Firestarter. It's a song by Prodigy, it is a book by Stephen King turned into a movie starring Drew Berrymore, it is a fascination that occurs in popular culture due to its common presence in normal human psychology. People have a primal interest in fire.
According to the The U.S. Fire Administration - Federal Emergency Management Agency, it is an interest the takes hold at a very young age. In their Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Handbook, it is explained.
"Most children experience fire interest between the ages of three to five," according to the manual. "Interest can be expressed in a number of ways. For example, questions about fire may be asked. These question often focus on the physical properties of fire, such as how hot a fire is or what makes a fire burn. These questions are similar to questions children have about other physical elements in their environment. For example children may ask why the sky is blue or what makes water wet.
"Children also express their interest in fire through their play. They may wear fire hats, play with toy fire trucks, and cook food on their toy stoves. This type of play is healthy and provides children with ways to explore and understand fire as a productive and useful part of their lives. It also represents the first signal to parents that it is time to educate their children about fire."
According to Camille Colbert, a Northern Health specialist in child fire-setting, there are several signs of this behaviour that parents might recognize in their child. She listed some examples as:
- Over curiosity of fire
- Hoarding matches or lighters
- Singed or scorched material in or around the home (toilet paper, paper, toys, grass, various other burnt materials)
- Lying about involvement with fire
"If you become concerned or aware of these signs, it is important to provide an intervention to the youth by meeting with the fire department," Colbert said. "Children and youth need fire safety education in order to curb the behavior."
Cleveland's MetroHealth Burn Center agreed that such behaviour should not be thought of lightly.
"Children who play with matches or lighters are frequently injured, sometimes severely, resulting in life-long scars and physical limitations," said a written statement from the facility. "Don't assume your child will outgrow this phase. Intervene earlier to curb this behavior or it may be too late. Injuries or death can result from one firestart. Don't let the next fatality be one of your loved ones."
