Where There's Smoke There's Fire: Firesetting Behaviour in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

The issue of juvenile firesetting has recently gained a considerable increase in media attention in New Zealand. A number of adolescents have been charged with arson, and in such cases they have caused great shock and cost to the community. This has led to increasing recognition of the problem and the identification of a need for appropriate intervention. This article provides a brief overview of the literature, includes two case studies to illustrate clinical features of child firesetters, and describes the appropriate clinical assessment and intervention for this group of children. ********** Prior to the recent spate of fires set by the Mangere Serial Arsonist and the fire at Fraser High School in Hamilton, the public had little awareness of the problem of child and adolescent firesetting in New Zealand. The cost from such fires can be measured in terms of emotional and social effects, along with financial consequences. Financially alone, the cost of arson is thought to run into the millions of dollars each year as houses, cars, and school classrooms are set alight. Children are particularly vulnerable because of their more limited ability to understand the consequences of fire and their lack of effective strategies for extinguishing a fire should it get out of control. Prevalence of Childhood Firesetting While arson is often thought to be a crime perpetrated by adults, forensic statistics from the United States have painted quite a different picture. According to FBI crime data, between 1986 and 1994, children and adolescents accounted for between 40 and 49% of arrests for arson. This peaked in 1994 at 55%, then declined to 50% by 1988 (Bradish, 1999). These statistics indicate that arson has the highest percentage of child and adolescent involvement of any serious offence (Kolko, 1999). In Australia, the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade estimates that 20% of all fires reported to the fire service are lit by children and adolescents (Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade Annual Reports, 1986-1992). Each year in Auckland, the Fire Service deals with up to 220 young people involved in firesetting. This figure has increased by 10% over the last few years (New Zealand Fire Service, 2000). Community studies suggest that a large number of children have set fires at some time in their life (Grolnick, Cole, Laurenitis, & Schwartzman, 1990; Kafry, 1980). In a community sample of 770 children aged between 6 and 14 years, 38% reported having played with fire. Older children reported the highest percentage of fireplay within the past six months (Grolnick et. al., 1990). The prevalence rate of both firesetting and fireplay has been found to be significantly higher among clinical populations of children compared to community samples (Kolko & Kazdin, 1989). Within clinical populations, research has found significantly more firesetting and fireplay among those in inpatient settings compared to outpatient settings (Kolko & Kazdin, 1988). Kolko and Kazdin (1988) found 19.5% of those in an outpatient setting had engaged in deliberate firesetting causing destruction to property, while 24.4% reported match play with no damage to property. Rates in a comparative inpatient sample were found to be nearly double that of an outpatient sample, 34.6% and 52% respectfully. From the previous findings it appears that a large number of children engage in fireplay and firesetting, and to a degree this behaviour can therefore be considered normal. However it appears that significantly more children in clinical populations engage in fireplay and firesetting, suggesting a relationship between clinical problems and firesetting behaviour. What Is Considered a Normal Child's Involvement With Fire? It is important that a young person's interest in fire is viewed on a natural continuum of psychosocial development (Gaynor & Hatcher, 1987). …