by Karon Brandt

Created on: February 22, 2010

Most children are fascinated with campfires, fireplaces, bonfires, etc. That’s natural. But when fascination turns into an obsession, fire setting can become a serious problem. Juveniles who set fires obsessively become a huge problem to society, and property losses from intentionally set fires total almost $1 billion per year.

Arson is a felony offense and “arson is the felony with the highest rate of juvenile involvement.” (lvh.org) Most fire setters – four out of five - are boys, and they fall into four categories.

1. The “curious firesetter” is often a boy between three and seven years old who will use a lighter or matches to make a hidden fire and then try to extinguish it.

2. A five- to ten-year-old who sets fires after a stressful incident may be seeking attention. He is a “crisis firesetter” who is shy, anxious or worried.

3. The “delinquent firesetter,” who is between 10 and 17 years old, often opposes authority and is influenced by peers. The group sets the fires and often uses accelerants.

4. The “pathological firesetter,” which includes only about 2% to 3% of cases, is often an 8- to 12-year-old boy who has had a history of abuse; he usually has serious family or peer issues, and he may have medical or neurological problems. This troubled boy will often plan and set fires while avoiding detection.

An adolescent psychiatrist at the Lehigh Valley Health Network, Dr. Dhanalakshmi Ramasamy says that such children usually have an underlying emotional, medical, or neurological problem. “If a child sets fires repeatedly, it may be a sign of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or it can result from a traumatic incident like divorce, abuse, or school or relationship distress.”

The Lehigh Valley Health Network in E. PA offers counseling and treatment. Also, a local fireman offers a course for juvenile firesetters to understand “the dangers and consequences of their actions.” People can call 610-402-CARE or visit lvhn.org/healthyyou online for more help.

Much has been learned from past fires and investigative outcomes. In late October of 2007, southern California had 16 fires going at once; two were set by arsonists. The fires “displaced more than a half-million people, destroyed nearly 1900 homes and killed at least seven” people. Eighty people were injured; firefighters were overwhelmed; and the fire scorched over 800 square miles. (Newsweek)

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