A program aimed at halting the rising incidence of fires set by children is being overwhelmed, says its sole employee.

"There's definitely an increase every year," Brandy Maslowski of Youth Firestop told CBC News on Friday. In 2007, she added, "we had more than any other year so far. 

"We're not really sure exactly why that is. It could be because there's more awareness of our program; it could be because there's more kids in that age category living in Winnipeg this year," she said.

"I think … once the schools are becoming more and more aware, they'll refer immediately instead of taking a long time trying to figure out where they can refer to."

Maslowski said she has worked with children as young as three years old in the program, which attempts to determine why a child is setting fires, then arranges for educational programming or other assistance to put an end to the behaviour.

Cycle of arson

Alex Forrest, head of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, said a pattern seems to be developing among the young arsonists.

"It's become a cycle," Forrest said, with youngsters following their older siblings into the program.

"With the high rate of crime in the North End and downtown, its becoming part of life."

Winnipeg Police Det. Sean Pollock says he's stopped lighter-bearing children as young as eight from setting fires, often in garbage bins.

Pollock, part of the city's arson strike force, said most young arsonists set fires out of boredom. Often, he added, they'll stay close to the fire to watch the excitement as fire crews put it out.

"Problem is, that first fire could be a traumatic experience, both from an emotional, educational standpoint … for them when they actually see what happens.

"But furthermore, if they end up lighting something that's going to explode, they may not have a second chance. So we obviously want to get to these kids well before they're into the fire-setting stage."

Winnipeg police say they have apprehended nine children too young to be charged with arson in the past month, including a girl, 8, and a 10-year-old boy on Thursday who have been linked to recent fires in garbage bins.

Earlier this week, another 10-year-old boy was implicated in more than 30 fires. 

The boy, who is now in a Child and Family Services crisis unit receiving intensive counselling, had been sent to Youth Firestop.