1. health and fitness
2. disorders

YOUTH FIRESETTING
YOUTH FIRESETTING
AN INSIGHT FOR
PROFESSIONALS
Youth firesetting has important implications for
both clinical and forensic professionals working
within a variety of settings. In providing a basic
introduction to this complex and multifaceted topic,
US forensic mental health Researcher Jerrod Brown
and his colleagues point out that numerous people
die worldwide each year as a result of adolescent
firesetting.
(AUTHORS: Jerrod Brown, Mario L. Hesse, Michael Flanagan, Erv Weinkauf,
Samantha R. Lee, & Hannah Brown; Consultant: Kathi Osmonson)
E
xact prevalence rates of youthfacilitated firesetting crimes is
unknown, for many reasons. The
fire department may be cancelled
if the fire is extinguished before they
arrive upon the scene. Police officers
may not report a youth-set-fire to the
fire department unless extinguishment is
required. Parents may not report “small
fires” set by their children. Schools often
do not report fires set by students if they
do not require a fire department response.
Moreover, therapists may not be aware
that help is available from the fire service
in most states and many countries. The
International Association of Fire Fighters
is working with experts and stakeholders
on a national database in an effort to
achieve accurate reporting.
When the project entitled Youth
Firesetting Information Repository
Evaluation System (YFIRES) is
completed, information will be entered
through internet portals by mental health
care professionals, fire service, law
enforcement, juvenile justice, hospitals
and burn units.
It is important to note that most
children exhibit some level of normal
curiosity about fire at some point during
adolescence.
When natural curiosity turns
into actually starting fires, firesetting
behaviours can range from a one-time
event to incidents involving multiple,
ongoing occurrences that can become
pathological in nature.
Understanding the various reasons
why some young people start fires is
complex and multifaceted, requiring
special consideration by professionals.
Unfortunately, the literature pertaining
to intentional firesetting continues to be
marked by significant discrepancies and
areas requiring future research.
CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Adolescents who exhibit firesetting
behaviours should receive a frontline
assessment to determine their risk level of
repeating the behaviour. If the risk level is
low, simple fire education may be enough
to stop the behaviour, however if their risk
level is moderate or extreme, significant
clinical attention is necessary. Some
studies have reported elevated levels
of firesetting behaviours among youth
who need clinical services compared to
adolescents in the general population.
In fact, many youths who start fires
have a host of co-morbid conditions and
problematic histories that will require
some level of treatment. Healthcare
professionals often lack the appropriate
awareness and training necessary to
accurately detect and treat problematic
firesetters.
Intentional v Unintentional
Operational definitions associated with
youth firesetting differ among scholars and
researchers. Problematic youth firesetting
is considered deliberate, while fire or
match play is generally done without intent
to cause harm to others and/or property.
Both intentional and unintentional
firesetting can result in property damage,
injury, and death.
YOUTH FIRESETTING
The International Association of Fire Fighters is
working with experts and stakeholders on a national
database in an effort to achieve accurate reporting.
Most often, adolescent intentional
firesetting results in damage to property
and in some cases loss of life. In our
experience, unintentional youth firesetting
is often a result of fire experimentation
with complete disregard for any
consequences, whereas intentional youth
firesetting includes, but is not limited to,
carrying out a dare from peers, seeking
attention, or retribution for a past event.
The following is a brief review of some
factors professionals should consider
when working with adolescents who
have a history of intentional firesetting
behaviours:
ADHD: Children who start fires may
have higher rates of attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and
hyperactive behaviours compared to
adolescents who do not set intentional
fires.
However, additional research is
necessary in order to determine what
relationship if any there is between ADHD
and youth firesetting.
Antisocial Behaviours: Adolescents who
deliberately set fires often participate
in various other forms of antisocial
behaviours. Case examples show some
youths who set fires are attempting to fit
into a group and have had difficulty being
accepted by other peer groups. Clinical
and forensic mental health professionals
often play a vital role in the identification
and treatment of such behaviours.
Adverse Childhood Experiences: It is
common for firesetters to report histories
of traumatic exposure to various adverse
life events.
In fact, youths who engage in
intentional acts of firesetting may do so
as a result of unaddressed or untreated
emotional and psychological pain caused
by various forms of child maltreatment.
Multiple studies show harsh,
dysfunctional and physically abusive
parents are more frequent among young
firesetters than among young nonfiresetters.
In one case study, a young male set
fire to his home while his brother was
inside, killing his brother in the blaze.
Investigator discovered that the young
male was acting out against his parents
for what he believed was a lack of
attention.
