The discussion notes that humans have had a long and intense fascination with fire. Arson was a new and deadly category of criminal activity once it was realized that the powers of this phenomenon could be harnessed and manipulated to suit the needs of the individual who wished to control it. Deliberate firesetting is one of the most malevolent and potent forms of maladaptive behavior generated by the criminal mind. It is also one of the least understood and infrequently studied behaviors due to problems such as design complications, biased sampling, unreliable participants, and reporting errors and inconsistencies. Nevertheless, the data indicate that no typical arsonist exists, although certain characteristics may be common among those who engage in deliberate firesetting activities. In addition, the motives for arson are subjective and diverse; revenge or anger is an extremely common motive for arson. Moreover, arsonists generally are not mentally ill. It is important for applied criminologists, psychiatrists, or psychologists not to become overly preoccupied with specific diagnoses or labels such as pyromania. Instead, they should consider the sum total of variables involved in the behavior, and progress from there to obtain the most thorough and complete assessment possible. Table, appended profiles of the pyromaniac and the hired torch, and 66 references (Author abstract modified)