Juvenile Firesetter Workshop

  The Hillsborough County Juvenile Firesetter Workshop is for children and their families that have been involved with fireplay or firesetting behaviors.  This class is designed to educate the families on fire prevention, fire safety and aid in breaking the chain of firesetting.  For those that are referred through Juvenile Justice, this workshop is for first-time offenders only.

    Because firesetting usually involves others in the family, family members (children ages 5-15 and their caregivers) are requested to attend the educational workshop.  Following a short introduction to the workshop, the parents depart to another classroom where they are taught about fire prevention, and they are apprised of agencies available in the county to get additional help if their children should require.  Concurrently, the children are presented a fire safety program with an emphasis on matches and lighter safety.  At the end of their program the parents rejoin their children, and the basic behaviors that were taught to both groups are demonstrated.

  The children’s program targets the 5-11 age group, although juveniles are accepted up to 15 years of age.  Juveniles that are 12-15 are required to complete a packet prior to the program.  In addition to the assignments they have to complete, they also have to prepare to teach a portion of the class to the younger children through an oral presentation.  They are provided with reference materials and they are encouraged to make visual aids to assist in their teaching.

  The workshop is strictly an educational program and is not meant to replace professional counseling.  Parents are advised of agencies that can meet those needs during the adult program.  The workshop is held monthly at the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center, located at 2711 E. Hanna Avenue.

            For further information to get your child registered, contact:

Victoria Hazell
Program Coordinator
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue
(813) 744-5541