Statistics of this Growing Problem

Juvenile firesetting is a serious community problem. There is an increasing trend in the number of fires set by children. Let’s take a look at the frightening statistics:

Who are the firesetters?

• Children set 50% of all fires.
• Over 40% of juvenile firesetters are under age 5, and 70% are under age 10.
• Fires set by children account for approximately 250,000 fires per year.

What are the juvenile arson statistics?

• 55% of all U.S. arson arrests are children under the age of 18.
• Almost half of these arrests are children 15 and under.
• As many as 6.8% of juveniles arrested for arson are under the age of 10.
• The crime of arson has the highest rate of juvenile involvement.

What is the result of fires set by juveniles?

• It is the 2nd leading cause of all fatal home accidents.
• Firesetting is the largest cause of home deaths among children.
• Almost 34% of the victims of child-set fires are the children themselves.

These statistics may be low, because many fires that cause only minor damage or injury go unreported by the parents.

Where and why does firesetting happen?

• Younger children typically set fires in their home, often hiding in their bedroom – a location with numerous flammables.
• Older children often play with fire outside of the home. It is also more common for older children and teens to light fires to damage property. Common locations for these fires are dumpsters, forests, parking lots, and schools.
• Most children who set fires lack fire safety education, but more importantly, appropriate parental supervision.
• Children mistakenly believe that they can control the fires that they set.
• Once a fire is set, it only takes about two-minutes for the flame from a single match to set an entire room on fire, and less than five minutes for that fire to overtake a residential building.