Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program
The Madison Township Fire Department has established a program that is designed to deal with a growing trend of Juvenile Fire setting and Fire play. This program is under the jurisdiction of the Fire Prevention Bureau. The Fire Department has several trained Juvenile Fire setter Counselors assigned to this program.
The program begins with a meeting with the juvenile, parents, and the Juvenile Fire setter Counselor, who has been trained to counsel children from the ages of 4 through 17. This meeting generally takes place at the Fire Station, after the parents have been advised of the parameters involved in the program. The juvenile receives counseling tailored to individual needs regarding Fire Safety and the dangers associated with fire setting and fire play activities.
We invite you to either call the Fire Department at (614) 837-7883 or email for any questions:
Fire Marshal Scott Hite at shite@madisontownship.org
Firefighter Ron Greene at rgreene@madisontownship.org
What you can expect of this program:
Honesty – Sometimes it may be difficult to hear the “brutal truth” about your child’s behavior, but open, honest communication is necessary.
Sincerity – We want to assist you with your problem
Confidentiality – Except when required by law, all communications and information gathered through the program is held in strict confidence.
What this program will not do for you:
Instantly “cure” your child’s fire setting behavior – We will attempt to identify the root cause or causes of your child’s behavior. Many times the cause has existed for a long period of time and cannot be changed quickly.
Scare your child into ceasing his or her behavior – Most of the time fire play is a symptom of a much deeper problem or even simply curiosity. Scare tactics are ineffective in eliminating the cause and serve to mask the symptom – only to have the behavior resurface later. Education and/or counseling can set the child on the right path.
Counsels your child to deal with mental health issues – We are not trained mental health counselors. Sometimes children and families need professional counselors to help them resolve underlying problems.
What this program expects of you:
Honesty – We need to know intimate details to accurately assess the root cause of your child’s fire setting behavior.
Participation – Your participation is necessary to help your child overcome his or her dangerous behavior. Your child needs your support and guidance in this time of self-examination and change.
Commitment – We expend a great deal of effort to identify the cause of your child’s behavior and educate him or her regarding fire safety and other developmental issues. We need your commitment to work with us and your child to achieve a successful outcome.