Arson Screening

The issue of screening for arson is contentious and sensitive. It applies most to the selection of firefighters and personnel working in fire prone industries, such as forestry.

While arsonists have been identified in some forestry and related industries, it is the public attention on firefighter arson that seems most prevalent. Fire Brigades generally have adopted differing approaches to the selection of firefighters. To a greater or lesser extent, combinations of aptitude testing, medical assessment and criminal record checks are employed. Paid firefighters often undergo a more rigorous process involving formal interviews and more extensive assessment.

There is a serious concern among volunteer forces that the application of more stringent selection criteria would act as a disincentive to potential volunteers and subsequently deplete an already over-stretched resource. Arguably, however, the extent of the damage inflicted on a Brigade's reputation and the morale of its members when one of its own is found to be lighting fires, is equally devastating to potential recruitment programs.

It is noteworthy that there are currently no scientifically proven diagnostic instruments currently available that can accurately test for arsonist tendencies. Rather, two tools have been developed that are designed to assist officers responsible for the selection of firefighters to screen for personal characteristics that are associated with deliberate fire-setting. These instruments are profiled in the paper "Screening for arson - is it imminent? Is it possible?" which appears under "Publications" on this site.

I am now in the process of working on an extensive modification of the screening process to produce a more refined and user-friendly instrument. The new model will be able to be administered and scored in the field by trained fire personnel. It will be a cost effective and efficient means of seeking to insure the reputation of the firefighting community remains intact.

FireFocus DVDs - The Psychology Of Adult Arson

Designed to enhance understanding of adult serial arson, The Psychology Of Adult Arson is a series of introductory lectures developed exclusively by me for fire investigators, mental health professionals, law enforcement, legal and judicial practitioners, and any professional with an interest in adult firesetting behaviour. The information is presented in an easy to follow format, incorporating relevant case examples and evidence-based practice. When professional development is important, the three lectures contained in this set will provide the ideal opportunity to gain insight into the psychology of the adult serial firesetter. Each DVD in the series may be utilised as a stand-alone instructional guide or as supporting material for associated training.

Disc 1 - “Serial arsonists – myth busting” examines commonly held assumptions about adult serial arsonists and clarifies what we know about their characteristics and firesetting behaviour.

Disc 2 - “Motives for deliberate firesetting” reviews the motivation for firesetting and examines established links between offender and offence characteristics associated with various specific motives for arson.

Disc 3 – “Child fire-setting to adult arson: Is there a progression?” considers the link between childhood fire-play and adult arson. The three stages of child fire-starting are explored and the evidence for progression from child to adult firesetting examined.

For more information, please contact me.

Arson Research

Academic research can be perceived as a dry and difficult subject, especially by non-academics. So it is a passion of mine to ensure that as much as possible of the research I undertake eventually ends up in the public domain in an as accessible and easily-understood format as I can muster. I have been researching the issue of serial arson since 1995 and have published widely in both industry and peer-reviewed journals. My research is unique in that it has incorporated reviewing solved cases of arson in police records as well as interviewing over 140 offenders about their fire-setting behaviour. I remain actively involved in several research projects exploring the profile of bushfire arsonists, characteristics of regional fire-setters, and firefighter arson.

A recurring theme in arson research is the difficulty in locating reliable data sources from which scientifically valid studies can be built. There is no national database collating the type of information that is relevant to a study of the psychology of arson either in Australia or, indeed, internationally that I am aware of. Many individual arson squads and fire departments have commissioned small-scale studies specific to their locality to gain a better insight into the arsonists that are operating in their region. This information may then be used in policy development, community awareness programmes, target hardening initiatives, and general fire education and professional development sessions. Contact me to discuss your organisation’s research requirements.

Research Partners

I am interested in partnering with other professional groups or institutions in research and data gathering around problem firesetting. This remains a critical area of need, and I continue to be committed to contributing to the growing body of reliable knowledge as time and resources permit.

If you are interested in discussing a possible project, please contact Dr. Rebekah Doley, click here to email.