This collection of articles indicates the limited research and clinical development work completed to date concerning the nature of firesetting and appropriate clinical responses to firesetting behaviour and arson carried out by people with IDD. It is hoped, nonetheless, that these papers will be of assistance to practitioners working with people with IDD in a range of settings by providing some relevant knowledge and guidance in approaching the perplexing issue of firesetting behaviour – as well as pointing to areas of potentially fruitful future enquiry in this field.