Handbooks and Publications - Fire Prevention | Page 33

Fire Prevention Tips

FIRESETTING
Myth:
Fact:

"It's normal for children to play with the fire."
While curiosity about fire is common, fire play or setting is not, and it
can be deadly.

Myth:
Fact:

"It's a phase that he will grow out of."
It is not a phase and you must deal with it immediately or it will
continue.

Myth:
Fact:

"If you bum his hand, he will stop."
If you bum your child, he will be scarred, that's all. You must address
the real reason for the fire before the child will stop.

Myth:
Fact:

"If
the
fires
are
small,
it
is
no
big
deal."
All fires start out as small fires. Any time a child sets a fire, he is
endangering himself and the people around him. That’s a big deal.

Myth:
Fact:

"Firesetting is pyromania."
Pyromania is a disorder. Firesetting is not. It is a behaviour which can
have many reasons and which can be stopped.

WHAT TO DO
If you discover burnt matches or papers, or have any other reasons to suspect that
your child is setting fires, you should take immediate action. First of all, put all
matches and lighters out of reach and explain to your child why you are doing this.
Teach your child why you don't want him to play with matches or lighters. If the
fire-setting continues, or if the first incident caused any damage, your child should
be evaluated to determine what is behind this type of behavior. Once this
determination is made, the appropriate intervention can be used.

WHERE TO GO TO FOR HELP
The Grenada Fire Service gives talks regularly at schools and other institutions.
You can contact them for more information.

FALSE ALARMS
During the year 1999 the Grenada Fire Service responded to 74 structural fires,
during the same period 15 false alarms were also received. When the Fire
Department responds to these false alarms their personnel and equipment are
unfortunately tied up limiting the already limited resources of the fire department.
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