WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has issued a special report that explores the causes and characteristics of school fires.
The leading cause of fires in schools nationwide is “incendiary or suspicious activity,” accounting for nearly half of structure fires at middle, junior high and high schools and for 32 percent of structure fires at all schools, according to the USFA’s “School Fires.”
USFA, an entity of FEMA, compiled national data on all school fires, including those occurring outdoors on school property.
According to the report, the majority of intentional fires at schools are set by young people experimenting, playing pranks or responding to dares, but adolescents who continue to set fires represent a growing problem. The others are accidental fires, starting in kitchens or in heating systems.
