California legal term
Incendiary fire in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Incendiary fire” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “Incendiary fire” mean in California criminal law?
“Incendiary fire” means a fire that is deliberately ignited under circumstances in which a person knows that the fire should not be ignited. (Cal. Penal Code § 453)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.