Arson is the act of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, watercraft, or forests. The crime is typically classified as a felony, with instances involving a greater degree of risk to human life or property carrying a stricter penalty. Arson which results in death can be further prosecuted as manslaughter or murder. A common motive for arson is to commit insurance fraud. In such cases, a person destroys their own property by burning it and then lies about the cause in order to collect against their insurance policy.
The remains of Kyoto Animation Studio 1 after being set ablaze by an arsonist
Smokey Bear in poster from 1944.
Cars damaged by arson in Millwall, Tower Hamlets, London, during the 2011 England Riots
Image: THE SABOTEUR'S FAVORITE WEAPON IS ARSON NARA 515637
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products.
At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition point, flames are produced. The flame is the visible portion of the fire. Flames consist primarily of carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen. If hot enough, the gases may become ionized to produce plasma. Depending on the substances alight, and any impurities outside, the color of the flame and the fire's intensity will be different.
A burning candle
Bushman starting a fire in Namibia
A coal-fired power station in China
The balanced chemical equation for the combustion of methane, a hydrocarbon