Westport News

Anytime A Child Plays With Fire, The Outcome Can Be Deadly

• Fires are the leading cause of death in the home for children under 5 years old.
  
• The NFPA reports that of all those young children who died in home fires last year, one third set the fires that killed them.
  
• Children under 12 set almost half of all structural fires.
  
• According to the Shriners' Burn Institute, burn injuries are a major cause of death for preschoolers, and match play is a leading source of burn injuries.
  

The Curious Firesetter

• Typically are boys and girls ages 2 – 10?
  
• They lack understanding of the destructive potential of fire.
  
• Has ready access to matches and lighters.
  
• Usually unsupervised.
  

Troubled or Crisis Firesetter

• Mostly boys of all ages
  
• Have set two or more fires
  
• Uses fire to express emotion: anger, sadness, frustration or powerlessness
  
• May not understand the consequences of a uncontrolled fire
  
• Most likely will continue to set fires until their needs are met or identified
  
• Fire is their way to cry for help
  

Delinquent or Criminal Firesetter

• Usually teens with a history of firesetting, gangs, truancy, antisocial behavior, or drug or alcohol abuse
  
• Fires are set with the intent to destroy, or acts of vandalism and malicious mischief.
  
• Targets are typically schools, open fields, dumpsters, or abandon buildings
  

Pathological or Emotionally Disturbed Firesetter

• Can be boys and girls
  
• Fires may be random, ritualized, or with specific intent to destroy property
  
• Chronic history of school, behavioral, and social emotional problems
  
• Sets multiple fires