Wednesday 14 April
13.00hrs
The findings of a unique research project into why some young
people show a dangerous interest in starting fires will be
presented this week.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) commissioned
psychology academic Donna Lovell, University of the West of
England, to look at the issue of fires started deliberately by
young people. Last year in the AF&RS area 10% of deliberately
started fires involving damage to property were attributed to
people under the age of 18.
Over the course of her two year study which was jointly funded
by Great Western Research, Donna worked closely with staff at
AF&RS who provided access to 17 young people and families
involved with their Firesetters scheme. Since 2004 specially
trained staff from AF&RS have carried out more than 350
one-to-one interventions with young people referred to the
service.
During the research Donna carried out in-depth studies into the
families involved in the Firesetters scheme, interviewing both the
young people and their guardians. She also surveyed 321 school
children aged between 11 and 16 years old from across the South
West to find out how common firesetting behaviour is among the
general population. The results revealed that 75% of boys and 53%
of girls admitted involvement in fire related activities.
Donna explained: “The findings from the study suggest that many
children and adolescents have an interest and involvement in fire,
with some youths experimenting with fire and others being involved
more frequently and taking more risks.
“Many of the families I interviewed had multiple problems and
their lives were very chaotic. Firesetting can also be tied up with
friendships, and seeking approval.”
Donna Lovell’s research has already been recognised at the Gore
/ Fire Research Excellence Awards 2009 and has been presented to
the Chief Fire Officer’s Association.
Jane Carvell, Youth Intervention Manager at Avon Fire &
Rescue Service explained: “Donna’s work is extremely important, not
only here in Avon, but nationally as juvenile firesetting in the UK
is an area in which there has been very little research.
“Over the last six years we have trained 30 members of staff to
carry out one-to-one interventions with young people referred to us
from a range of agencies. These may be very young children with an
interest in fire play, through to teenagers with serious arson
habits, but in many cases our staff have identified serious
underlying issues that haven’t been picked up by any other
agencies.
“While we have enjoyed successes through the Firesetters
programme, the insight this research provides will allow us to
focus our efforts more effectively on interventions that are proven
to work. The fire and rescue services have a duty of care to the
community and this valuable research will help us take steps to
prevent fires with tragic outcomes happening in the first
place.
Donna Lovell’s PhD thesis was presented at the British
Psychological Society’s Annual Conference in Stratford-on-Avon on
Wednesday 14 April.
If you would like to know more about Avon Fire & Rescue
Service’s Firesetters Scheme call 0117 926 2061 extension 8269 for
an confidential and informal discussion or see the Firesetters
area of this website.
Download the leaflet for more information about
firesetters (PDF 668 kb, opens in a new
window).