Sometimes teens will experiment with fire; however, most of the time they misuse it because they do not have a healthy respect for what it can do. They may do it on a dare from a friend or just because, not realizing the consequences of destroying the property of others with fire.

Occasionally there is a teen that sets fires for spite. They want to get back at someone who has been unkind, broke up with them or done something else to hurt them so they set something belonging to the offending party on fire. While this is not pyromania, children who are strategic firesetters, need the help of a trained child psychologist to help them work through their problems.