Junior Fire Setter Program

About the Program

Our Juvenile Fire Setting Intervention Program is set up to identify and provide for children and families who need fire safety education, counselling and social services using community resources.

Contact the Fire Prevention Branch at 780-538-0393 for more information.

Background

Juvenile involvement in fire setting is a serious problem in Alberta. There is a tremendous cost to the community from child set fires, and too often the cost is the life of the child who set the fire. Fire setting by children is a problem that needs immediate attention.

The City of Grande Prairie Fire Department promotes partnerships between the fire service, law enforcement, mental health practitioners, the medical community, and the child advocate agencies that must deal with the aftermath of child-set fires.

Preventing Child Fire setting

As educators and parents it is important to take a look at why children set fires.

• Most children set fires out of curiosity.
• Others are reactionary, because they are upset and need attention.

Parents and caregivers need to teach their children about the power of fire; that a fire can get out of control in seconds, can double in size every minute and can overcome an entire home in just five minutes.

Grande Prairie Fire Learn Not to Burn program is designed to prevent curiosity in the first place by providing fire and life safety education to the youth in our community.

Preventative Measures

• Controlling access to matches, lighters and other materials that can start a fire is critical.
• Store matches and lighters in locked cupboards.
• Teach children if they find matches and lighters to tell an adult.
• Parents must make sure that their children are adequately supervised. Most young fire setters are children that are unsupervised.

Preventing Adolescent Fire setting

Teenagers set fires for many reasons – a prank, a dare, to cover a crime, and most don’t realize that they are breaking the law and could go to jail.

At age 12 and older youth can get into trouble for committing crimes such as arson and may have to go to court with their parents.

Potential punishment for fire setting include:

• Community service
• Restitution
• Detention/commitment.

Prevention Measures

• Teach children and youth the proper uses and danger of fire
• Teach independence, responsibility and decision-making to prevent impulsive actions
• Teach older children proper techniques for using fire and fire tools
• Praise children for responsible behaviour and showing respect for fire
• Set a good example for using matches, lighters and fire carefully

Learn Not to Burn

Based on the National Fire Protection Safety Program, this program is facilitated by Fire Prevention Officers to children in Kindergarten and Grade 2 classrooms.

Children make up a large percentage of the fire death and injury statistics of Canada and the Learn Not to Burn program is successful in reducing these statistics.

Fire safety behaviours are taught through interactive songs, stories, puppets and games. “Stop, Drop and Roll” is one of the easy, fun activities learned. In addition to classroom activities, children take home activities to complete as a family. These activities help children spot hazards in their home while teaching fire safety to the family.

Learn Not To Burn - Parent Letter

Learn Not To Burn - Teacher Letter

Contact Information

Email: Fire_prevention@cityofgp.com
Call: 780-538-0393

Fire Hall Tours

Schools, Clubs and Organizations are welcome to inquire about booking a tour of one of our fire halls. During the tour, groups will have the opportunity to learn about Fire Safety and view department vehicles that firefighters use to keep our Community Safe.

If you are interested in booking a fire hall tour, please review the following guidelines:

1. The maximum number of participants per tour is 25 persons.

2. The minimum age accepted for tours is children 5 years and up (Kindergarten age but not Preschool).

3. Children must be accompanied by a supervising adult(s) at all times. (Recommended Chaperone to Child Ratio be no less than 5:1).

4. Participants must be supervised to ensure their safety in the event of an emergency response. Tours take place in active fire halls.

5. All tour participants must check in at the front desk with Fire Department staff.

6. Please arrive and depart as a group to allow for minimal disruption of on-duty crews.

7. Please ensure that your transportation remains available in the event that your tour ends early.

8. Should your tour be cancelled on short notice or cut short due to emergency response, we will attempt to reschedule. Remember that tours cannot be guaranteed due to the nature of our business.

9. We are not able to accommodate birthday parties.

10. Space available for summer tours are limited.

Booking Information

All Tours must be booked in advance.

Please contact our Admin Team at 780-830-7443 during business hours (8:30 am – 4:30 pm) from Monday to Friday or email GPFDadmin@cityofgp.com.