Eight-year-old 'cured' of pyromania (From Free Press Series)

Eight-year-old 'cured' of pyromania

11:34am Wednesday 30th April 2008 in Search By Lorna Phelan

A CHILD'S fascination with fire can have serious consequences - that is why one Pontypool mother is encouraging more parents to seek professional help.

Donna Howell, 36, of Trevethin, suspected her eight-year-old son Jamie had been playing with fire when she found burnt pieces of paper lying around her house but it is when she awoke one morning to find her kitchen full of smoke she realised the extent of the problem.

"I looked around and there were no flames, I opened all the windows and noticed the cushions, table and tablecloth had been burnt and there was lots of water on the floor and black marks behind the radiator. Jamie reluctantly owned up that it was him," she said.

Despite talking to him about the dangers of fire Mrs Howell became increasingly concerned about his behaviour.

"I was still finding burnt paper. I made sure my lighters were hidden but he went on to use the gas cooker. I was getting paranoid, having sleepless nights listening out for anything."

Unsure where to turn, Mrs Howell visited Abersychan fire station for advice and was put in touch with Laura Thomas, of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service's Fire Setter Intervention Scheme. An initiative designed to create awareness of the serious consequences of deliberate fire setting and arson.

Ms Thomas and a chief fire officer visited Jamie and his mum and talked to him about fire safety.

"They were brilliant with him. They showed him a video of a fire and photos of a property that had been burnt and talked to him about what could have happened. You could see his mind ticking over and he looked at me and said sorry."

Now Mrs Howell is encouraging parents facing the same the problem to seek help.

"It works, Jamie stopped instantly. We now have a fire safety plan of what we will do if there is a fire and Jamie is the one who suggests we do a drill and tests the fire alarms."