Dutchess County Enhances J-FIRE Program
with Expanded Training
Poughkeepsie… On average, over 50 percent of arson arrests in the United States are juveniles, and 70 percent of all fatalities in child-set fires in the U.S. are children aged 5 and younger, according to the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control. The misuse of fire by children cannot always be attributed to experimentation or curiosity, but may be caused by emotional, behavioral, or mental health influences in the child’s life. Dutchess County’s Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Response and Education (J-FIRE) Program works with families to understand, intervene and prevent risky fire setting behavior. This week, the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, with support from the District Attorney’s office and the National Fire Academy, is hosting a two-day FEMA National Fire Academy Youth Firesetting Intervention Specialist Course to provide expanded training to nearly 50 new and existing J-FIRE Intervention Specialists.
The training has been updated to include an expanded mental health component, with a focus on how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and behavioral or mental health challenges can influence fire setting behaviors.
Dutchess County Emergency Response Commissioner Dana Smith said, “This updated curriculum offers a deeper look into the mental health component on children’s and adolescents’ risk of starting potentially dangerous fires, making it vital to both our existing Specialists and new members of the J-FIRE team. We are grateful to the District Attorney’s office and National Fire Academy for their support of this critical training and to the dozens of individuals who, by completing the course today, will help sustain this life-saving program well into the future.”
J-FIRE is available to help youth between ages 3 and 17 who live, attend school, or exhibit fire setting behavior in Dutchess County. Since its inception in 2016, J-FIRE Intervention Specialists have assisted 50 families from across the county with children exhibiting dangerous behaviors, the average age of whom was 12 years old.
The J-FIRE Steering Committee responds to referrals received through the program’s hotline and email. Following a phone-screening, each case is assigned two Intervention Specialists from participating agencies, who then meet with the youth and their family at their home. Intervention Specialists help families ensure there are working smoke alarms in the home and help develop an escape plan in case of fire, as well as making connections to mental health and other service providers to address the cause of the behavior, instead of punishment. View or download the J-FIRE brochure.
In addition to responding to case referrals, Intervention Specialists help to promote the program within their communities, including tabling at events, giving more formal presentations at events, and sharing information with local groups, such as Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs).
Youth who misuse fire can have underlying difficulties with social and interpersonal skills, communication, impulse control, behavioral issues, impaired cognitive function, learning disabilities, or mental health conditions. Families can watch for warning signs such as withdrawal from friends or social settings, loss of interest in activities they previously enjoyed, hyperactivity, dramatic changes in school performance or sleeping/eating habits, inability to cope with problems or daily activities, persistent disobedience or aggression, defiance of authority, truancy, theft, or vandalism, among others.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Weishaupt said, “There are times when a child’s motivation to experiment with fire may not be overtly obvious by caregivers, but unfortunately, one match is enough to destroy a home or even end a life. It’s important for families to know they are not alone if their child is exhibiting concerning behaviors, and our J-FIRE Program is an excellent resource to help intervene before tragedy strikes. We are proud to be able to support this program and help protect lives and property in Dutchess County.”
For additional information or to make a referral to the J-FIRE program, call 845-486-3994 or email jfire@dutchessny.gov.
Partner agency members of the J-FIRE Program who participated in this week’s training, include:
- Arlington Fire District
- Astor Counseling Services for Children & Families
- City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department
- City of Poughkeepsie Police Department
- Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health
- Dutchess County Department of Community & Family Services
- Dutchess County Department of Law
- Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office
- Dutchess County Office of Probation & Community Corrections
- Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office
- Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response
- Fairview Fire District
- Hyde Park Police Department
- Town of Fishkill Police Department
- Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department
- Village of Fishkill Police Department
- Village of Rhinebeck Police Department
Other agencies in attendance include Rockland County Sheriff’s Office and NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC). Additional agencies participating in the J-FIRE program include LaGrange Fire Department, Town of East Fishkill Police Department, and City of Beacon Fire Department.
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Photo Caption (Trainers…): The County is hosting instructors from the National Fire Academy, from left, Katie Harrington, Michael Weller, and Kathi Osmonson, are providing a two-day training for nearly 50 new and existing Intervention Specialists with the Dutchess County Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Response and Education (J-FIRE) program at the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response Center in Poughkeepsie.
Photo Caption (handbook…): Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, with support from the District Attorney’s Office and the National Fire Academy, are hosting a two-day training for nearly 50 new and existing Intervention Specialists with the Dutchess County Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Response and Education (J-FIRE) program at the Emergency Response Center in Poughkeepsie.
