Welcome to the web home of the Juvenile Firesetters Task Force of Allen County.

Fire-setting by children is a serious matter and should be treated as such. Too often, these behaviors are dismissed as a "phase" or "curiosity." Children that set fires are not simply "playing." There are serious ramifications of fire-setting, including death, injury, destruction of property, and legal involvement. The FBI estimates that there is an average of 560,000 arson fires per year. These fires cause an average of 750 deaths, 3,700 injuries, and 1.5 billion in property losses. Nearly half of these fires are caused by children 15 and under.

The Allen County Juvenile Firesetters Task Force was formed to identify and help those juveniles that have begun to experiment with fire-setting. The task force is made up of professionals from a variety of local agencies, such as fire departments, probation departments, department of corrections, hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, and social service agencies.

Referrals for an assessment can be made by anyone, including parents or caregivers, schools, counselors, doctors, or anyone else who interacts with the child. You can set up a time for an assessment by calling (260) 427-1278. At the assessment, the parent and the child will meet with the Safety Educator of the Fort Wayne Fire Department and a counselor. Once the assessment has been completed, it will be determined what level of intervention is needed for the child.

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