Arson Fact Sheet

Arson is a criminal offense in which a person knowingly or negligently damages a building or property by starting a fire or causing an explosion. Arson is a form of vandalism. An arsonist is a criminal who can be punished by law for his/her act. An arsonist may be a pyromaniac (a pathological fire setter), a juvenile or any individual who deliberately and maliciously starts a fire. unfortunately, arson is one of the fastest growing crimes in the nation.

There are many different motives for arson. Revenge is the motivating factor behind almost half of all intentionally set structural fires in the country. The second most common reason is profit. other motives for starting fire may be for fun, attention, or to conceal other crimes.

Pyromaniacs exhibit severe deviations from normal behavior. They set fires for no apparent rational reasons. Most pyromaniacs are men. Pyromaniacs exhibit a severe inability to relate normally to other people. They are generally loners and often drink alcohol heavily. They often use exaggerated facial expressions to prove their innocence when answering questions. Pyromaniacs usually set fires in a consistent pattern such as time of day, repeating the same method or targeting similar places.

Many arsonists share some of the pyromaniac's personality traits. The major difference between the two is that arsonists set fires for specific reasons: profit, revenge, or attention. The types of fires set also differ. Their fires are generally set for a purpose, whereas a pyromaniac almost always starts fires for self-satisfaction.

There are many reasons juvenile fire setters set fires. Sometimes fires are set out of simple curiosity or boredom, but many times fire setting is an indication of underlying behavioral problems. Fire safety education, professional mental health therapy, or a combination of both, may be needed. Refer to "Matches and Lighters Fact Sheet" for further information regarding juvenile fire setters.

A person who is charged with the crime of arson can be prosecuted through the court system and, if convicted, can be punished with fines, penalties and/or imprisonment.