8 Characteristics of Teen & Serial Arsonists | Suspected Orlando Serial Arsonists Arrested | Steven Angle | Orlando Winter Park Counselor

By Published On: August 21st, 20143.9 min read

Two persons of interest were arrested for suspected link to 30 arson incidents in the Orlando area.  Since June 2014 there has been:

  • Eleven residential arson incidents in Sanford
  • Twelve in the Orlando area
  • Three in the Daytona area.

CFN 13 Interviews Total Life Counselor Dana West on Characteristics of Arsonists
Steven Angle, 40, a person of interest in nearly 30 arsons throughout Central Florida was arrested Saturday August 16, 2014 after a chase with Daytona Beach police and a suicide attempt, officials said. He is currently in the Volusia County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting an officer without violence and a parole violation out of Georgia. Angle’s half brother, Curtis Smith, 34, was charged with attempted murder and first-degree arson in connection with a mobile-home fire in Sanford on Aug. 8.

These arson incidents have caused fear and anxiety for many citizens living in the neighborhoods where these fires occurred. The questions many are asking is why would someone do this? What motivates a serial arsonist?

The serial arsonist defined as someone involved in three or more separate fire setting episodes with a characteristic emotional cooling off period between fires. This period may last days, weeks, or even years. Serial arson is the most serious type of arson due to apparent random selection of victims and unpredictable gaps between incidents.

Motive | Furthermore a serial arsonist does not have a separate or distinct motive for fire setting. It is a pattern of fire setting frequently encountered in revenge, excitement or extremist motivated arson.

Community effects | Serial arsonists often create a climate of fear in entire communities community leaders tend to compound the problem by pressuring law enforcement agencies to identify and quickly apprehend the fire setter often the arsonist evades apprehension for months while investigators become increasing frustrated by the lack of experience in handling these baffling cases.

8 Characteristics of Serial Arsonists

  1. The typical offender in this category is male 84% of the time.
  2. The age is generally younger. 50% of arson cases are under 18, and 31% under 15,
  3. The arsonist tends to be a loner, but a secondary party may have knowledge of his activities.
  4. Arsonists tend to be minimally educated and an underachievers. He or she generally has poor interpersonal relationships and is socially inadequate.
  5. Often he or she is unemployed and if the arsonist has an employment history it is erratic and involves little or no skill.
  6. Have a history of substance abuse.
  7. History of police contact/arrests for minor nuisance offenses.
  8. Lives near the scene of the crime. The offender walks to the scene of the fire and generally lives within one mile of the crime scene. He is very likely familiar with the crime scene and could justify his presence in the area. It is important to analyze the cluster centers of fire activity. The tighter the cluster the closer to the area of significance to the offender.

Why do teens or adult males start fires or cause arson? It is about power and control. Due to feeling emotional chaos internally it gives a false sense of power and control by causing fires or the arson on the outside. Watching chaos outside of self can bring a sense of calmness to one struggling with pain, anger, and sadness on the inside.

5 Typical Characteristics of Teen Fire Starters

  1. Low impulse control
  2. Lack of supervision
  3. Poor coping skills, lack problem solving skills and are unable to express or identify with feelings.
  4. Has experienced a recent crisis or trauma.
  5. They show a lack of appropriate remorse after setting a fire and will often deny or lie about the cause of the fire.

If 50% are usually teen males what does a parent need to do if they see their teen acting out with fire starting? Bring them in for individual and family counseling as soon as possible. Early intervention to learn coping skills to deal with emotional problems and issues can help your adolescent mature into a successful and happy young adult. Do not let denial, shame, or embarrassment stop you from receiving the help that your family and child needs.

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Author: Dana West, MSW, LCSW is an Orlando Teen Counselor & Addictions, Sexual Abuse Trauma Therapist with Total Life Counseling Center with offices in Southwest Orlando, East Orlando, Winter Park, Lake Mary & Clermont Florida. Total Life Counseling Center specializes in helping teens and parents and our experts can be reached at (407) 248-0030.

author avatar
Dana West
Dana Risucci-West, LCSW specializes in substance abuse, addictions, marriage, trauma and sexual abuse issues. Dana is passionate about helping others feel heard and validated and then helping them to identify the root of their problems. Dana's mission statement with her practice is to Speak the Truth in Love and help others develop a purposeful treatment plan to achieve wellness and healing. Dana is known to show her heart and all that she does and facilities a warm environment where her clients feel safe and nurtured.

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Total Life Counseling Center consists of Licensed Counselors, masters level therapists, Español counselors, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, business coaches, and image enhancement coaches who provide counseling for emotional, mental, physical and spiritual care including marriage, individual, family, substance abuse and more. TLC’s family, trauma and marriage experts have been interviewed on National and Local TV/Radio over 200 times for their expert advice on Fox News, OWN, WETV, ABC’s Medical Minute and more. Our skilled counselors are relational, approachable and specialists providing therapy services in the Central Florida area including: OrlandoWinter ParkMetroWest, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, East OrlandoLake Mary, and Clermont, Boca Raton Florida, and Dallas, TX.

About the Author: Dana West

Dana Risucci-West, LCSW specializes in substance abuse, addictions, marriage, trauma and sexual abuse issues. Dana is passionate about helping others feel heard and validated and then helping them to identify the root of their problems. Dana's mission statement with her practice is to Speak the Truth in Love and help others develop a purposeful treatment plan to achieve wellness and healing. Dana is known to show her heart and all that she does and facilities a warm environment where her clients feel safe and nurtured.

2 Comments

  1. john June 8, 2021 at 2:23 am

    I’m a retired Correctional Counselor from the California Dept. Of Corrections . I worked in a large men’s prison in SoCal, and retired after 27 yrs of service in 2007. I had a 30 yr. old young man arsonist on my caseload. He was adopted from a foreign country, and lived with his parents in Tustin, Ca. He started setting small fires around his home early on. He had a bad temper, and threw a chair at one of his special Ed. teachers. He had a low IQ, and only held two jobs as an adult. Neither last more than a month. He claimed he couldn’t pass the driver’s written exam, and rode his dirt bike every where he went.
    He lived in a board & care facility his parents paid for. He set fire to a large park in Orange County which was extinguished without injuries. He returned the next day, and started a fire in another section of the park, but was caught before he could leave. When the arson investigators searched his room they found a stack of Playboy magazines, and a book on wild land fire suppression. He was convicted of arson, and sentenced to five years in state prison. After serving his time he was committed to Atascadero State Hospital. I assume he’s still there. It’s been several years since I processed this case. I find it interesting how the above psychological description fit my my inmate’s background so closely.

  2. Jim West May 24, 2023 at 4:46 pm

    John thank you for your service and for your comments on this article.

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author avatar
Dana West
Dana Risucci-West, LCSW specializes in substance abuse, addictions, marriage, trauma and sexual abuse issues. Dana is passionate about helping others feel heard and validated and then helping them to identify the root of their problems. Dana's mission statement with her practice is to Speak the Truth in Love and help others develop a purposeful treatment plan to achieve wellness and healing. Dana is known to show her heart and all that she does and facilities a warm environment where her clients feel safe and nurtured.