Data were collected from a private forensic psychiatric consultation practice. Thirty consecutive psychiatric evaluations of pretrial adult defendants charged with arson came from court-referred requests that spanned a 4.5-year period from January 1987 to June 1991. The study sample included 23 men and 6 women who ranged in age from 23 to 52 years; 12 whites, 9 blacks, 7 Hispanics, and 1 Asian. Most defendants had significant psychiatric histories that involved either civil psychiatric hospitalization or substantial psychiatric treatment while previously incarcerated. About half of the sample were psychotic at the time of the arson. Eight defendants burned their own rome in the family home, their own residential property, or their own board and care facility. Six individuals had a history of firesetting or prior arson. Of 27 requests for competency to stand trial, 14 were believed not competent. A significant study finding concerned the substantial number of fires set by homeless, mentally-disordered, or substance- abusing individuals. 19 references and 3 tables