Arson's the crime of deliberately and maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires caused by lightning for example. The study of the causes's the subject of fire investigation. Fires set to the property of another or to one's own property may be for an improper purpose, such as to collect insurance compensation. Legal definitions Common law Arson (or fire-raising, as it's known in Scotlan… (More on Arson)