Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Launch New Fire Safety Programme Aimed at Young People

Date published: 12 February 2010

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has launched a new fire safety programme aimed at young people aged between 4 and 17 years old, who are known or are suspected of playing with fire, committing hoax calls, arson and attacking fire service staff.

The course which is called FIRES, replaces the Arson and FACE programmes and the objective of the course is for young people to undergo an individual education plan, which will increase their awareness of the dangers of fire, learn about the consequences of fire and hoax calls, and they will also be taught basic fire safety skills. Young people can be referred on to the course by a number of different people and organisations including parents, schools, police, doctors and other partner organisations. A referral form, which can be downloaded from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service's website, should be emailed to fires@lancsfirerescue.org.uk

The programme will be delivered by suitably experienced and trained staff that will have a curriculum to follow. The sessions will be tailored to meet the needs of the young person and their educational status. The number of one-on-one sessions that the young person will receive will be dependant on the reason for the referral and the assessment of the young person during the sessions.

Speaking at the launch of the FIRES programme at Preston Fire Station, Group Manager Tony Crook said:

“In Lancashire, 45% of our call outs are to fires that have been started deliberately and this costs the County approximately £40 million each year. These fires can destroy properties, businesses and cause serious injury or even death.”

“The FIRES course aims to reduce the number of these fires that we receive and along the way, we hope that these young people will learn how to recognise fire hazards in their home and if the worst does happen and they are trapped in a fire, we hope that this course will help them escape unhurt.”