The Century Village firebug has struck 51 times since 2001, but the person's interest may be going up in smoke.
So far this year, someone has set fires three times in the 13,000-resident retirement community -- a significant decline from previous years. The suspicious small fires peaked in 2002 with 20 fires, nearly double the 11 fires the previous year. Last year, 17 fires were set, according to Pembroke Pines Police Cmdr. Keith Palant, who provided the statistics Wednesday.
Palant says he doesn't know if the numbers hint that the arsonist is losing interest.
''I hope it is,'' he said. ``Naturally I don't want to see anyone injured.''
The actual number of fires set is higher than 51 because some of those cases reflect multiple fires. For example, on June 13, the fire-setter struck at a half-dozen different locations within Century Village.
Many fires are in garbage cans and bulletin boards in laundry rooms. Police consider the incidents nuisance fires because no one has been hurt and the damage has been minimal. But authorities are concerned since any fire poses a danger.
Investigators aren't certain that it's the same person setting all the fires, but the cases share similar characteristics. Police won't release many details about the fires since they are under investigation. Police have no suspects.
Experts familiar with arsons say that it doesn't sound like the firebug is seeking profit or revenge -- two common motives for arson.
The person could be a pyromaniac, said Naftali Berrill, a psychiatrist and professor who teaches criminal behavior at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.
The definition of pyromania -- which is a rare psychiatric disorder -- is repeated deliberate fire-setting that causes the person to get emotionally excited, Berrill said. Pyromaniacs are fascinated with fire and feel pleasure or relief when setting fire and witnessing the aftermath.
''It doesn't have to be a huge fire to be a pyromaniac,'' Berrill said.
