what are the profiles of arsonists?

Their fascination with flames has almost no limits. The arsonists, mostly adult men, are actually poorly known. Most of them escape psychological follow-up. The one we will call Pierre, agreed to tell what was going on in his head at that time: “I put a lighter, then two, then three. It was an impulse stronger than me, I had to set the fire. I thought it was beautiful”.

The drive is stronger than the risks incurred for oneself or others. Because pyromania is in fact a mental disorder that falls into the category of sexual perversions. The sight of fire brings joy to the arsonist. But arsonists are outnumbered by arsonists, non-mentally ill individuals who set fires intentionally, with motives such as revenge or destruction. Every year in France, 38% of human-caused fires are started intentionally.