Federal funds to thwart youth fire setters

Ephrata Fire Department awarded fire prevention and safety grant

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Fire Department received a $56,810 grant from the US Department of Homeland Security and expects to spend the money stopping youths from setting fires in Grant County.

The funds flow from the Fire Prevention and Safety Program, administered by Homeland Security, which prioritizes projects focusing on preventing fire-related injuries to children.

The City of Ephrata has been impacted by multiple fires since 2002 and authorities attributed those blazes directly to the combination of youths and criminal activity.

In September 2002, a juvenile subject caused $50,000 in fire damage to a local church in an effort to cover up a burglary, according to a City of Ephrata news release.

A string of arson fires were started in Dumpsters near Ephrata houses and buildings during the summer of 2003. Authorities never arrested juvenile suspects in those arson fires despite aggressive criminal investigation and several stakeouts.

A year later, two juveniles trying to use white gas and flame to remove decals from a skateboard ignited a blaze that caused $70,000 damage to a home.

Since 2000, the Grant County Fire Marshal investigated 22 structure fires authorities say were set by youths. In that time, the fire marshal suspected youths were responsible for starting eight wild land fires and four vehicle fires.

City officials believe those incidents illustrate the need for the federal funds.

"The FPS program allows for a host agency to sponsor a regional grant which other agencies can be a part of," said Ephrata Battalion Chief Kyle Foreman. "We joined together, and invited other important agencies to help out."

Ephrata firefighters expect to form a coalition called "Fire Stoppers of Grant County." The coalition will likely include the Moses Lake Fire Department, several Grant County fire districts, the Grant County Sheriff's Office and other local authorities.

Foreman said he has been inspired by the interest and enthusiasm of the other participants.

"We are very excited and proud of this project," he said.

The project encompasses education for both parents and children. It also includes intervention and assessment of youths who start fires.

The project concentrates on "the treatment of youth fire setters and computer tracking of the youth involved in fire setting," he said.

About 25 individuals from local fire agencies in the coalition will receive advanced training and become juvenile fire setter intervention specialists. Equipment and materials necessary to deliver education to youths and parents will be funded through the program. The trainees will acquire skills necessary to build information and statistical data regarding youth fire setters.

"The funding from the FPS program gives us the seed money we need to accomplish our goals," Foreman said.

"The federal government continues to support the critical work of our nation's firefighters through fire prevention and safety grants by addressing the issues that can help prevent fires from happening," Charlie Dickinson, deputy administrator of the Department of Homeland Security's United States Fire Administration, stated in a news release.