Youth Firesafety (Y-Fire)

Did You Know...

• Nationwide, youth-set fires cause an average of 280 deaths and 2,400 injuries yearly?
• In Kansas, youth-set fires have caused 10 deaths, 147 injuries and over $12 million in property damage over the last five years?
• The annual property loss and cost of providing protection nationwide from youth-set fires exceeds $250 million?
• Over 50 percent of persons arrested for the crime of arson are youth?
• Research has revealed that nearly 50 percent of all children light at least one fire before the age of 13?

The Y-Fire Program of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) was created to help prevent children from starting fires and to intervene with youths known to have started fires. Youth Programs supports Y-FIRE coalitions across the state and also provides resources and materials for parents, teachers, childcare providers, and fire service personnel.

Elena Nuss is now in the agency at KDHE, please call her at 785-296-3403 for any questions regarding the Youth Y-fire program.

• Video Resource Catolog
• Interactive 9-1-1 Simulator (.pdf)
• 9-1-1 Simulator (.pdf)
• Loan Agreement Simulator (.pdf)

Youth firesetting can be prevented when parents, teachers, firefighters and law enforcement authorities become aware of the problem and work together to find solutions. Establishing a positive, proactive program like Y-FIRE can make a difference in your community!

• What is Y-FIRE?
• About the Kansas Y-FIRE Program

The Kansas Y-FIRE Program collects data from a number of sources including the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office, National Fire Protection Association, Home Safety Council and others. The information contained in this section is the most current we have available. There may be other sources of information that can be obtained through data searches. In some cases individual community or county data is also available upon request.

• Juvenile Firesetting Affects Us All (.pdf)
• Juvenile Fire Setting 2002-2006 Matrix (.pdf)
• Juvenile Fires per County 2006 Map (.pdf)

Youth Firesafety Program funding provided by the Kansas State Fire Marshal.