Newton Juvenile Fire Intervention Program

It is the mission of Newton Juvenile Fire Intervention Program to reduce the incidence of fire and related casualties within the community by establishing a continuum of care in Rockingham County for youth who misuse fire and their families.

Our community-based program focuses on developing a standardized approach for early identification of youth who misuse fire, as well as building a resource network for intervention and treatment of youth with fire misuse behavior. Our coalition partners include fire service, law enforcement, criminal justice, schools, and social service agencies in servicing the needs of youth in their communities.

Parents, judges, guidance counselors, police officers and youth workers rely on our program to strengthen and improve families’ ability to make healthy decisions and reduce involvement with the juvenile justice system.

For more information contact:

Newton Fire Department
(603) 382-8811
35 South Main St.
Newton, NH 03858

How do we get help?

If your child or a young person you know has set a fire, you MUST get help IMMEDIATELY to keep your family or neighborhood safe from fire! Research shows that:

Children are curious about fire.
Even toddlers can start a fire with a match or lighter.
Each year children are seriously burned or die from playing with matches or lighters.
Parents need to take their child’s curiosity about fire seriously.
Children who are curious about fire can be helped with fire education.

Where do we start?

Complete the following checklist to protect your family and neighborhood from fire:

  • Contact your local fire department for a screening to determine whether the child is appropriate for our fire education program.
  • Install smoke detectors in your child’s bedroom, closet, hallways and common living areas.
  • Find all matches and lighters in the house and lock them up.
  • If you’re a smoker, keep your lighter only on your person at all times and only use child-resistant lighters.
  • Establish a rule that your child is never to have lighters or matches!
  • Lock up all flammable liquids such as gasoline, lighter fluid, or charcoal starter fluid for barbeques.
  • Forbid children to watch shows or videos with provocative fire themes.
  • Increase supervision for fire setting children. Do not let them play alone or unsupervised in other children’s homes where matches or lighters may be easily available.

Overview

The Newton Fire Intervention Program serves youth ages 3 to 18. Through a screening, educational component and fire intervention needs assessment; area children and teens are held accountable for fire misuse behavior while linking youth and families with appropriate community resources to reduce the likelihood of a repeat incident.

Screening

When concerns arise about fire misuse or fire-setting behavior, the Newton Fire Department is the regional contact and will screen the youth to determine the best level of services for the youth and family. Appointments are generally held on site at Newton’s “108” Central Fire Station.

Once the screening is completed, the Fire Department Office will determine the next steps for the youth, which may include participation in an educational program and / or a needs assessment.

Education Program

Two education programs are offered based on the age of the child. Young children (ages 3 to 6) generally attend a three session program, while older youth to age 18 attend a total of eight sessions.

Topics for young children include:

  • Tools versus Toys, Good & Bad fires
  • Fire Prevention & Survival Skills

Topics for older children include:

  • Introduction
  • Decision Making
  • Rules to Live By
  • Victimization
  • Communication
  • Fire Science & Responsible Fire Use
  • Fire Prevention & Fire Survival
  • Alarm Devices

Classes are typically held at the “108” Central Fire Station during evening hours.

Needs Assessment

The Fire Department may choose to refer the youth for a Fire Intervention Needs Assessment The initial appointment will be 60–90 minutes for the parent or guardian only – the juvenile should NOT accompany the parent or guardian to this appointment.

An additional session will take place with the juvenile.  This additional session will be up to 50 minutes in length, and the parent or guardian must accompany juveniles.

Once the assessment is completed, recommendations will be discussed with the parents and the youth.