INDIANAPOLIS -- A 6-year-old started a fire that destroyed two homes and displaced 13 people Sunday afternoon.
Firefighters were called to the home on Lexington Avenue just after 3:30 p.m.
When they arrived heavy smoke was already showing from the two-story building that housed two separate families.
A couple and their four children, ages 8,6,6 and 4 were able to escape from the lower level. Their cat was killed in the fire but two dogs were rescued.
Only one person was home in the upper level of the home and they were able to escape safely.
The family living on the lower level told firefighters that their 8-year-old alerted them to a fire in the bedroom, and they were quickly able to get everyone outside. Their 6-year-old admitted to playing with a lighter before the fire started.
The 6-year-old was referred by firefighters to the IFD Fire Stop - Juvenile Fire Setters program.
Both families are displaced by the fire which caused damage estimated at around $70,000.
About Fire Stop
The Fire Stop Program is utilized by the IFD/IMPD Fire Investigations Section as a stop gap measure to counsel young children who may show an unusual interest in fire and/or fire setting. The program offers incident specific/age appropriate education and a fire-risk assessment at no cost to families in the IFD Service District. The program is a joint effort between the IFD/IMPD Fire Investigations Section and the IFD Fire and Life Safety Division which allows for a more comprehensive, holistic approach to helping at risk children and their families.
IFD/IMPD Fire Investigators believe that the opportunity to bring all of the players to the table at once, as opposed to the “referral link method” helps tremendously in stopping bad behavior in its tracks. It’s intent is to follow and mentor children from the Fire Stop Program until they are comfortable that the information is being absorbed and fully understood by the child/family receiving it. The program also partners with agencies such as the courts, juvenile justice, mental health, family advocacy and schools to address the many moving parts that often times drives the bad behavior in the first place. Children ages 13 and younger, referred to the program by IFD/IMPD Investigators, will continue to receive structured counseling curriculum and education but will also receive services from mental health and family counseling from the outset. By creating an intact “no broken links” approach, children who may have fallen through the cracks after counseling…before, hopefully now will not. Investigators know all too well that - kid fires can lead to adult fires.
Personnel identified as Fire Stop counselors have received extensive training through the Juvenile Fire Setting program at the National Fire Academy and through the Fire Stop program offered by the Fort Wayne Fire Department. The program remains cost free to the child/family unless a component of their case requires fees such as court costs. The Fire Stop program is not an alternative to those juveniles knowingly committing the crime of Arson as a result of gang activity, intimidation, reckless mischief or vandalism. Those juveniles still fall under the laws of the State of Indiana and if arrested may face jail time. The IFD/IMPD Fire Investigations Section and the IFD Fire and Life Safety Division encourage all parents, guardians or caregivers to contact Fire Stop if their child or any other child shows an unusual interest in fire or fire setting. If you have concerns or questions about a child that may have an unusual curiosity about fire please call the Fire Stop program to learn more about the age appropriate counseling available. Again - the number is 327-3473. Don’t wait until it is too late.
MORE TOP STORIES |Director of no-kill Richmond animal shelter fired after dogs euthanized | PHOTOS: Meet the children looking for homes in Indiana | Women mad over missing McNuggets climb in drive-thru window, assault manager at Indy McDonald's | Davey Blackburn says he's engaged to be married, 2 years after his wife's murder | Chief: gas leak found in exploded house in Camby
Top Trending Videos
