Tragically, the most likely victim of these fires are preschool age children. While they are most often the victims of their own acts with fire, they are also at risk when siblings or neighbor children misuse fire. Many believe that fires set by children must be hostile, violent acts committed by angry adolescents. This does occur. However, the vast majority of fires set by children stem from innocent fire play where the intent is to do no harm whatsoever.
Fire is a great contradiction in our society.
A child's primary method of learning is through what they see, not what is said. Never underestimate the power of an example set by an adult. Birthday candles, incense, gas stoves, barbecues, and campfires all minimize the dangers of even the smallest flame. And then there are cigarettes. While cigarette smoking adults do not cause children to play with fire, the example they give minimizes the dangers.