Some Wildfire Ignition Causes Pose More Risk of Destroying Houses than Others.

Many houses are at risk of being destroyed by wildfires. While previous studies have improved our understanding of how, when and why houses are destroyed by wildfires, little attention has been given to how these fires started. We compiled a dataset of wildfires that destroyed houses in New South Wales and Victoria and, by comparing against wildfires where no houses were destroyed, investigated the relationship between the distribution of ignition causes for wildfires that did and did not destroy houses. Powerlines, lightning and deliberate ignitions are the main causes of wildfires that destroyed houses. Powerlines were 6 times more common in the wildfires that destroyed houses data than in the wildfires where no houses were destroyed data and lightning was 2 times more common. For deliberate- and powerline-caused wildfires, temperature, wind speed, and forest fire danger index were all significantly higher and relative humidity significantly lower (P < 0.05) on the day of ignition for wildfires that destroyed houses compared with wildfires where no houses were destroyed. For all powerline-caused wildfires the first house destroyed always occurred on the day of ignition. In contrast, the first house destroyed was after the day of ignition for 78% of lightning-caused wildfires. Lightning-caused wildfires that destroyed houses were significantly larger (P < 0.001) in area than human-caused wildfires that destroyed houses. Our results suggest that targeting fire prevention strategies around ignition causes, such as improving powerline safety and targeted arson reduction programmes, and reducing fire spread may decrease the number of wildfires that destroy houses.

The Effects of Local Police Surges on Crime and Arrests in New York City.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) under Operation Impact deployed extra police officers to high crime areas designated as impact zones. Officers were encouraged to conduct investigative stops in these areas. City officials credited the program as one of the leading causes of New York City's low crime rate. We tested the effects of Operation Impact on reported crimes and arrests from 2004 to 2012 using a difference-in-differences approach. We used Poisson regression models to compare differences in crime and arrest counts before and after census block groups were designated as impact zones compared to census block groups in the same NYPD precincts but outside impact zones. Impact zones were significantly associated with reductions in total reported crimes, assaults, burglaries, drug violations, misdemeanor crimes, felony property crimes, robberies, and felony violent crimes. Impact zones were significantly associated with increases in total reported arrests, arrests for burglary, arrests for weapons, arrests for misdemeanor crimes, and arrests for property felony crimes. Impact zones were also significantly associated with increases in investigative stops for suspected crimes, but only the increase in stops made based on probable cause indicators of criminal behaviors were associated with crime reductions. The largest increase in investigative stops in impact zones was based on indicators of suspicious behavior that had no measurable effect on crime. The findings suggest that saturating high crime blocks with police helped reduce crime in New York City, but that the bulk of the investigative stops did not play an important role in the crime reductions. The findings indicate that crime reduction can be achieved with more focused investigative stops.

Specific risk factors of arsonists in a forensic psychiatric hospital.

Arsonists are often treated in forensic settings. However, high recidivism rates indicate that treatment is not yet optimal for these offenders. The aim of this case series study is to identify arsonist specific dynamic risk factors that can be targeted during treatment. For this study, we used patient files of and interviews with all patients that were currently housed at a forensic psychiatric hospital in the Netherlands (14 arsonists, 59 non-arsonists). To delineate differences in risk factors between arsonists and non-arsonists, scores on the risk assessment instrument the Historical Clinical Future-30 (HKT-30; completed for 11 arsonists and 35 non-arsonists), an instrument similar to the Historical Clinical Risk Management-20 (HCR-20), were compared. The groups did not differ on demographic factors and psychopathology. Concerning dynamic risk factors, arsonists had significantly poorer social and relational skills and were more hostile. Although this study needs replication, these findings suggest that the treatment of people involved in firesetting should particularly target these risk factors.

Closing the research-practice gap: factors affecting adoption and implementation of a children's mental health program.

Despite the availability of effective interventions, they are not widely used in community mental health centers. This study examined the adoption and implementation of The Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C), a program for juvenile firesetters developed at a teaching hospital and disseminated to community settings. Questionnaire data from mental health professionals were used to evaluate the roles of adopter, innovation, and dissemination characteristics in TAPP-C adoption and implementation. Results indicate that different factors are important at different diffusion stages. Moreover, they suggest that innovation characteristics may be particularly important to adoption, whereas adopter and dissemination characteristics may be more influential in implementation.

Burn Education Awareness Recognition and Support (BEARS): a community-based juvenile firesetters assessment and treatment program.

