| Fires can start for a variety of reasons. Some fires | | | | using sophisticated techniques ranging from chemical |
| have natural causes, or start because of the | | | | analysis to trained dogs. The evidence they collect is |
| spontaneous combustion of natural materials. | | | | used in court to prove the original cause of the fire. |
| However, in some cases, fires are set intentionally to a | | | | The penalties for arson are associated with the intent |
| home, another structure, or to wild areas. A person | | | | of the arsonist as well as the extent of property |
| who sets a fire deliberately or who causes a fire | | | | damage and bodily injury. Arson and its penalties can |
| because of extreme negligence may be charged with | | | | be classified with varying severity: |
| the crime of arson. | | | | - First degree arson: occurs when a person is severely |
| Motives and Intent | | | | injured or killed by the fire. |
| A person may intentionally start a fire for a variety of | | | | - Second degree arson: occurs when a large amount |
| reasons. | | | | of property is severely and irreversibly damaged |
| - Malice. The person may set the fire as an attack or | | | | - Misdemeanor arson: a person is charged is a |
| an act of revenge against another person, sometimes | | | | misdemeanor for less severe cases of arson. |
| with the intent to seriously harm or kill the other person. | | | | Additional charges can include destruction of property, |
| - Insurance fraud. A person may commit arson as a | | | | breaking and entering, and criminal mischief. |
| way to collect insurance compensation from the | | | | - Death penalty. In rare cases, the death penalty has |
| valuable insured property they lost in the fire. | | | | been assigned as a punishment in arson cases which |
| - Hide evidence of another crime. Fire can destroy | | | | result in multiple deaths. |
| much of the evidence associated with another crime | | | | - Psychotherapy for mental illness. Mentally ill patients |
| - Vandalism. Sometimes a vandal might set a property | | | | are sometimes sentenced to extensive psycho- and |
| on fire without the express purpose of burning a | | | | behavioral- therapy or committed to a mental |
| building. | | | | treatment facility. |
| - Entertainment. Some criminals get a thrill out of | | | | Arson is a serious crime that can come with serious |
| setting fire to another person's property. | | | | penalties. For more information about arson, its |
| - Mental Illness. Some people with untreated mental | | | | associated punishments, and other serious crimes, visit |
| illnesses might set fires as part of their condition. | | | | the website of the Appleton criminal attorneys of |
| Penalties and Punishments | | | | Kohler & Hart. |
| After a fire, experts investigate to determine its cause, | | | | |