Why do people start forest fires? What punishment?

[Katzenfreund]

The news about forest and wild land fires in Australia got me thinking. The phenomenon is now international and is threatening the world's supply of oxygen. Many such fires are intentionally started by arsonists. So the question is, what’s the driving motivation for someone to set a forest on fire?

I can understand someone bearing grudges against humans and wanting to harm them by destroying their possessions e.g. by setting fire to their cars and homes.

But what could someone, even a crank, have against a forest? I assume that it’s not private land that the owner might want to exploit, it’s not the case. And in addition to nature’s inheritance, many houses are also destroyed in the process, homes of unknown, innocent, often poor people.

Poll
Furthermore, in the rare cases that an arsonist is arrested, the sentence seems inadequate. So, as a second question, what would you consider as apt punishment for a forest arsonist?

 

[Film Boy]

Planting trees for the rest of there lives I think makes sense. When there not doing that they should be locked up. My Opinion Only . FB

 

[NavyRet]

Life in prison without the possibility of parole while simultaneously being forced to care for burn victims 6 hours a day and re-pot seedlings for planting 6 hours a day (both 7 days a week with NO time off, ever).

 

[kirk1701®]

long imprisonment
Problem is catching the SOB and proving it.

 

[EMS]

only one option isn't enough for me....make him plant trees, give him therapy and then set him alight whilst he is hanging from a tree...all whilst serving a life sentence

 

[Katzenfreund]

Though I voted as FB for planting trees and indefinite prison as soon as he stops, I actually share the feelings of NR and ems. It is understood, of course, that the fire for burning him will be based on half-burned leftover logs from the forest he set on fire.

 

[nevyn68]

Being locked up and having to plant seeds in pots for eventual replanting in forests would be a start.
Having to spend a similar amount of time in a burns unit would also be good.

But having to sit through hours and hours a day of watching a tree not be set on fire would be great.

Messing further with their heads by burning them and then letting them heal and doing it over and over would be great too.

I'm a sadistic prick when it comes to dealing with people who break the law with these sorts of things.

 

[EMS]

good for you Nev I wasn't even thinking sadistically when I wrote my reply......god help us all if I did start thinking sadistically

 

[Film Boy]

Life in prison without the possibility of parole while simultaneously being forced to care for burn victims 6 hours a day and re-pot seedlings for planting 6 hours a day (both 7 days a week with NO time off, ever).

I like this...you got my vote FB :clap:

 

[Dr Pickles]

Finally hit the Drudge Report: State of emergency after warnings that fires in New South Wales may unite and threaten Sydney

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10392165/State-of-emergency-after-warnings-that-fires-in-New-South-Wales-may-unite-and-threaten-Sydney.html

 

[nevyn68]

And some of the politicians are blaming global warming for this problem.
They are complete lunatics.

The facts are that in the last 3 years most of the east coast has had above average rainfall.
This helped grass to grow. This helped the eucalyptus trees to produce more oil.
More grass and less back burning during winter along with a very windy start to spring and what do you have.

Dry grass and oil filled trees = Fuel for fires.

Global warming my arse. Normal conditions for Australia.

The real problem is that the Governments won't give enough money for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and such to burn off this grass and thus stop huge fires during spring and summer.

It's the Greens that really cause this problem with their ranting and raving about global warming.
Even if Australia participated in a carbon pricing scheme we as a country would only help the planet by less and .0038 degrees by 2100.
This is because there are only 23 million of us which is like less than .1% of the worlds population.

Adam Bandt is the worst of the lot. An ill-informed politician.

Together we stand divided we burn and right now we are burning.

 

[EMS]

I never answered the first part of the question.....why do people start fires? well, there are a few reasons why...the main reason is because they are fascinated with it, it does cast a spell the way the flames dance and change colours. Some people do it for money...being paid to "torch" a building or land for either insurance purposes or for a land developer. Some doing because they have no understanding of how quickly, how damaging or life threatening it can be. Then of course there are fires that are deliberately started as a prevention and a way of controlling the enviroment, or to clear the land for building purposes...what they don't predict is the change in wind direction or how dry the undergrowth is...which ultimately causes it to spread more rapidly and then get out of control. There was a mini tv series about certain workers in the uk going abroad and doing a little stint of work in other countries to see how they do things...one of them was a taxi driver, one a bus driver and one was a fireman who visited the south americas I think....It was interesting how the firefighters there had minimal tools to work with and could spend 18 hrs fighting fires because of people wanting to build a home and needed to clear land...of course this always seemed to end up with fires that were out of control

 

[nevyn68]

In the paper this morning one of the fires was started by an 11 year old and another by a 15 year old.

If convicted they are screwed for the rest of their lives as they will be put on the arsonist register.

Most boys have a fascination with fire but grow out of it. I know I did.

 

[EMS]

I haven't grown out of it but I don't go around starting fires just so I can watch the flames....there is just something about them that makes them alive...I could sit and watch a fire for ages, almost hypnotised by it