These children lack responsible decision making skills and are unconcerned about the potentially devastating impact of their actions on other people. The intervention for this type of fire is a structured program of community service and education. Community service assignments will vary case to case and can include community clean-ups, fire safety prevention projects for senior citizen centers or day care programs, or helping neighborhood groups address concerns of residents. Education is highly structured and supervised by the Volunteer fire educator at the Fire Department Training Center, consisting of a minimum of 12 sessions, each of which has home assignments. This intervention is supervised by Probation Officers and there is no cost for education and community service components.
Fire is the only object of mass destruction to which young people have access.
Firesetters are not arsonists or pyromaniacs. Fire setting evaluation, education and intervention services work. Insurance industry estimates weren't available, but tend to run slightly higher. Lighters cost about 70 each. Usually, matches can be picked up for free.