Children main arson offenders in WA

Children as young as 10 are among the arsonists caught by West Australian police this summer.

Police have charged 34 people with 45 arson offences since December 1.

Of those charged, 30 were boys aged between 10 and 17.

Since the start of summer, 539 bushfires have been caused by arson in WA, of which 361 were in the metropolitan area.

The cause of a further 300 fires is undetermined.

Police minister Liza Harvey said the public had helped catch more arsonists than ever, with Crime Stoppers receiving 63 calls about firebugs, up from 35 for the same period last summer.

Ms Harvey said parents with children fascinated by fire should consider the government's Juvenile and Family Fire Awareness Program.

Detectives are investigating several bushfires across Perth under its Strike Force Vulcan launched in 2010.