Conduct Disorder: Among some
youths who engage in acts of deliberate
firesetting, conduct disorder is a frequent
psychiatric diagnosis. Yet, controversy
and debate exists in the literature as to the
extent of this relationship and the ability
to use conduct disorder as a predictor of
recidivism in these cases. While firesetting
may be highly predictive for diagnosing
conduct disorder in some of these cases,
only a small number of youths with
conduct disorder repeatedly set fires.
Criminality: Intentional and problematic
firesetting behaviours may be a precursor
to later offending and subsequent
association with the criminal justice
system if they go unaddressed and
untreated.
Firesetters often self-report more
antisocial and offending behaviours than
their non-firesetting counterparts. These
behaviours range from playing truant
from school or work and repeated lying
to shoplifting and destruction of other’s
property. One youth we investigated for
firesetting was later found responsible for
torturing animals as an older adolescent,
and criminal violent acts against humans
as an adult.
YOUTH FIRESETTING
Family Dynamics: Family dynamics may
play a role with maladaptive home settings
serving as a common feature among
some adolescents who set intentional
fires. Research has found an association
between a youth’s exposure to family
violence as the perpetrator, complainant,
or victim, and increased severity of the
offending behaviour. There is also a high
prevalence of self-reported firesetters and
family history of antisocial behaviour.
For more information:
• www.usfa.fema.gov
• Burn Institute www.burninstitute.org
• SOS Fires www.sosfires.com
Gender: Adolescent males are more
likely to engage in firesetting compared
to young females. In one study, multiple
firesetting incidents were found to be
more common among boys compared
to girls. The nature of this relationship
requires further exploration.
Impulsivity: Adolescents who engage
in persistent firesetting behaviours often
show higher rates of impulsivity compared
to non-firesetting youths. Deficits
associated with planning and forward
thinking may also be present in some
cases involving juvenile firesetters.
A high number individuals with both
pyromania and impulse control disorders
implies that there may be a neurobiological
basis for individuals compelled to start
fires. However, further studies are
warranted to better understand the
neurobiological aspects of firesetters.
Social Skill Deficits: Some firesetters
lack appropriate social functioning. Peer
rejection and shyness are other variables
to consider in cases involving adolescent
firesetting.
In one study, the researchers found
that peer rejection and shyness coupled
with a history of aggressive behaviours
were significantly higher for firesetters
compared to non-firesetters.
From a social learning theory lens
these youths have poor social skills to
start and then unable to successfully gain
social reinforcement. Youth firesettters
may then use firesetting as an alternative
to pro-social problem solving, which does
not involve a need for direct interpersonal
confrontation.
Substance Misuse: Children who set
fires with the intent to destroy property
often experience increased rates of
chemical misuse compared to nonfiresetters. In addition, research has found
a relationship between the cumulative
number of risk factors and the severity
of firesetting behaviors with more severe
firesetting behaviours being linked to
increased reports of psychological
distress, sensation seeking, also binge
drinking, cannabis use, and other illicit
drug use.
Suicidal and Self-Injurious Behaviours:
Another variable for professionals to
consider is suicidal and self-injurious
behaviors among some youth who
participate in deliberate firesetting. Some
researchers have reported higher rates
of suicidal thoughts and behaviours
among adolescent firesetters compared to
adolescents who do not start fires.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Few empirical studies have been
conducted on adolescent firesetting
interventions and in particular, treatmentrelated outcomes for this population. The
research that is available suggests the
best intervention approach for youth is
often restorative justice, while other times
youths need education on fire science.
Still others may require mental health
assessment and care, and most require a
combined approach.
Moreover, there is a dearth of
published research on the topic of best
practices for the treatment of juvenile
firesetters within the context of secured
treatment facilities. It is crucial to engage
practitioners, family members and
other key stakeholders in collaborative
approaches when treating adolescent
firesetters.
Some adolescent firesetters display a
host of academic and learning challenges.
As a result, service providers should be
mindful of this and adapt intervention and
treatment approaches to accommodate
such needs and challenges.
Children who set deliberate fires will
also often benefit from learning about fire
science and related skills, problem-solving
techniques, affect regulation strategies,
and increased awareness regarding the
motivations and triggers associated with
their firesetting behaviours. Another vital
component in the overall treatment of
adolescent firesetters is to ensure the
safety of the individual, their family, and
community.
One such way to achieve this goal
is to establish a home safety visit by a
qualified fire professional. Fire science
education has been shown to be an
effective intervention for low risk juvenile
firesetters.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy, clinical
outpatient treatment and individual
counseling are various other options
available to assist youth who start fires.
Parent education and training is
necessary for successful treatment of
juvenile firesetters.
