Fires change lives. Fires can cause others terrible, painful burns or death, destroy property and homes (even yours.) Setting a fire can change YOUR life. Did you ever think that you could be arrested or owe large amounts of money to pay people back for what was lost in the fire that you set? You could face criminal charges and go to jail.

Review the Florida Laws and their punishments to see how your life could change with one fire.

Arson and Criminal Mischief,
Florida Statute, Chapter 806

• 1st Degree Felony
  • Punishable up to 30 years
  • Arson to structure that could be occupied
• 2nd Degree Felony
  • Punishable up to 15 years
  • Arson to vehicle, vessel, boat, tent, etc.
• Up to a 3rd Degree Felony
  • Punishable up to 5 years
  • Preventing or obstructing extinguishment of fires (tampering with a fire extinguisher)
  • False alarms of fires
  • Fire bombs
  • Criminal mischief; willfully damage property
• Arson (806.01)
  • 1st Degree Arson: had reasonable grounds to believe structure was occupied by a human being; 1st degree felony; punishable up to 30 yrs.
  • 2nd Degree Arson: any tent or other portable building, and any vehicle, vessel, watercraft, or aircraft; 2nd degree felony; punishable up to 15 yrs.
• Preventing or Obstructing Extinguishment of Fire (806.10)
  • Interferes in any manner with the use of, any equipment used in the detection, reporting, suppression, or extinguishment of fire; 3rd degree felony; punishable up to 5 yrs.
• False Alarms of Fires (806.101)
  • By outcry or the ringing of bells, or otherwise, makes or circulates, or causes to be made or circulated, a false alarm of fire; 3rd degree felony; punishable up to 5 yrs.
• Fire bombs (806.111)
  • Possesses, manufactures, transports, or disposes of a fire bomb; 3rd degree felony; punishable up to 5 yrs.
• Criminal Mischief (806.13)
  • Willfully and maliciously injures or damages by any means any real or personal property belonging to another; up to 3rd degree felony; punishable up to 5 yrs.

One fire can change your life and the lives of many others. Think about these consequences before ever picking up a match or a lighter.