Fire Setting Behavior in a Child Welfare System: Prevalence, Characteristics and Co-Occurring Needs

Abstract

Fire setting is one of the most challenging behaviors for the child welfare system. However, existing knowledge about its prevalence and correlates has been limited to research on single programs. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services initiated a uniform assessment process at entry into state custody using a trauma-informed version of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS). By using information from these assessments it is possible to establish an estimate of the prevalence of fire setting behavior and identify clinical and functional correlates. A review of 4,155 children and youth entering state custody reveals an overall prevalence rate of 1.35%. However, the rate for children and youth, 10 years and older was 3.5%. The rate was higher for boys than girls but there was no relationship to race. In general, the children and youth who engaged in fire setting behaviors had much higher levels of needs, fewer strengths, and were lower functioning. Within group analysis suggests the children and youth who set fires represent a relatively homogeneous group.

Risk Factors for Future Offending in Child and Adolescent Firesetters Following a Fire Service Intervention Program

“…As such, these findings illustrate the importance of antisocial behavior as a consideration in firesetting research and intervention, as has been evidenced by previous research (Becker et al, 2004; Del Bove & Mackay, 2011; Lambie et al, 2013; Martin et al, 2004; Stickle & Blechman, 2002; Watt et al, 2015). Furthermore, the high prevalence of offending in this sample supports previous suggestions that firesetters fall on the severe end of the antisociality spectrum and represent a subpopulation with particularly high intervention needs (Lyons, McClelland, & Jordan, 2010; Martin et al, 2004; Stickle & Blechman, 2002), fitting within the life-course-persistent offending trajectory (Moffitt, 2018).…”

“…Findings of abuse/neglect and child-welfare agency involvement are consistent with literature showing that both family dysfunction and experience of abuse in childhood are associated with risk for antisocial behavior (Baglivio et al, 2015; Dargis, Newman, & Koenigs, 2016; Farrington, 2005; Fox et al, 2015; Hunt et al, 2017; Smith, Ireland, Thornberry, & Elwyn, 2008; Sousa et al, 2011). Furthermore, previous research has shown that many child and adolescent firesetters experience much more significant trauma than do non-firesetters (Lyons et al, 2010). Similarly, among a sample of adolescent firesetters, young people with more extensive histories of abuse and contact with child-welfare services engaged in significantly more firesetting behaviors than did those who had experienced a more stable upbringing (Del Bove & Mackay, 2011).…”

Using environmental criminology theories to compare ‘youth misuse of fire’ across age groups in New South Wales

“…This is because a substantial body of literature suggests that YMF manifests from intrinsic motivation arising from the inquisitiveness of children and the need for adolescents to experiment (Pinsonneault, 2002; Stadolnik, 2000). Research indicates an interest in fire typically emerges by the time a child is five years old due to increased levels of cognitive curiosity and natural childhood inquisitiveness (Bowling, Merrick, & Omar, 2013; Dolan & Stanley, 2010; Lyons, McClelland, & Jordan, 2010). Youths between the ages of six and 12 years are similarly intrigued by fire, and although their capacity to understand the world expands and cause-and-effect reasoning develops, this is not sufficient to comprehend the consequences of YMF (Pinsonneault, 2002).…”

Retrospective Study of Fire Setting Among Boys in a Child Welfare Sample

“…In a separate study, children who engage in fire-setting behaviors also have a higher incidence of witnessing domestic violence than non-fire-setting children (64% and 42%, respectively; Murphy, 2005). Lyons et al (2010) found that, in a child welfare sample, the children who had more traumatic histories prior to being in Department of Children and Family Services custody were more likely to engage in fire-setting behaviors than children with less traumatic histories.…”