New FireSmart programme launched

Lighted match

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is holding a series of clinics this week to support young people at risk of deliberately starting fires.

The clinics mark the launch of GMFRS’ new FireSmart programme aimed at young people aged 17 and under who are displaying signs of fire setting behaviour.

Sessions are taking place at fire stations across Greater Manchester where young people who have been referred onto the programme will attend with their parent or guardian.

Trained staff will work with the young people and their families to raise awareness of the dangers of starting fires and the potential consequences of their behaviour.

Kathryn Aylett, from GMFRS’ Children and Young People department, said: “We’re developing FireSmart to work with young people aged 17 years or younger to reduce the risk of harm through active discussion about the dangers of fire.

“Ordinarily we would work with the young person in their own home or an alternative agreed location but we decided to trial this format of hosting clinics during the school holidays to reach more young people at once.”

The clinics are an opportunity to tell parents about the changes that have been made from FACE (Fire Awareness and Community Education) to FireSmart and gather feedback about the referral process and ideas for additional or shared resources, and links with other support agencies and organisations.

Kathryn added: “It’s difficult to get across to a young person the consequences of their actions and how serious they can be, especially when that young person has been involved with fire in the past which may not have caused injury or damage.

“Sadly we have seen a number of cases in Greater Manchester recently which highlight just how dangerous it is when children are involved with fire setting.”

The launch of the new FireSmart programme follows a number of incidents in Greater Manchester recently where children have started fires deliberately.

Last month, a mother-of-five gave a warning to parents to be aware of signs of fire setting behaviour after her six-year-old son started a fire which destroyed their home.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “My son had learned about fires at school but I don’t think it really sunk in how dangerous it was. He knew the protocol of what to do when the fire was going and he explained exactly what he’d done but I think young people need to learn more about the dangers of starting fires and this new programme sounds like something that could really help.

“But it’s also about parents knowing what can happen if you leave lighters and matches in reach of children. I’ve learned a fast lesson that they shouldn’t even be in the house.

“It’s not the child that’s playing with fire in these situations, it’s you the parent that’s playing with fire and playing with your child’s life by having a lighter in their reach.”

From January to March this year there were 42 referrals to the Children and Young People department compared with 77 from April to June. Of these, 29 received follow up visits from January to March with 48 second visits from April to June.