The City of Tampa Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention Program is a multi-agency collaborative effort to provide an educational and diversionary program for youth directly involved in fire setting behaviors. A youth fire setter is a child between the ages of 5-17 years old that is directly involved in fire setting behavior either out of curiosity, crisis, peer pressure, delinquency, or pathological reasons. The program’s overall objective is to keep these children out of the judicial system and prevent any possible injuries or property damage that may result from fire setting.
All youth referred must attend a family-oriented Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention Workshop and participate in discussions, intervention activities, and video presentations. The duration of workshop is approximately four hours in length, with additional follow-up and resources provided to families as needed. Remedial counseling is provided, as needed, for under-age youths that present an at-risk fire setter behavior.
If you know of a child that has been involved in fire play, please call Tampa Fire Rescue Fire Prevention Office at 813-274-7000, for assistance.