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Wisc. program seeks to extinguish fascination in kids who have started fires

Education targeted at youth ages 3-18 as an intervention

By Sharon Roznik
The Fond du Lac Reporter

FOND DU LAC, Wisc. — In September 2010, a fire raged in a Fond du Lac neighborhood. Crowds gathered to watch the scene as firefighters battled blazes at two houses near West 11th Street and Farwell Avenue. Both residences sustained heavy damage. A detached garage was also damaged, and a fourth structure — another garage — was reduced to a pile of ash.

About 30 firefighters spent hours at the scene battling the inferno. Afterwards, the cause of the fire was determined to be kids playing with fire.

“It was a windy day, and they were playing behind the garage and these houses caught fire,” said Fond du Lac Assistant Fire Chief Randy Cunzenheim. “A lot of children don’t have a good concept of how dangerous fire is. We can provide that kind of education.”

Full Story: Fond Du Lac Program Seeks To Extinguish Childrens’ Fascination with Fire