Arson

Arson, in the law of Great Britain and the United States, the act of wilfully and maliciously setting fire to a house, building, or other property. Under common law, arson was the wilful and malicious burning of the house of another person and was considered a felony punishable by death. The penalty for arson now consists of differing periods of imprisonment. The offence no longer comes under common law, but is now enshrined in statute. Fire-raising that threatens life amounts to the more serious offence of aggravated arson. If it results in the death of a person, it amounts to murder or manslaughter.