In response to the continued staggering statistics of fires set by juveniles and the devastating personal and property costs that are associated with these fires, the Burn and Shock Trauma Institute of Loyola University Medical Center, in collaboration with the State Fire Marshal's Office; the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance; and representatives from the firefighting community, law enforcement, emergency medicine and mental health, came together to create the Burn Education Awareness Recognition and Support Program. Through financial grant support from the International Association of Firefighters, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, and other private donations, the Burn Education Awareness Recognition and Support Program is able to provide a free resource to anyone who is concerned about a child playing with fire. Specially trained firefighters assess each child using the tool developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In 2002, we assessed 42 children; 29 of those children were referred through the courts. So far, none of the children treated in our program have returned to fire-setting behaviors.

Decreased juvenile arson and firesetting recidivism after implementation of a multidisciplinary prevention program.

OBJECTIVES: In 1999, we developed the multidisciplinary Trauma Burn Outreach Prevention Program (TBOPP), which focuses on the medical and societal consequences of firesetting behavior. The basis for this program development was a 17% increase in pediatric burn admissions. The purpose of this study was to determine the value of this trauma burn center prevention program from a financial, clinical, and recidivism perspective. METHODS: Juveniles (ages 4-17 years) were enrolled into our 1-day program on the basis of referrals from the county court system, fire departments, schools, and parents. The program's interactive content focuses on the medical, financial, legal, and societal impact of firesetting behavior, with emphasis on individual accountability and responsibility. The court system and fire departments tracked all episodes of firesetting behavior within their respective communities. Arson is defined as behavior with the intent to produce damage, whereas firesetting is defined as having no ill intent. The recidivism rate was determined using fire department and court follow-up records. Follow-up was from 8 months to 2.5 years. A random control group that did not receive TBOPP education (noTBOPP group) with identical entry criteria was used for comparison. Institutional review board approval was obtained. RESULTS: There were 132 juveniles in the TBOPP group (66 arsonists and 66 firesetters) and 102 juveniles in the noTBOPP group (33 arsonists and 66 firesetters). Fifty-nine TBOPP participants had a medical history of behavioral disorders. Property damage for arson averaged $4,040, with additional court costs of $1,135 per incident. Family environment was an independent predictor for risk of repeat offense. The odds ratio for risk of repeat offense in foster care was 17.9 (p < 0.05) as compared with two-parent homes. The recidivism rate was 1 of 32 (<1%) for the TBOPP group and 37 of 102 (36%) for the noTBOPP group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.02; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: When compared with the noTBOPP group, TBOPP participants had essentially no recidivism. The financial impact of arson behavior was over $6,000 per incident. The implementation of a juvenile firesetting prevention program has demonstrable benefits to the participants and to society.

What every nurse needs to know about ... juvenile firesetters. A report of the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Project.

With the number of juvenile firesetters growing each year and the amount of psychological and financial damage they create, it is essential that clinical professionals are aware of the characteristics surrounding juveniles who set fires. This study had two primary purposes: to educate nurses and mental health practitioners about the etiology and treatment of juvenile firesetters and to discuss a number of exploratory predictors, including age, gender, aggression, internalizing behaviors, level of deviancy, family dynamics, and sociability. Certain individual and environmental characteristics relate to varying levels of damage caused by the fire and the presence or absence of recidivistic behaviors. Firesetters are a group widely seen in the general population but not often identified or studied by clinical professionals. Therefore, this article has implications for the clinical practice of nurse practitioners and others who come into contact with this clinical population.

Preventing Halloween arson in an urban setting: a model for multisectoral planning and community participation.

Arson is a violent crime and a public health problem that causes injuries and deaths, destroys homes, and destabilizes neighborhoods. During the late 1970s, pre-Halloween pranks in Detroit, Michigan, turned destructive when hundreds of fires were set deliberately throughout the city; in 1984, a record of 810 fires were set during the Halloween period. In 1985, a city wide anti-arson campaign that involved the mobilization and training of thousands of community volunteers was begun in Detroit. This report describes the multiple components of the anti-arson intervention from 1985 through 1996 and changes in the incidence of Halloween fires. Both the decrease in annual Halloween arson fires after the intervention began and the inverse relationship between the number of volunteers and the number of fires suggest a causal effect. This study illustrates the capacity of an urban community to mobilize its residents and stakeholders, the importance of community participation and multisectoral partnerships in program planning and implementation, and the challenges faced in retrospectively evaluating an apparently successful, complex, community-based intervention.

Firesetting.

