Pyromania
An Obsession with Fire
A Convicted Serial Arsonist
Why do some of us fall in love with fire; the way it moves, changes,
threatens? What forms can a fascination for fire take? From an innocent
curiosity for fire, shared by most children, to one that is more sensual
in nature or to the psychopath serial arsonist who has an obsession to set
destructive fires.
This journey into pyromania end in a secure metal institution deep in
the English countryside. Here we find Bob, a convicted serial arsonist
serving three life sentences. 32 years ago, Bob heard a voice in his head
telling him to burn everything in his path. Bob is the culmination point
of our journey into pyromania. To appreciate his story fully, we need to
start where every fascination with fire begins.
Playing with Matches
Every child plays with fire at some stage. The problem starts when
the parents don't stop it in time and the fire-fighters have to take
over One evening's ride with the Merseyside blue squad
demonstrates the scope of the problem.
In an area of less than 1.5 million people, fire crews are called to
nearly 3,000 fires a year. Annually, the fires cause over 40 million
pounds in damage, 560 injuries and at least fifteen deaths. Children and
juveniles are responsible for up to 80% of all the property fires,
making them the most destructive class of fire-setters in the world. The
scale of juvenile fire-setting was first recognised in the US.
Psychologist Ken Fineman was one of the pioneers addressing juvenile
arson "We found that at least 50% of arson fires, in various areas,
were child related".
The Juvenile Arsonist
Ashley started setting fires at the age of eleven, after his father
left home "I was amused by the flames and the colours and
everything".
Ashley and Reece
Reece, sixteen, also started setting small fires after his parents
split up "When my mum got a new boyfriend, she sort of turned
against me and that's when I started drinking and smoking drugs an'
that. I was going out doing what I wanted to do".
As is usual in juvenile fire-setting, one of Reece's little
fire-experiments got out of control. Most juvenile arsonists never know
what's hit then until its too late. A small fire in a dustbin burned the
doctor's surgery down. After Reece was arrested he had to participate in
a treatment programme. "If it hadn't been for the course I would
either be in prison or dead at the moment". Today Reece has become
friends with the firemen. He wants to become a fire-fighter himself.
Both Ashley and Reece stopped setting fires after attending the
treatment programme for fire-setters, But, there are more kids out there
that cost the economy 1.8 billion pounds a year in fire damage.
Determined action is being taken to deter juvenile arson from a very
young age. Fire crews are now even making home visits to child
fire-setters in an attempt to stamp out the problem before it begins.
For those who don't go through a fire-setting programme, there is a
less destructive, yet much more bizarre way, to channel an obsession for
fire. Fire can grow into a way of life without, necessarily, being
destructive.
The Fire Lovers
After the sun sets in Los Angeles, a strange breed of people come out
of their shells. A group of people who have found an alternative way to
deal with their pyromania. Ted Ward, leader of 'The Burn Club' says he
was adopted by fire early in childhood. Around two dozen
fire-enthusiasts learn the latest tricks from Ted Ward every Wednesday
at Midnight.
At about the same time, in Portland, Oregon another, similar, group
of people meet up with their leader who calls himself 'Fire Ninja'. He's
a lawyer during the day, but at night he's a fire-arouser. Getting
sexually aroused by fire is an exceptional yet clear sign of pyromania.
Aroused by Fire
Marvin Casey is a legendary arson investigator who believes pyromania
is essentially sexual in nature. Aside from their sexual orientation the
fire-performers ultimate purpose with fire usually lies in showing-off.
The Ted Wards and the Fire Ninjas of the world have found a creative
outlet for their fire fascination. In a sense they are pyromaniacs
without being a menace to society. They also share a sense of respect
for fire with another group of people who engage with fire on a daily
basis, but their sole purpose is to fight it.
The Fire-Fighters
Fire-Fighters tackle over 2.5 million fires in the US and the UK
every year. Its no wonder they've become modern day heroes. But, there
is a question that they don't like you to ask; are they driven by a
secret fascination with fire themselves? Spending just a day with the
L.A. Fire Department, one gets a sense of the devastation even a small
fire can cause.
In order to understand how fire behaves, the basic training of
fire-fighters also includes the various ways of how to set fires, but
what happens if a pyromaniac becomes a fire-fighter, for all the wrong
reasons?
The Serial Arsonist
Joseph Wambaugh
Joe Wambaugh used to be a detective sergeant for the LAPD for 20
years. Today, he is an internationally famous writer. While writing
'Fire Lover', a story about a massive series of arson fires in
California, he became intimate with the mindset of a serial arsonist. He
explains "Several years ago, in LA, there were are series of fires
that were set, one of which burned down 65 houses. These fires,
seemingly, had no pattern and sometimes there were three a day. Finally,
a fire was set at a hardware store in Southern Pasadena that killed four
people including a three year old boy. This was a massive fire that
people just couldn't move fast enough to escape".
Marvin Casey had an idea. This series of fires had been set from Los
Angeles north to Fresno where, coincidentally, there was a convention of
arson investigators. Wouldn't it be strange if an arson investigator
turned out to be the serial arsonist? Marvin Casey followed his
gut-instinct and came up with a list of 55 names.
It took a few years and another symposium in L.A. to identify a
suspect who's identity would send shock-waves through the fire-fighting
community for years to come. John Leonard Orr was a legendary arson
investigator. The idea of him being the serial arsonist who started
hundreds of fires was a complete shock to those who worked closely with
him.
John Orr
Joe Wambaugh "John Orr had wanted to be a police officer but his
application was turned won when he failed a psychiatric test. His
fingerprints were on file from the application and these would prove to
be his downfall".
Marvin Casey "John Orr was a pyschopath and he was driven
psychologically, like a fire-bug". On the face of it, judging by
his appearance and reputation, John Orr was an unlikely psychopath.
Orr's darker side was about to be revealed in an ironic twist.
In a stunt worthy of a Hollywood thriller, John Orr tried to create
the perfect alibi, by framing himself! He wrote a novel, and his
manuscript is a study of the mindset of a psychopathic serial arsonist.
His protagonist leads a double-life and gets a power-trip from setting
fires and fire also turns him on sexually. In addition to the fires, the
manuscript also revealed more bizarre crimes that even the investigators
were unaware of. Wambaugh "He described a situation where a
fire-fighter raped and killed a girl".
John Orr's hunger for fame and recognition finally brought him down,
Orr was found guilty of four homicides and he is now serving life
without parole. It is estimated that he may have set as many as 10,000
fires. He has never admitted to any of them.
Even serial arsonists are not, necessarily, pyromaniacs as many of
them set fires for other reasons. Candidates like Bruce Lee and Paul
Keller set many fires for revenge or out of spite.
CREDITS: All of the above information came from the UK Channel 4
"Pyromania" documentary produced by Firecracker Films.
Further Reading:
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Fire Lovers -
Joseph Wambaugh |
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Pyromania,
Kleptomania and Other Impulse Control Disorders - Julie Williams |
