What act is considered as arson under California law?

Under California law, arson is specifically defined as the intentional act of setting fire to, or causing to be burned, property. The key element of this definition is the intent behind the act; it must be a deliberate action taken by an individual to ignite or cause combustion, which distinguishes it from other related offenses like negligent actions or improper handling of fire hazards.

The focus on intentionality means that actions taken without the purpose of causing a fire do not meet the criteria for arson. For example, deliberately damaging structures does not fulfill the arson definition if fire is not involved. Similarly, negligent actions, such as accidentally causing a fire through carelessness, do not constitute arson since there is no intention to set a fire. Finally, improper disposal of fire hazards, while potentially dangerous, also lacks the intentional element required for an arson charge. Therefore, the correct understanding of arson hinges on the intentional act of setting fire to properties.