Juvenile Firesetter program

Appleton Fire Department offers a Juvenile Firesetter program called "Firewise." 

Help for young people 
Each year in the United States, fires set by children costs hundreds of lives and millions of dollars of property. As of March, 2006, the United States Fire Administration (USFA) reports children of all ages set over 35,000 fires annually. Approximately 8,000 of those fires are set in homes. 

At home, children usually play with fire in bedrooms, in closets and under beds. These are "secret" places where there are many items that can catch fire easily. 

Curiosity about fire is common and natural, setting fire is not. Parents learn more about juvenile firesetting. 

Parents can teach children at an early age about the dangers of fire and fireplay. Here are some suggestions:

1. Supervise young children closely. 
2. Keep matches and lighters in a secured cabinet or drawer. 
3. Teach your children tell you when they find lighters or matches. 
4. Develop an escape plan and practice it with your family. 
5. Take the mystery out of fire by teaching children about fire, what it does and why it can be both useful and dangerous. 
6. Teach children the nature of fire-it is fast, hot, dark and deadly. 
7. Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out of the house quickly.
8. Show children how to crawl low on the floor below the smoke.
9. Demonstrate how to stop, drop and roll should their clothes start on fire. 
10. Install, test and maintain working batteries in smoke detectors on every level of your home. 
11. Familiarize children with the sound of a smoke detector. 

Check out our Firewise brochure to learn more.

Contact the Public Education Division at 920-832-5820.

We will discuss the program with you and options for your family. 

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