Kids and fire safety
Last year about 2 800 fires - or around nine per cent of all fires in NSW - are believed to have been started by children.
Young children often have a natural fascination with fire and sometimes take it a step further by playing with matches and lighters, so it's crucial that parents teach their children at an early age that fire is a tool and not a toy.
The NSWFB runs an Intervention and Fire Awareness Program for children who are playing with fire. Firefighters work with families to help them understand the issues, suggest strategies and develop an action plan.
The program provides face-to-face and over-the-phone help for families to understand and manage children's fire-starting behaviour.
NSWFB firefighters present the FireED program, which teaches children about the role of firefighters, key fire safety messages like 'get down low and go, go, go' and 'stop, drop and roll' and the importance of calling Triple Zero in an emergency.
The messages that children learn in the FireED program help them to develop a healthy understanding of fire and the role of the NSWFB and firefighters from an early age.
To help prevent your child playing with fire, the NSWFB recommends:
- Teach children that fire is not a toy
- Keep smoking materials such as lighters and matches in a secure place
- Watch for evidence of fireplay, such as burns on bedding or clothing, or fire-starting devices in children's pockets
- Ensure children are supervised around fires; and
- Ensure you have working smoke alarms, rehearse a home escape plan and call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.
If you know or suspect that your child has been playing with fire, seek help immediately by calling the NSWFB toll-free number 1800 600 700.
Further information
Related resources
NSW Rural Fire Service- Retained recruitment
- Services
- Publications
- Media releases
- Fire safety forms
- Fire safety for business
- Smoke alarms
- Factsheets
- Community Fire Units
- Find a fire station
Visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au