Firesetting results in a significant loss of life and property in the U.S. Child and adolescent firesetting accounts for a large percent of all firesetting occurrences. This article reviews the etiology and prevalence of firesetting in adolescence, presents case studies, and discusses approaches to management, therapy, and prognosis of adolescent firesetters.

Urban community intervention to prevent Halloween arson--Detroit, Michigan, 1985-1996.

Arson, the second leading cause of residential fire-associated deaths in the United States, accounts for approximately 700 deaths annually, destroys homes, and destabilizes neighborhoods. In Detroit, Michigan (1990 population: 1,027,974), arson accounted for nearly half (46.3%) of all fire-related deaths since 1984. During the late 1970s, pre-Halloween pranks traditionally associated in some parts of the United States with the night of October 30 turned destructive in Detroit, with hundreds of fires set throughout the city. By 1984, October 30 became known as "Devil's Night" and had evolved to 3 consecutive nights of arson on October 29-31; in that year, a record 810 fires were reported. In 1985, Detroit began a citywide intervention campaign against arson and vandalism during the 3-day Halloween period using data from an ongoing fire surveillance system maintained by the Detroit Fire Department (DFD) to target areas at high risk for arson. This report describes the intervention implemented by the city of Detroit from 1985 through 1996 and the impact of the intervention in preventing Halloween arson; approximately 34,000 volunteers participated in 1996, and the number of fires during this 3-day period decreased to the average number of fires for any other 3-day period during the remainder of the year.

Firesetting during the preschool period: assessment and intervention issues.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a methodology of assessing preschoolers involved in firesetting incidents, and outline the psychiatric implications of firesetting incidents in young children. METHOD: To outline The Arson Prevention Program for Children and present case vignettes. RESULTS: The heightened risk of burn injury or fatality in fires caused by young children is highlighted and practical suggestions for facilitating the immediate safety of the child and family are presented. CONCLUSION: Despite the popular notion that fire interest and play is relatively benign in young children, the cases show that, as with older children, firesetting in preschoolers can be associated with serious child and/or family psychopathology.

Child fatalities in Scottish house fires 1980-1990: a case of child neglect?

This paper considers 168 child (< 17 years) fatalities killed in house fires in Scotland. Data were obtained from the records retained by the procurators fiscal, as part of a survey into all Scottish fire fatalities during the period 1980 to 1990. Although these fires were generally perceived as being tragic "accidents," we conclude that they were largely a direct result of the activities of adults in the home. We analyze this in terms of contemporaneous supervision and the child-care environment. The role of alcohol in domestic fires is particularly important. Behavioral patterns of parents and caregivers are seen to be placing children in a very high risk category and fatality rate could be significantly reduced if behavior was modified to reduce the risk. Whether these considerations imply "neglect" is partly a question of definition. It is important to recognize that the fire safety message could usefully be integrated within a more general child care or family welfare scheme. Front line professionals in these fields are ideally placed to convey this message and to make a contribution towards reducing the risk of children being killed or injured in fire.

Secondary prevention of childhood firesetting.

OBJECTIVE: The Juvenile Fire Awareness and Intervention Program was established to develop and evaluate an intervention to be offered by fire fighters for children who set fires. METHOD: One hundred thirty-eight children, aged 5 to 16 years, with a history of firesetting participated in a randomized, controlled trial. The intervention involved education about fire safety and a behavior modification program designed to extinguish the desire to set fires through satiation. The frequency and severity of firesetting were recorded for 12 months after the intervention to measure outcome. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the frequency and severity of firesetting across all groups, with no additional improvement resulting from participation in the fire fighters' intervention. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence to suggest that the multicomponent program offered by trained fire fighters is effective in reducing firesetting. The marked reduction in firesetting across all groups suggests that fire safety education by the fire fighters is the most appropriate approach to this serious community problem.

[Social workers in the commitment procedure]. / Der Sozialarbeiter im Unterbringungsverfahren.

Regular inclusion of a social worker alongside the expertising physician whenever a judge has to decide on committing a person to a psychiatric hospital, is known in German legal practice as "Stuttgart model". Our experiences with this procedure are discussed on an interdisciplinary level. In our opinion this model agrees with the spirit of the new German law governing guardianship and care.

Collaborative treatment of juvenile firesetters: assessment and outreach.

Assessment, preventive intervention, and interdisciplinary collaboration between the fire department and mental health services are highlighted as key factors in the identification and treatment of juvenile firesetters and their families. An interagency pilot program in New York City is described and the importance of "aggressive" outreach is emphasized.