Minors started Arson House Fire
Kids Started A Fire In The Neighborhood and It Caught My House On Fire; What Can I Do?
According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 50,000 fires occur that are the result of youths playing with fire. Those only account for the incidents reported to U.S. municipal fire departments annually. These fires account for an average of 80 deaths, 860 injuries and $235 million in damaged property on a yearly basis. Young children are just as likely to play with fire and set fires intentionally or unintentionally as older children and teenagers.
Youth Fire Statistics
Some may be surprised at some of the statistics involving children and fire play. For example, statistics from 2007-2011 say:
- Boys are more likely than girls to play with fire.
- Younger children typically set fires inside the home.
- Older children and teenagers usually set fires outside the home.
- More than half of the incidents where children were playing with fire involved lighters as the source of the flame.
- 39% of the fires that involved play began in the bedroom [i].
Arson and Intentional Fire Setting
Fire departments in the United States responded to approximately 260,600 fires, which were started on purpose in 2010 alone. As a result of these fires, 390 people lost their lives, 1,340 people were injured and there was $1.2 billion dollars of damaged property [ii].
Types of Arson
In the state of California, there are two kinds of arson that are acknowledged. Arson can be intentional fire setting that is either simple or aggravated. In simple arson, a person has willfully and maliciously set a fire to a forest, plot of land, any type of building, or other kind of property. If that person has set the fire with the intention of causing physical harm to another person, the crime will be seen as aggravated arson.
California Arson Attorney
If someone has intentionally set a fire that caused damage to you or your property, some type of arson has taken place. It can be a complicated situation if a fire was set elsewhere in your neighborhood but eventually reached and damaged your property. The attorneys at Kia Law can help you understand your rights. Call 855.662.2723 or contact us online today.