Juvenile firesetters fall into three general groups:
The first is made up of children, mainly boys, less than 7 years of age. Generally, fires started by these children are the result of accidents or curiosity.
In the second group of firesetters are children ranging in age from 8 to 12. Although the firesetting of some of these children is motivated by curiosity or experimentation, a greater proportion of their firesetting represents underlying psychosocial conflicts. They will continue to set fires until their issues are addressed and their needs are met.
The third group comprises adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18. These youth tend to have a long history of undetected fire-play and firestarting behavior. Their current firesetting episodes are usually either the result of psychosocial conflict and turmoil or intentional criminal behavior. They have a history of school failure and behavior problems, and are easily influenced by their peers.
Children who set fires may have one or more of these characteristics:
Curiosity with fire Lack of understanding fire’s danger Recent change in family life (death, separation, divorce, move, abandonment) Parental alcoholism or drug abuse Attachment problems History of behavioral problems (such as lying, stealing, truancy, bullying, cruelty to animals, and substance use) Poor peer relationships and/or social isolation; being bullied History of physical, emotional or sexual abuse and/or neglect Bedwetting Blaming others and/or unwilling to accept responsibility for one's own actions Lack of empathy Unfortunately, families and even law enforcement personnel are often reluctant to take action on what they think (and hope) is a one-time occurrence. Law enforcement personnel sometimes fail to report incidents as crime and so the juvenile avoids intervention and/or prosecution. Sometimes families simply ignore the seriousness of the behavior.
However, ALL children who have engaged in fireplay or firesetting behavior need intervention. Even very young children who were just curious need to be educated on the dangers of fireplay so that they do not continue the behavior and grow up to be arsonists.