Research

The articles listed are not necessarily the opinion of SOS FIRES. We present these to offer the most balanced perspective on youth firesetting behaviors we can.

SOS FIRES "FAMILY INTERVIEW STUDY" 2003 - This report is the result of an extensive family interview performed by SOS FIRES as a research project. It is an extension of the 2002 Family Interview Study and shares the findings from 117 families who had prior participation in youth firesetting intervention programs.

SOS FIRES "FAMILY INTERVIEW STUDY" 2002 - This report is the result of an extensive family interview performed by SOS FIRES as a research project in 2002. The findings from 60 families interviews are shared. All families had prior participation in youth firesetting intervention programs.

SOS FIRES JUVENILE FIRESETTING RESEARCH PROJECT 2000 - This is a summary of the research project exploring the child firesetting/juvenile arson problem over a 10 year period of time.

YOUTH FIRESETTING - A 4 YEAR STUDY - This is an exploration of 551 youth who participated in an intervention program. Their behaviors are examined by developmental age and motivation for behahavior.

ADOLESCENT FEMALE FIRESETTING - AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - By Robert Stadolnik, Ed.D and Theresa Manela, LICSW - This is an exploratory analysis of adolescent female firesetting behaviors. Whether firesetting among girls is on the rise or a greater awareness has evolved is an interesting question. Regardless, this analysis will shed important light on this compelling issue.

IDENTIFYING JUVENILE FIRESETTERS: A SURVEY OF OPERATING PROCEDURES, RISK ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS, AN D THE CHARACTERISTICS OF JUVENILE FIRESETTER INTERVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES - by Arthur Mastrangelo - The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Juvenile Firesetter Handbook provides risk assessment tools to assess future firesetting involvement. The fire service, because of its role in fire suppression and investigation, is often the initial contact for these juveniles. This study examines the characteristics, operations, and utility of the Handbooks assessment instruments. Findings were that while programs operate according to FEMA's guidelines, fewer than half utilize FEMA's assessment instruments.

INTENTIONAL FIRES 2012 - by NFPA Fire Analysis and Research - This report provides a look into the data collected through NFIRS regarding intentionally set fires. This includes information on youth set fires. It also illustrates challenges in deciphering national data on youth firesetting due to the way youth firesetting behavior is interpreted in fire reporting. To be fully informed and knowledgeable about using national data, this is an important document to read.

CHILDREN WITH FIRE 2010 - by NFPA Fire Analysis and Research - This report chronicles the national picture on youth firesetting behavior as reported through NFIRS. NFPA's reports are an interpretation of the data collected in NFIRS. The NFPA report on "Intentional Fires 2012" provides insight into the different categories used in NFIRS to characterize firesetting behaviors. Both of these reports are important to understand the national youth firesetting issue.

THE INTERACTION BETWEEN JUVENILE SCHOOL FIRESETTING AND BULLYING: AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS - by Amy Sharp, Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, and Janet Boberg - This is an exploration of indicators common to school firesetting and regarding their experiences with bullying and being bullied. Study subjects are between the ages of 5 and 17. Explore this emerging topic on youth behavior and how it relates to youth firesetting.

PARENTS OF PRESCHOOL FIRE SETTERS: PERCEPTIONS OF THE CHILD-PLAY HAZARD - by Carol Pollack-Nelson, Donna M. Faranda, Don Porth, and Nicholas K. Lim - This article, published in the "International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion" explores the parental perceptions of youth firesetting behavior among preschool age children. The dnagers which parents perceive can dictate the access, supervision, and ultimate safety of the children under their care. Read on to s ee what this unique article shares with the interventionist.

AN EXAMINATION OF JUVENILE FIRSETTING AND THE REASONS KIDS SET FIRES - by Scott Burlin - This paper examines the motivational characteristics of kids firesetting behaviors. It will explore and compare previous categorization of motivations using a population of firesetting youth in a noted program.

INTERNATIONAL APPROACHES TO REDUCING DELIBERATELY LIT FIRES: PREVENTION PROGRAMMES - by Samantha Haines, Dr. Ian Lambie, and Associate Professor Fred Seymour - The aim of this research was to identify and review the implementation, operation, key elements, and success of programmes in place to prevent deliberately lit fires in New Zealand and overseas. This report explores the prevention programmes currently operating for people who deliberately light fires in new Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, United States of Amermica, and Canada. It also investigates what experiences arsonists in New Zealand may have with prevention initiatives over the course of their life and their perception of what might prevent people from deliberately lighting fires. This report is 156 pages.

AN EXPLORATORY CASE STUDY OF THE SELF-REPORTED MOTIVATIONS OF STUDENTS WHO SET SCHOOL FIRES - by Janet Boberg - This is a dissertation written by an expereicnes interventionist with the Phoenix Fire Department. It explores the admitted firesetting behaviors and motivations of 8-17 year old students who set fires in their schools. It contrasts the findings of today with those of past studies with some interesting results and some compelling recommendations, particularly to schools. The paper is 230 pages.

JUVENILE FIRESETTING: AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE - by Damien Smith - A new perspective from the United Kingdom is offered in this article. It questions the way in which professionals respond to the youth firesetting issue, drawing on some significant, existing research.

FIRES CAUSED BY CHILDREN PLAYING WITH LIGHTERS: A CPSC REPORT - by Linda E. Smith, Michael A. Greene, and Harpreet A. Singh - How effective was the child-resistant lighter legislation that went into effect July 1, 1994? The Consumer Product Safety Commission has released a study that shows wheter or not engineered safety features really work.

JUVENILE FIRESETTERS: AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS - by Michael Slavkin Ph.D. - This is a doctoral thesis that explores the use of the U.S. Fire Administration interview/screening forms and their application in a county-wide program in Indiana. It provides a very interesting perspective and some important considerations if you now use, or plant to use the U.S. Fire Administration "Fire Risk" forms.

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES REDUCE CHILDRENS' INVOLVEMENT WITH FIRE - by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Research from the University of Pittsburgh suggests that structured treatments designed specifically to intervene with children who set fires are more effective in the long term than a brief service in which a firefighter visits the child's home, a commonly used intervention for child firesetters.

ARSON AND JUVENILES: RESPONDING TO THE VIOLENCE - by Paul Schwartzman, Hollis Stambaugh, and John Kimball - This article was funded by the U.S. Fire Administration. It looks at a sampling of children from across the United States and investigates the impact of international firesetting by teenagers, ages 14-18.

COMPARABLE JUVENILE FIRESETTING INTERVENTION PROGRAMS: A UTILIZATION-FOCUSED EVALUATION - by Rodney Hitzfelder - This report examines the intervention programs in San Antonio, Texas and Portland, Oregon. The two programs are compared and contrasted. Histories and profiles of a typical client of each program are detailed for comparison purposes. Extensive interviews with key personnel from both programs proved relevant data for comparative purposes and for critical recommendations. The final recommendation section of the report puts forth a mechanism to begin sample testing the effectiveness of current programs with the hope that future researchers will continue to move towards an effective system.