involvement


Extreme RiskExtreme Risk

• Less Than 1% of Firesetters

• Significant Mental Dysfunction

• Beyond Fire Awareness Education

• Danger to Themselves & Others

• Social Services Involvement Necessary


Flow ChartFlow Chart


Commitment / LiabilityCommitment / Liability

• Participation Release

• Release of Confidential Information

• Release of Liability

• Contract


Fire Awareness ProgramFire Awareness Program

• What is Fire• Fire Science• Home Hazards• Peer Pressure• Responsibility

• Anger Management• Burn Injuries• Arson• Fireworks/ Explosives• Legal Consequences


How Can You HelpHow Can You Help

• Empower Investigators • Accurate Reporting• Document• Criminal Complaints• School Fire Reporting Law• Assistance• Follow-up

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