Juvenile firesetter arrests up
Juvenile firesetters accounted for more than half (55 percent) of the arson arrests made in 1994, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) “U.S. Arson Trends and Patterns” report, published annually. The statistic reflects a six percent increase over 1993 and an approximately 15 percent increase over the past 15 years, the report points out.
Among other data contained in the report are the following:
More than one-third of the juveniles arrested in 1994 were under the age of 15, and almost seven percent (6.8 percent) were under the age of 10.
Incendiary and suspicious fires caused $1.603 billion in direct property damage to structures and vehicles in 1994.
Incendiary fires and suspicious fires in structures increased slightly in 1994 but still remained at the second lowest total within the 18-year period the NFPA has been studying this subject. Nevertheless, the report notes, these fires still are the primary causes of fire-related property damage in the United States.
Only about two percent of set fires lead to convictions.
For more information, contact Julie Reynolds, NFPA, at (617) 984-7274, or Wendy R. Levinson at (617) 984-7275, or the Internet at http://www.wpi.edu/~fpe/nfpa.html.
