Fires started by children amounted to close to 50,000 fires across the U.S., accounting for 80 civilian deaths, according to 2011 data, the latest available, from the National Fire Protection Association, an organization that works for fire prevention regulations and public safety.
Nearly half of home structure fires—fires involving mostly residential buildings—are started by someone between the ages of 4 and 6, according to the Association.
“Kids don’t understand the extent of a fire,” said Pam Kulbarsh, a nurse who performed in-the-field psychological evaluations on criminals including arsonists. “They look at how big it is rather than how much damage it causes and how many people it hurts.”
Children who set small fires at home soon progress to larger fires, says Dr. N.G. Berrill, a forensic psychologist who has been court-appointed to treat arsonists. Younger children were more likely to set fires in homes, while older children and teenagers are more likely to set fires outside, according to the Association.
“Children start small with small fires. Then they get bigger,” said James Burns, president of the Fireman’s Association of New York, an organization that instructs volunteer firefighters. “It could be the building owner. “So then it’s dumpsters and then it’s vacant buildings. Then it’s buildings with people in them.”
Adolescents are attracted to firecrackers and explosives, says Berrill. Parents should supervise and monitor these interactions with fire.
Children use fire to draw attention to a stress in their life, according to the American Psychological Association. Such children could be facing depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or family stress.

“We all like to watch fires,” said Pam Kulbarsh, a nurse who performed in-the-field psychological evaluations on criminals including arsonists. “But it’s the draw to the fire that you have to keep pulling the kid back from.”

The American Psychological Association suggests fire-safety education, medication consultation and therapy. If untreated, the child fire-setter will only continue.

If appointed to a psychologist, the treatment will entail individual therapy. That would focus on anger, impulsivity, and consequences of arson, says Dr. N.G. Berrill, a forensic psychologist who has been court-appointed to treat arsonists.

“The general purpose of therapy is to reinforce pro-social behavior and build self- confidence,” said Berrill.

Doctors prescribe anti-depressants or anti-psychotics if they determine the child is seriously disturbed.

In 2003, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit compiled a profile of a Firefighter-Arsonist.

The FBI study found that firefighter-arsonists were mostly young firefighters eager to put their training to use and to be seen as heroes to their department and to the people of the community they served.

“He’s creating a job for himself, he’s seen as a hero and he’s getting notoriety for it,” said Kulbarsh, a nurse who performed in-the-field psychological evaluations on criminals including arsonists.

The Unit found that most firefighter-arsonists use unsophisticated methods for fire starting and tend to start fires with matches or cigarette lighters.

Here’s the Unit’s profile of a typical firefighter-arsonist:
• White male, age 17-25
• A dysfunctional family: with one or both parents missing from home during childhood. If from a home with both parents, the emotional atmosphere was mixed and unstable.
• Poor marital adjustment. If not married, still living at home with parents.
• Lack of stable interpersonal relationships.
• Interested in fire service because it provides an arena for excitement, not for the sake of public service.
• Suffers from Alcoholism, childhood hyperactivity, depression, borderline personality disorder, and suicidal tendencies.
• Average to higher intelligence but poor academic performance.