Clearing the Smoke: Screening and Assessment of Juvenile Firesetting

1. Clearing the Smoke: Screening and Assessment of Juvenile Firesetting Timothy Kopet, Ph.D. September, 2011 Oregon Juvenile Department Directors Annual Conference

2. How Big is the Juvenile Firesetting Problem? • 1 in every 7 fatal fires. • 58,600 fires in 2006 • >30% of fires that kill children • 180 deaths • $287.5 million in property loss • death of children <5

3. Fire Injuries Related to Juvenile-Set Fires: • 79.5% of Denver Children’s Hospital Burn Center inpatients. • 40% of Portland, Oregon’s Emanuel Hospital Burn Center children. • 2158 injuries per year.

4. How Big is the Arson Problem? • Arson fires are deadly. • Peak ages for arson arrests are 13-14 years old. • Juveniles account for more than half of the arson arrests nationwide.

5. Prevalence of juvenile firesetters world-wide: • 51-62% grades 4-8 in Surrey, B.C. • 11% teens in NZ • 29% of 11-18 year old European adolescents

6. National statistics -NFPA, 2009 • 2006: 14,500 structure fires started by children caused: • 130 civilian deaths • 810 civilian injuries • $328 million in direct property damage. • The ratio of reported fires to unreported fires is 1 to 3. • Nearly 63% of all fatal victims of fires set by children are 5 years of age and younger. Office of State Fire Marshal

7. Oregon statistics -OSFM, 2007 • 2010: 163 structure fires started by children caused: • 2 civilian deaths • $306,521 in direct property damage. • The ratio of reported fires to unreported fires is 1 to 3. Office of State Fire Marshal

8. Juvenile Arson Data • Half of all arson arrests in U.S. are juveniles. (USFA 2001) • In Oregon in 2006, 52% of all persons arrested for arson were under 18 years of age. (LEDS) • HEADLINE: February 4, 2010 Juvenile jailed in duplex arson. A 17 yr old was arrested and detained with two other men for setting fire to a porch. Office of State Fire Marshal

9. Oregon youth with fire by age - OSFM, 2010 # of Incidents Years of Age Office of State Fire Marshal

10. Age Groups 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Age 9 & under 37% 34% 31% 49% 29% 31% Age 10 & above 63% 66% 69% 51% 71% 69% Peak ages for arson arrests 13 – 14 years. Office of State Fire Marshal

11. Source of ignition – OSFM, 2007 Office of State Fire Marshal

12. Ignition source by age – OSFM, 2007 Office of State Fire Marshal

13. Gender – OSFM, 2010 Office of State Fire Marshal

14. Gender – OSFM, 2007 • Biological parents: 27% • Single parents: 29% • Two adults: 15% • Other: 6% • Foster parents: 3% • Unreported: 20% Office of State Fire Marshal

15. JUVENILE AND PARENT INTERVENTION DETERMINED BY ‘JUVENILE WITH FIRE’ SCREENING TOOL, 2009 Juveniles Parents Intervention Services • Determined to need fire education as the primary intervention for their behavior • Referred for further evaluation and community services Office of State Fire Marshal

16. Prevalence of Firesetting in the Child Clinical Population: • 1 in 5 outpatients • 75% of past firesetters • 44% of outpatients are matchplayers • higher rates for inpatients

17. What do we know aboutthe fires? Office of State Fire Marshal

18. Material first ignited – NFPA, 2009 • Mattresses • Bedding • Clothing • Magazines • Newspapers/Writing paper • Upholstered furniture • Vehicle Seats Office of State Fire Marshal

19. Month of Occurrence – OSFM, 2010 Office of State Fire Marshal

20. Location-OSFM Single and Multi family homes 254 Outdoors (park, yard, vacant lot, etc) 179 Schools 78 Commercial Building 23 Church 6 Other (misc) 44 Office of State Fire Marshal

21. New Developments • Don’t assign risk level • Avoid labeling youth as ‘firesetters’ • Youth with firesetting behavior • Youth misusing fire • Youth involved with fire • Avoid using the word ‘fireplay’ • Don’t worry about motivation Office of State Fire Marshal

22. Myths About Juvenile Firesetting: • Fireplay is normal. • Firesetting is a phase. • Firesetters are fire experts. • Children are naturally obsessed with fire. • Small fires are unimportant.

23. Facts about Juvenile Firesetting: • Firesetting is a public health issue. • There is no “firesetter test”. • Mental health services are only part of the puzzle. • Assessing the juvenile firesetter means assessing safety factors.

24. Youth-Set Fires • Significant & increasing numbers of youth-set fires (YouTube, internet social networking). • Youth set fires kill or injure people. • Youth set fire destroy property from $0 to $millions of dollar loss. • Adult arsonists started setting fires when they were young. Office of State Fire Marshal

25. Youth-set fires • Youth will often escalate their fires until they get caught. • The size of the fire doesn’t tell you why the youth set it. You don’t need to know motivation. Partners in intervention will determine motive. • All fires set by youth should be thoroughly investigated because you can’t predict what will happen at the next fire. Office of State Fire Marshal

26. Continuum of Evaluation Fire incident Fire history Fire knowledge Cognitive functioning-IQ testing Personality traits Developmental issues Psychiatric History Mental Status Family Functioning Social Functioning Stressors/crisis

27. What a fire investigator can do for you? • Provide you with photos of the fire • Provide you with a fire investigation report • Provide you with information on how victims/parents or caregivers responded at the scene of the fire • Provide you with how dangerous the fire could have been ie. apt complex

28. What can an arson investigator do for you? • Arson investigators are law enforcement officers with special training (Oregon State Police) • Many youth are arrested by local law enforcement. Police and fire reports give you different information.

