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Arson
fires and fires where arson is suspected remain the single
largest cause of fire-related property damage in the Unites
States. In 1989, such fire caused 615 deaths and $1.5 billion
in damage to buildings. Half the building fires attributed
to arson occur in residential structures where the danger
to life is the highest.
Arson is a special problem in vacant buildings, buildings
under construction, schools, prisons, and jails. Arson is
also the cause of tens of thousands of car and truck fires
each year. |
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Eliminate
piles of brush, paper, leaves, trash, and other combustibles
on and around your property. |
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Lock
storage rooms - especially those containing flammable
liquids and other fast-burning materials. |
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Light
your property, and install locks on all doors and windows
in your home or business, making sure that the locks will
not interfere with a safe escape in the event of fire. |
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Be
familiar with the routine comings and goings in your building
or neighborhood and be alert to the unusual. |
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A
disproportionate number of arson crimes are committed by young
people. More then 40 percent of all arson arrests involve a
person younger than IO years old.
Some juvenile firesetting is unintentional the result of carelessness
or curiosity. But in some cases, arson is a young person's expression
of anger or a frustrated call for help.
There is no single hard-and-fast psychological profile of a
young arsonist. The negative behavioral characteristics they
often exhibit are shared, to varying extents, by many young
people, most of whom have never set a fire. Many juvenile arsonists,
however, do fall into one or more of the following categories-. |
- Youngsters
who are accident-prone, hyperactive, exhibit poor judgement,
or have trouble controlling their impulses. These young
people often start "play" fires that get out of control.
- Aggressive
youngsters with school-related behavior problems. These
young people may be loners or may be attracted to trouble-making
friends. They may have poor self-esteem or embarrassing
learning disabilities, and teachers should consider referring
them to individual or family counseling.
- Children
who set fires intentionally out of anger or frustration
may exhibit self- destructive behavior, steal, or be cruel
to animals. They require immediate help from a qualified
therapist.
- Young
people who have serve emotional or physical handicaps or
who are having trouble coping with family problems such
as death or divorce. These children may appear overly obedient
or unobtrusive.
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young children, firesetting is the symptom of a problem, not
the problem itself. but the symptom must be treated immediately.
Counseling and professional guidance can redirect a young person's
behavior and help him or her confront the underlying problem. |
| Download
Juvenile Firesetter Handout |
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