Yakima Fire Department says there's been an increase in fires started by minors recently. The most recent one reported was on Memorial Day, May 30th, in the 100 block of California Avenue. The Yakima Youth Firesetter's Program, works to help educate kids to help prevent incidents like this from happening more frequently.
Each year, according to the National Fire Protection Agency, over 40,000 fires across the country are started by minors, which is one of the many reasons why this national program was started about 20 years ago.
Yakima Firefighter, Jay Elmo, has been a part of the program in Yakima for more than half of his 28 year career with the department, and seven years ago, he became the program's coordinator.
"We just want to let parents know we have this program, if you notice that your kids are playing with matches or lighters, and they cant seem to control it with their own disciplining, we have a program to educate your kids. We see it every day, we're [firefighters] are all here to protect the citizens, we know that we now have the ability to stop one or even 100, and that's the focus," said Elmo about the Youth Firesetter's Program.