29. What can a fire educator do for you? • Must be a DPSST certified Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist • The interventionist can provide the family with safety information. ie. smoke alarms, home escape maps • YOU should provide the interventionist with information about the youth---learning style, special needs • Screenings are administered AFTER the youth admits to the fire. • Screenings give you lots of info about the fire.

30. What the fire service cannot do? • They should not be asked to predict risk of future firesetting. • They cannot provide fire education to a youth without knowing what might trigger that youth to start fires. • They are not clinicians. They should not be counseling families.

31. Know the hat they wear Fire Investigators Arson Investigators Fire Educators NOT Clinically trained Predict risk Counsel

32. Yesterday and Today • What the Fire Service has been doing in Oregon • FEMA/Fineman • Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior • 130 subjects • Item response theory (IRT) • 7 Key Indicators-family, school, crisis, interpersonal relationships, behavior, prior firesetting history, environmental factors. • Identification of statistically significant behaviors • Development of a screening tool

33. Juvenile with Fire screening tool • Uniform tool used statewide among fire agencies • Not “risk” inventory/psychometric test • Referral tool (education or needs more intensive evaluation • Is focused on the fire incident

34. Screening tool • Does not predict risk for future firesetting or to be used in placement • Is not a pyschometric test • Firesetting is ALWAYS a HIGH RISK Behavior---A fire always has the potential to cause injury, death and property loss.

35. Screening • The fire service has a different mission than mental health providers. • Fire Service Mission—Educate on Fire Survival and Fire Safety • Mental Health Providers—Assess and Treat Youth and Families

36. Screening Tool Booklet • Intake Form • Youth Interview • Parent Interview • Parent Checklist • Scoring and Report Writing • Confidentiality Agreement • Safety Contract • Worksheets

37. Youth Interview • 11 questions focus on the fire • 3 questions school peers crisis in family

38. The fire • What was set on fire? • Where was the location of the fire? • How was the fire started? • Who was with the youth at the time of the fire? • How did the youth/parents respond? • How much planning was done?

39. Level I Youth • Where? locations near home, usually in bedrooms, closets, hiding places or forts • How? matches or lighters are readily available • What? tissue paper, leaves, small trash • Behavioral Response? tries to extinguish the fire or calls for help

40. Level I Youth • How does the youth feel? may show remorse • How much planning? may be impulsive • What about fire knowledge? limited knowledge about fire

41. What do we know about youth who give responses at Level 2/3? • Where? -Near or around home or places of importance to the community • What? -Objects burned are symbolic -own possessions or possessions of others -Objects burned may be significant to the community -Directed at a specific person for revenge, out of anger or to show power-- Fire may be used as a weapon.

42. Fires • How much preplanning? -The youth went out of the way to collect firesetting materials or may have a ‘stash” of lighters, matches -Accelerants are used. -Multiple points of origin.

43. Fires Is there a prior history? -Youth has a history of setting fires-or playing with fire (burning small objects) • Is there family conflict? -Marital discord, family discord, stress • Has there been a crisis? • How does the youth get along with peers? - Fires are set in a group with a ring leader - Peers have a bad influence on youth.

44. Fires • How did the youth respond? -The youth frequently stays to watch the fire. -Doesn’t call for help or becomes the hero. -Youth doesn’t show remorse. -Showed lack of feeling after fire or are really thrilled. -Thinks he/she can control fire

45. Parent Interview • Information gained from parent and child may differ • Gives you “clues” to know what fire education the family needs • Helps identify fire history/early fire experiences

46. Parent Checklist-Self Report • Keeps parents busy but is not busywork • Provides good information for the interviewer and for referral agency • Items are the “red” flags for at-risk kids

47. Red Flag-Behavior • Lies • Is physically aggressive or violent • Destroys own or others’ possessions • Is caught fighting or stealing • Expresses anger by hurting others/self • May be depressed Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior,University of Oregon 1998

48. Relationship to Others to Others • Child is victimized by others • Poor loser • Shows off for peers • Has trouble expressing feelings • Friends are a bad influence (older, more delinquent kids) • Has experienced rejection/isolation Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior, University of Oregon 1998

49. School Issues • May be hyperactive • Lacks ability to concentrate • Acts impulsively • Refuses to cooperate • Has special education needs, academically or behaviorally Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior, 1998

50. Family Issues • Crisis in family • Stability in home is lacking (moves frequently) • History of emotional, physical, sexual abuse • Power struggles with siblings and parents • Adult unavailable to child • Harsh punishment/lack of discipline in home Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior, 1998