an article from 2012...
Inside The Mind of an Arsonist — The psychology of a fire starter.
Jan. 2, 2012 — Authorities in Los Angeles are reporting they have a suspect in connection with the 55 fires that have been set in the city over the last four days. Upon his detention, the suspect told authorities “I hate America,” according to ABC News sources directly involved in the case, a statement that experts say demonstrates the sort of anger typical of a serial arsonist.
For the roughly one third of arsonists who return to the scene of the crime, the primary attraction can be a desire for control and power. When they return to watch firemen fight the blaze, an arsonist may be thinking, “I created this scene, I’m actually controlling what they’re doing because I started the fire,” Garrett said. “That’s a very powerful statement.” He added “it becomes a thrill, something that gives them purpose every day.”
However, in this case, that may not be the motivation, according to Robert Rowe the CEO of Pyrocop, Inc. “I don’t believe that this particular individual is sticking around to watch his work,” he said, adding that he thinks the culprit’s aim is most likely to “create as much damage and wreak as much havoc as possible.”
https://abcnews.go.com/US/mind-arsonist-head-los-angeles-fire-starters/story?id=15274504