Arson is the intentional burning of property—such as a building, car, boat, crops, or trees—with criminal or fraudulent intent. The criminal intent or motive behind arson is often insurance fraud—such as when the owner of property intentionally burns it and then files an insurance claim without disclosing the owner intentionally started the fire.

Arson is a felony offense under most state laws, but there are often different degrees of severity, depending on factors such as whether the fire results in physical injury or death. Arson is also a crime under federal law, which makes it illegal to use fire or an explosive to damage or destroy property used in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce.

In Kansas, arson is defined as the willful, malicious, and intentional burning or charring of property and is considered a serious felony offense. The severity of the charge can vary based on factors such as whether the fire caused bodily harm or death, the type of property that was burned, and the value of the property. Kansas statutes categorize arson into different degrees, with the most severe being aggravated arson, which involves cases where the fire or explosion recklessly places another person in danger of bodily harm or involves an occupied building or structure. Lesser degrees of arson may apply when the property damage is less severe or does not endanger life. Additionally, insurance fraud related to arson is also a criminal offense in Kansas, where individuals who intentionally set fire to their property to collect insurance proceeds can face fraud charges. Under federal law, arson is illegal when it involves property used in interstate or foreign commerce or affects such commerce. This means that if the property burned has a connection to commercial activity across state lines or international borders, federal charges may also apply.