Arsonists have been charged in relation to bushfires lit in Queensland and New South Wales, earning the wrath of fire officials.

"It angers every firefighter": Arsonists face wrath of fire officials

With people deliberately lighting almost half the bushfires this season, experts are calling for more research to better understand arsonists – and stop them before their ideas catch alight.

For every 1000 people you pass on the street, one of them probably wants to light a fire and see the world burn, according to Melbourne University bushfire expert Janet Stanley.

However, there’s a simple reason she can’t confirm that estimate – because “there’s very little research on arsonists worldwide”.

“There have been no funds given into research to arson to date,” she told news.com.au.

But by understanding more about these fire zealots, Professor Stanley believes Australia can “stop fires being lit in the first place”.

PLAYING WITH FIRE

“There’s really no one main reason (why people start a fire),” said Prof Stanley, who has researched bushfire arson after her house burned down in 1983. “It depends on the circumstances.”

An arsonist might light a vegetation fire for attention, as a cry for help, to join a group or as a way to express anger at the rest of the world.

“Most fires are lit by youths aged 12 to 24,” she said.

“Unfortunately, 10 per cent of people who we think light fires are 10 years old or younger.

“Older men are also prone to lighting fires. They often have a history of child abuse and neglect. They probably dropped out of school at a very early age, living on the edge of society, likely to be unemployed, not engaged in the community.”

Ironically, some of these older men are often attracted to volunteering at their local fire brigade.

Prof Stanley doesn’t think arsonists are evil.

“In most cases they don’t intend to cause this chaos, they might just like to make a fuss,” she said.

Prof Stanley said the line between intentional and unintentional fires was often “blurred”.

“People are drawn to fire as an attempt to get power.

“Fire has always been of interest to humans. Historically, fire is part of our human make-up.”

Only lightning causes more fires than arsonists, giving an insight into the enormity of the issue.

ARSONISTS HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

“There’s almost no treatment for people who light fires,” Prof Stanley said. “And there’s no support to prevent them doing it again.”

The academic is advocating for a different approach entirely – stopping an arsonist before their actions get to a critical and life-threatening point.

“It’s all very well to put out the fires lit by arsonists, but you should be able to stop them before it comes to that,” Prof Stanley said.

“There are patterns of when we know fires are more likely to occur,” she said.

“From 4-6pm – after school is finished – and Saturday night – when kids are bored,” are the most likely times bushfires will start.

Most of the time, arsonists live a “short bicycle ride from where they do it (start a fire)”.

“Most communities have a pretty good idea about who’s lighting the fires.

“School teachers often know the problem kids, know who’s been lighting fires around the school and in rubbish bins and things.”

With greater research and funding, she believes these people can be stopped before a town goes up in flames.

MORE RESEARCH DESPERATELY NEEDED

Research into arson was a “totally neglected area”, Prof Stanley said.

“There’s a great deal more that we can be doing. We should be collecting much clearer data.

“Not all fires are officially recorded, let alone being investigated.”.

She said only through funding would researchers be able to build a bigger picture of bushfire arson.

“We need to understand how to better protect and understand these people (arsonists). Sometimes they are quite happy to be caught – they feel safer in jail.”

FIRE AND CLIMATE CHANGE

”There’s always been people lighting fires,” said Prof Stanley.

“But the difference is now, under climate change conditions, they just take off. They’re almost impossible to put out and unless there’s heavy rain.

“Bushfires are increasing every year in number and severity.”