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Author
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Title
Children and Fire.
Coporate
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emmitsburg, MD
Journal
Topical Fire Research Series, Vol. 1, No. 6, 1-3, January 2001
Distribution
For more information about Topical Fire Research Series contact: Website: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/nfdc/tfrs.htm AVAILABLE FROM: U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 16825 South Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727. Telephone: 301-447-1000. Website: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/
Keywords
children | ignition source | residential buildings | fire statistics | home fires
Identifiers
nearly 250,000 fires in 1993 were thought to have been set by juveniles (<19 years of age); the bedroom is the area of the home where most juvenile-set fires originate, and matches are the most prevalent ignition sources; juvenile arson is increasing-53% of all arson files are started by children under 18; categories of juvenile firesetters: Up to age 8 - curious/accidental firesetters: 8-12 - intentional firesetters, 13-18 - crisis firesetters (those with a long history of fireplay; motivated by psychosocial conflict or intentional criminal behavior), 15-18 - a small minority of firesetters who are severely disturbed, often with criminal backgrounds