Arson in Swedish Schools: A Societal Problem on the Rise

In 2007, Brandforsk – the Swedish Fire Research Board – initiated a research program to provide an overview of research needs coupled to ”arson” in Sweden. A total of six different Swedish universities and research institutes were involved in different projects in the research program. These projects involved both technical aspects fire detection and fire compartmentation as well as sociological issues related to individual neighbourhoods and fire-setters. The work presented in this paper represents an updated investigation of the school arson problem in Sweden and whether there have been any change in the numbers or characteristics of arson fires in Swedish schools over the years that have followed the previous project. The findings show that while a decline in school fires was seen between 2010-2015, this decline has disappeared and school fires in Sweden are back at all time high levels of approximately 500 school fires per year.