We often say that it's normal that children "play" with fire. Many of us who are taking this class experimented with candles, and matches, and fire when we were children. Fire has a power and a fascination for many children. It important to understand that there are different levels of this fascination. And it's also important to understand the danger in all fire. A fire set by a child experimenting with a lighter can cause as much damage as a teen who intentionally sets a fire. But the ways we work with children may vary depending on the type of firesetting behavior it is.

Misuse Of Fire Happens On A Continuum

Why do children set fires? There can many different reasons. The boxes below show that we can place children and adolescents who use fire in three different categories: Curiosity, Definite Concern, and Extreme Concern. Click on each of the boxes below to read a profile of each of these types of firesetting behaviors. (NOTE: These links will "pop up" in another window. Just close the window to return to your original page.)

In Alaska, the recent devastating fire in Hooper Bay was connected to children playing with matches near the school. Check out this article in the Anchorage Daily News, August 15, 2006.

"Children faulted in Hooper Bay fire" by Alex DeMarban. Published: August 15, 2006
(http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/8081382p-7974285c.html)