Utah criminal charge
Abandonment of a fire in Utah
Abandonment of a fire is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-104.5. Its classification is not fixed: Utah assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-104.5.
What is the penalty for abandonment of a fire in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 90 days (Abandonment of a fire - no property damage — Applies when a violation of Subsection (2) results in no property damage.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $750 (Abandonment of a fire - no property damage — Applies when a violation of Subsection (2) results in no property damage.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Abandonment of a fire - property damage under $1,000 — Applies when a violation of Subsection (2) results in property damage less than $1,000 in value.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Abandonment of a fire - property damage under $1,000 — Applies when a violation of Subsection (2) results in property damage less than $1,000 in value.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Jail / prison | Abandonment of a fire - property damage $1,000 or more — Applies when a violation of Subsection (2) results in property damage that is or exceeds $1,000 in value.; up to 364 days — except up to one year for class A misdemeanors under Title 76, Chapter 5 (Offenses Against the Individual), other than Sections 76-5-102.9, 76-5-107.5, 76-5-113, and 76-5-303, which remain at 364 days (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204(1)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Abandonment of a fire - property damage $1,000 or more — Applies when a violation of Subsection (2) results in property damage that is or exceeds $1,000 in value.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
Applies to current (2026 General Session).
How is abandonment of a fire classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abandonment of a fire - no property damage | Class C Misdemeanor | Applies when a violation of Subsection (2) results in no property damage. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-104.5(3)(a) |
| Abandonment of a fire - property damage under $1,000 | Class B Misdemeanor | Applies when a violation of Subsection (2) results in property damage less than $1,000 in value. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-104.5(3)(b) |
| Abandonment of a fire - property damage $1,000 or more | Class A Misdemeanor | Applies when a violation of Subsection (2) results in property damage that is or exceeds $1,000 in value. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-104.5(3)(c) |
Common questions about abandonment of a fire in Utah
Is abandonment of a fire a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: abandonment of a fire ranges from a Class C Misdemeanor to a Class A Misdemeanor in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-104.5.
Abandonment of a fire - no property damage: Class C Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-104.5(3)(a)) · Abandonment of a fire - property damage under $1,000: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-104.5(3)(b)) · Abandonment of a fire - property damage $1,000 or more: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-104.5(3)(c))
What are the penalties for abandonment of a fire in Utah?
Penalties for abandonment of a fire in Utah depend on how it is classified — from a Class C Misdemeanor up to a Class A Misdemeanor — with the ranges set by Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Utah statute covers abandonment of a fire?
Abandonment of a fire is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-104.5 (Abandonment of a fire - Penalties).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.