Youth firesetting treatment should
also focus on helping the adolescent
improve their decision-making abilities and
prosocial behaviours.
Overall, the task of treating
young firesetters is complex and
frequently requires the involvement of a
multidisciplinary group of professionals
and caregivers.
YOUTH FIRESETTING
SCREENING AND
ASSESSMENT
Healthcare professionals
often lack the appropriate
awareness and training
necessary to accurately
detect and treat
firesetting behaviours.
As stated previously,
firesetting behaviours
are often multifaceted
and can significantly vary
between individuals. As
such, appropriate and
comprehensive screening
and assessment is
strongly encouraged in
order to accurately treat
the adolescent’s unique
concerns.
Youth firesetting
prevention & Intervention
programmes often use
frontline assessment tools to
determine the child’s risk for
repeating the behaviour. If
the risk is low, fire education
may be enough.
To date, few validated
screening instruments
are available for fire
professionals working within
the realm of adolescent
firesetting awareness
and prevention. There
is a national group of
professionals addressing
this issue.
If the child is at high risk
for repeating the behaviour
it is recommended that
a medical health and
neurological assessment
be administered as well as
a thorough investigation
of maladaptive behaviours
and emotional benefits
associated with starting
fires. Another crucial
component to the
assessment of adolescent
firesetters is a critical
examination of previous
trauma and maltreatment
exposure.
Professionals who
provide services to
adolescents with a history
of firesetting behaviours
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
• Jerrod Brown, MA, MS, MS, MS, is the Treatment Director
for Pathways Counseling Center, Inc. Pathways’ focus
is to provide programmes and services that benefit
individuals impacted by mental illness and addictions. He
is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute
for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS)
and lead developer and programme director for a
graduate degree programme in Forensic Mental Health
from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota. For a
complete list of references used for this article, email
[email protected]
• Mario L. Hesse, PhD, is a professor of Criminal Justice at
St. Cloud State University. Dr. Hesse’s areas of research focus on corrections, delinquency,
gangs, and media and crime.
• Michael Flanagan, BBA, BS, EMT-P, is an instructor for the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance
Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention programme. He has been in the fire service for 24 years,
as a fire investigator and the lead developer and program director of a juvenile fire setter
intervention program conducting intake and intervention development. He has served as a
consultant to the Dublin Institute of Technology for the development of curriculum for the
Irish Fire Service.
• Kathi Osmonson, (consultant) Deputy Minnesota State Fire Marshal, co-ordinates statewide
Youth Firesetting Prevention & Intervention (YFPI) programmes, which incorporate the fire
service, social services, mental health, juvenile justice, school staff and law enforcement.
Kathi has been in the fire service since 1987 and is currently a contract instructor for
the National Fire Academy (FEMA), and consults with the New Zealand Fire Awareness
Program.
• Erv Weinkauf, MA, serves as Criminal Justice Online Programme Co-ordinator at Concordia
University, Saint Paul. Erv is a retired of police chief and served 39 years as a military
and civilian law enforcement officer. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, pastpresident of the Association of Training Officers of Minnesota (ATOM), and guest speaker
for the Minnesota Chiefs’ of Police Association Leadership and CLEO and Command
Academies.
• Samantha R. Lee, MS, is a doctoral candidate and instructor of Psychology at Texas
Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. Her research has largely focused on chemical
dependence, eating disorders, spirituality, and trauma, most notably in relation to sex
trafficking.
• Hannah Brown, BA, is a mental health research assistant with the American Institute for the
Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). She will graduate from Macalester College in
2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience.
should also explore the youth’s level of empathy
and ability to demonstrate remorse for criminal
wrongdoing. Clinicians working within adolescent
treatment settings should also consider
incorporating questions into intake and screening
procedures pertaining to youth firesetting
behaviours.
IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS
Youth firesetting has important implications for
both clinical and forensic professionals working
within a variety of settings.
The causes, origins, and factors that
contribute to and maintain chronic firesetting
behaviours are frequently complex, multifaceted,
and largely speculative in nature.
As such, professionals who have an
increased awareness of possible risk factors,
situations, and life histories that may contribute to
these behaviours, may be in a better position to
identify and treat high-risk adolescent firesetters.
The primary purpose of this article was to
enhance the knowledge base of fire, forensic
mental health, correctional, and other criminal
justice and healthcare professionals working in
both clinical and forensic settings who may come
in contact with youth firesetters.
Professionals employed in such settings are
encouraged to increase their knowledge base
pertaining to this complex topic and establish
partnerships and connections with other
professionals and community organisations who
understand this subject matter.