This is frightening, but it is not a psychiatric disorder. A person with pyromania does not set fires for money, to express political beliefs, to hide signs of a crime, or to show anger. It is not pyromania if someone sets a fire in response to a delusion or hallucination. It is also not pyromania if the person setting the fire is in the manic phase of bipolar disorder, has a conduct disorder, or has an antisocial personality disorder. A true pyromaniac just likes fire.
Most pyromaniacs are male.
Although children set a lot of fires, pyromania usually occurs in adolescence or adulthood. People with this disorder may have poor social skills. Many have learning problems. Pyromaniacs tend to plan in advance to start fires. Many of them like to watch any fire they can.