Evaluating Juvenile Fire Setters
Juvenile fire setting is a problem that impacts all segments of society. Although it is not new, it is a problem that is growing and one that many fire departments have yet to fully come to terms with. Though more common in poorer neighborhoods, juvenile fire setting cuts across all demographics and can strike any community at any time. There are a number of textbooks that address it, several innovative programs, including an excellent training program offered by the National Fire Academy; but on the whole, it is fair to say that we in the fire service are only at the beginning of an effort to deal with it effectively. The responsibility for addressing the problem usually falls on the shoulders of the fire educator and the fire investigator. Often, the fire department may receive a call from a community social worker who has become aware of fire-setting behavior in one of the children he/she is working with. In these cases, the fire educator is called upon to go to the house and train the family in fire safety measures. The goal is to prevent a fire from occurring and the educator will speak to the parents and child about unsafe practices. More frequently, we learn of a problem after a fires occurs. In situations like this, successfully addressing juvenile fire setting begins with the fire investigator. If the investigator fails to recognize the signs of a juvenile-set fire, no mitigating action can be taken. Making the correct fire cause determination is necessary, but that is just the beginning. The investigator, in consultation with a mental health professional, must then make a sound assessment of the child’s future fire setting potential in order to make the appropriate referral. In order to do so, the investigator must screen or categorize the fire setter. There are several ways to categorize juvenile fire setters. FEMA provides a helpful guide for completing a juvenile fire setter risk assessment. Fire setters may have a mix of motives for their actions, and the guide often serves as a basis for an accurate assessment. While each case is unique, juvenile fire setters generally fall into one of four categories. The first type of fire setter is the curiosity type. Studies have shown that this type accounts for approximately 65 percent of all juvenile-set fires. Natural curiosity and experimentation motivate this type of fire setter. Some 40 to 50 percent of all children experiment with fire at least once during their youth. Fortunately, few develop maladaptive fire setting behavior. Children motivated by curiosity are usually younger, from ages 5 to 10. They generally do not realize the dangers associated with fire or comprehend that their use of matches could cause the house to burn down. The interview with the child will reveal no apparent learning disorder, behavioral, or psychological problem. No traumatic family changes are evident although there may be lax parental supervision or a laissez-faire parental attitude. Often there is a solid family structure and the parents exhibit concern. It is likely, however, that one or both parents is a smoker and as a result, matches or a lighter are available in the house. This type of fire setter is not considered pathological and is not usually referred for psychological care unless the investigator observes abnormality in the child’s mood or a dysfunctional family situation. Fire safety education is the most suitable remedy for this type of fire setter. The fire educator is called to provide a home fire safety training for both the family and child. The strategy is to educate the child about the dangers associated with fireplay and to educate the parents about home fire safety and the dangers of casual storage of smoking materials. Parents must be advised to restrict the availability of sources of ignition to their children. Practical solutions such as mandatory installation of smoke detectors, practicing exit drills, and placing smoking materials in a lock box are part of the training. Recidivism is low, as long as educational intervention is provided. Another type of juvenile fire setter is the cry-for-help type. This type accounts for approximately 20 percent of juvenile fires. Cry-for-help fires can by associated with any age and are often in response to a family in transition. This child is going through a stressful period, one that they cannot effectively cope with. Motivated either consciously or unconsciously, their fire-setting activity is an attempt to draw attention. In the post-fire interviews, the investigator should cover the current circumstances and recent events. Often, there may have been an adverse family change such as a geographic relocation, divorce, separation, unwanted remarriage, or child abuse. Illness, death, or parental incarcerations are also associated with this type of fire activity. The juvenile also may be suffering from some form of child abuse, neglect, family dysfunction, or perhaps a difficulty at school. These fire setters are the frequently subject to recidivism. It is essential to conduct a thorough interview of both the child and the parent/guardian in order to get an accurate impression of each and a thorough family history. Of course, if child abuse is evident, an immediate referral to child protective services is warranted. This form of fire setting is likely to recur unless some form of intervention is provided. Often a referral to a mental health professional or family crisis counselor is necessary. A fire safety educational component may also be warranted. Approximately 15 percent of juvenile fires are set by children with behavioral problems to varying degrees. On one end of the spectrum, a certain percentage of any group of children tend to be aggressive, hyperactive, rebellious, and engage in taking risks. Occasionally, these risks can involve lighting fires. Perhaps this behavior is an attempt to get attention, to please peers, or to express jealousy, frustration, or anger. For some, it is just part of growing up. Unfortunately, when these behavioral problems go unchecked, kids can cross the line into juvenile delinquency. Juvenile delinquents tend to be older, usually from age 11 to 15. If they have had a history of fire setting, they may have burn scars on their hands or arms. For them, fire setting can be a means to acceptance from peers, a form of vandalism, or a means of concealing a crime. Their motive for setting the fire is often conscious, or pre-meditated, rather than merely curious. In some cases, the fire could indicate gang involvement. The degree of delinquency may become evident during the interview. Some juveniles may show some degree of concern or remorse. Depending on how well they respond, these may benefit from a stern conference with the investigator and follow up treatment with a mental health professional along with an understanding that any future involvement will mean arrest. Others may be uncooperative, untruthful, and defiant, showing little fear of consequences. These are more difficult to treat. A background investigation will often turn up other types of aggressive behavior including poor conduct at school, truancy, or even a criminal record. If a child has already been classified as a juvenile delinquent, they have lit previous fires, or the fire is considered criminal in nature, a referral should be made to the police youth bureau for entry into the juvenile justice system. Delinquent fire setters are the most likely type of juvenile fire setter to need referral to the juvenile justice system. Unfortunately, the risk of repeat fire behavior is often too great to risk non-mandated treatment. A final category, which accounts for only about 1 percent of juvenile fires, is the mentally disturbed type. These children may be motivated by fascination with fire, pyromania or self-harm. The youth may exhibit signs of fire fixation or delusional thoughts during the interview. The tendency to repeat fire setting behavior will vary with the psychological diagnosis. However, this group must be considered high risk for repeat fire setting behavior. A referral to a mental health professional and/or a committal to an institutional facility for treatment are often the only means of addressing this type of fire setting behavior. In summary, there are four general categories of juvenile fire setters: the curiosity type, the attention-seeking or cry-for-help type, the juvenile-delinquent type and the mentally disturbed type of fire setter. Each type has its own degree of risk of repeat fire setting, which increases as the child gets older. Each may respond best to a different type of intervention. The fire investigator’s chief concern when evaluating a juvenile fire setter is his estimation of the degree of risk for repeat fire setting behavior. Based on the impression of the investigator, a referral will be made for intervention in order to prevent repeat fire setting. Making the correct referral, whether it is to a family counselor, fire safety specialist, or police youth officer, is a skillful way of preventing fires. The fire service may not be equipped to assist these children on an ongoing basis, but there are other organizations in the community that can. It is wise to develop a relationship with community mental health organizations who can work with the at-risk children we refer. Helping these youngsters takes a bit of extra work, but it is well worth the effort. © Copyright Firenuggets.com 2006 • Click here for Terms and Conditions of Use
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