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Issue 5 of this bulletin looked at some of the background factors that can lead to problem firesetting in children and adolescents. The present bulletin discusses findings from two recent studies of children and firesetting. Understanding the origins of firesetting behaviour in young people is important due to the high number of fires they are responsible for. In the United States, between 60 and 75 per cent of illegal fires are set by persons under 18, and 40 to 50 per cent of all arson arrests involve juveniles.

Issue 12 of this bulletin noted Becker et al.'s study which looked at a link between firesetting and animal cruelty. In another recent study, Singer and Hensley (2004) drew on a 1988 FBI study by Ressler, Burgess and Douglass which found a possible link between firesetting and serial murder. Using a case study approach, Singer and Hensley found that a number of serial murderers had engaged in repeated firesetting in an attempt to relieve frustration resulting from childhood humiliation and rejection by close family members.

A new report from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the UK (Palmer, Caulfield & Hollin 2005) provides a comprehensive review of the literature on interventions with arsonists and young firesetters, and examines the range of interventions in place across the UK. The results of this review can help the efforts of Australian fire services to prevent firesetting behaviour. The report highlights the importance of assessment to inform the establishment of appropriate individualised interventions.

Issue 14 of the BushFIRE arson bulletin focused on a new report from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the UK (Palmer, Caulfield & Hollin 2005) examining interventions used with arsonists and young firesetters. This issue looks at the types of interventions discussed in the report. Palmer et al. identified two basic approaches used in intervention programs: educational and psychosocial.

Most studies investigating motives for arson have noted the phenomenon of fires being lit by the very people entrusted by the community with fighting them. The incidence of malicious firesetting by firefighters is invariably portrayed in the literature as quite rare, although direct research is limited. The NSW police service's Strikeforce Tronto investigated some 1,500 suspicious fires from 2001 to 2004. It resulted in 50 people being charged, 11 of them volunteer firefighters.

A reliable profile of a 'typical' firefighter arsonist could be a useful tool for investigators or senior brigade personnel. It would assist in narrowing the scope of an investigation or providing a basis for further examination during the recruitment process. Two attempts have been made to establish profiles of firefighters who commit arson: by the South Carolina Forestry Commission and the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit.

At the height of the 2001-2002 fire season, when volunteers firefighters were stretched to their limit, one of their members was busily making their job harder. From January 2001 to March 2002, 'Ben' (not his real name) lit at least 25 bushfires across the state. Ben's case provides an example of how a firefighter can cross the line and start creating the fires he is entrusted to extinguish.

The following new titles have been added to the growing collection of arson-related literature that can be found in the searchable bibliographic database. In addition to these titles, the database provides access to major bushfire arson news articles.

The Investigations Unit of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) conducts investigations into the cause and origin of bushfires which have caused damage to property, require significant resources to suppress, or where suspicious or other circumstances warrant an investigation. The following explanation of cause determinations in bushfire investigation will provide a background to forthcoming BushFIRE Arson Bulletins on analyses of RFS investigation data.

BushFIRE Arson Bulletin No.20 looked at some of the factors that influence cause determination in bushfire investigations. The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has provided the bushfire arson project with an extract from its investigations database for analysis. This extract covers 466 fires occurring from 2001/2002 to 2003/2004.

This Bulletin continues the analysis of bushfire investigation data provided by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). An examination was conducted of fires the RFS determined to have been deliberately lit. The cause determinations of fires were analysed with the rationale given for the determination. Each fire was given a causal factor reflecting the basis for making the determination of deliberate lighting. The total number of cases derived from these causal factors exceeded the number of fires, as some fires had more than one causal factor contributing to the decision of deliberate lighting.

This Bulletin continues the analysis of bushfire investigation data provided by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). For this Bulletin, an examination was conducted of fires determined by the RFS to have been the result of burning activity or machinery and equipment. Together, these types of fires accounted for just over 11 per cent of those investigated. As for deliberate fires, the cause determinations were analysed with the rationale given for the determination. More than one causal factor was noted in some cases.

As recent issues of the Bulletin have suggested, investigating the causes of bushfires is a challenging exercise. It is often difficult to make definitive assessments when so many volatile variables, such as climatic conditions, come into play.

The previous Bulletin reported on research showing how elemental analysis can be used to link matches with fire scenes and suspects. This issue looks at another recent study that demonstrates the potential for forensic science to assist arson investigators.

Profiling: '... an educated attempt to provide investigative agencies with specific information as to the type of individual who committed a certain crime...' (Geberth 1996: 710).