Arson, << AHR suhn, >> is the crime of willfully and maliciously damaging or destroying a building or other property by fire or explosion. In most states of the United States, arson includes burning one’s own property to collect insurance payments on it. In some cases, arson is committed for revenge against a building owner or occupant. Other fires are set to destroy evidence of another crime, such as murder or burglary. Still other arson cases result from vandalism or pyromania, an uncontrollable urge to set fires (see Pyromania ). Arson is difficult to prove in most cases because fire can destroy almost all evidence of the crime. Also, most cities lack enough trained arson investigators.
The police and fire departments of most major cities have formed arson squads and are training their members to investigate cases of suspected arson. Insurance companies have become increasingly unwilling to pay for losses resulting from fire unless a thorough investigation has been made. Many fire departments have called for the adoption of stronger laws against arson.
