Hot tots

Focuses on juvenile fires. Average age of juvenile firebugs; Gender differences.

By PT Staff, published on March 01, 1996

PYROMANIA

The combustible combination of kids and matches causes billions of dollars in damage each year.

So it's disconcerting to hear that fire starters may be plying their trade at an ever earlier age. In New York City, the average age of juvenile firebugs has fallen to 6.7 years old, reports Daniel E Higgins, a supervising fire marshal.

At the same time, fire setting is becoming an equal-opportunity pastime. "It used to be pretty much restricted to boys," says Higgins. "Now girls are lighting fires for the same reason boys are--they're angry, or they want to get back at somebody"

Some good news: the overall number of juvenile fires is holding steady.

PHOTO (COLOR): A toddler