WHERE THERE’S SMOKE

Fiscal conservatives like to say that government never met a problem it couldn’t spend lots of your tax dollars trying to fix. Maybe so. But government, at its best, also is able to marshal existing forces to create a force greater than the sum of its parts.

Case in point: Gov. John Baldacci recently signed an executive order creating a Juvenile Fire Safety Collaborative made up of representatives of 11 state and nonprofit groups whose missions, in some way, involve fire prevention. The problem is serious – some 1,800 fires were set by youths in Maine during the last eight years. The governor notes those fires took 11 lives and caused $32 million in damage.

Though it has been 60 years since Maine had catastrophic wildfires like those seen in California, Montana and Wyoming – many of which began as incidents of arson – clearly, the impact of intentionally or accidentally set fires calls for something more than a visit by Smoky Bear. According to FBI statistics cited by agencies working with juvenile offenders, about half of those arrested each year for arson are under age 18; almost a third are under age 15.

According to Focus Adolescent Services, a comprehensive resource Web site aimed at the families of youth offenders, most child-set fires are “started out of curiosity, not malice.” Yet, “juvenile arson and youth-set fires result in more than 300 deaths and 2,000 injuries annually, and $300 million in property damage,” FAS reports.

Juveniles who commit arson may have serious underlying psychological problems, so early intervention is critical. Fires started by those under age 7 – usually boys – are motivated by curiosity. But some of those in the 8-to-12 age group are acting out psychosocial conflicts, FAS reports, and “they will continue to set fires until their issues are addressed.”

Those ages 13 to 18 who are intentionally setting fires “tend to have a long history of undetected fire-play and fire starting behavior,” and their episodes are “usually either the result of psychosocial conflict and turmoil or intentional criminal behavior. They have a history of school failure and behavior problems, and are easily influenced by their peers,” according to FAS. Predictive factors include a history of physical, emotional or sexual abuse; recent changes in family life such as death, divorce or a move; parental alcoholism and drug abuse; attachment problems; and history of behavioral problems such as stealing, bullying and cruelty to animals.

Just as cruelty to animals and bullying in youth suggests possible future domestic violence, juvenile arson portends seriously bad behavior in adulthood. The governor is wise – morally and fiscally – to focus on this problem.