569.065. Negligent burning or exploding — penalty.
Letting a fire spread or cause damage due to carelessness is a crime
In Missouri, if you act with criminal negligence and a fire or explosion damages someone else’s land or property, you can be charged—even if you didn’t mean for it to happen.
1. A person commits this offense if, through criminal negligence (meaning serious carelessness), they cause damage by either:
- (1) Starting a fire or explosion that damages someone else’s property or land (like woods, crops, or grasslands); or
- (2) Letting a fire on their own land spread onto someone else’s property.
2. This is a class C misdemeanor.
Contact us online or call (314) 900-HELP to talk with a Missouri criminal defense lawyer.
