Abstract Arson is the willful setting of fire to public or personal property to cause harm or reap financial benefits. Motives for arson include vandalism, excitement, extremism, revenge, profit, and crime concealment. The most important aspect of arson investigation is the establishment of motive. The elements of proof for arson include motive, evidence of ownership, malicious intent, and presence of fire. Each case of arson is investigated individually based on the motive of the arsonist. Profiling arsonists involves establishing the characteristic traits that different offenders possess based on their motives. During investigations, leads can be obtained from onlookers, victims, and physical evidence such as forced doors, broken windows, and the presence of ignition devices at the scene of the crime. Introduction According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), arson is any willful attempt to burn a public or private building with or without the intent to defraud. Arson is a crime because it causes loss of life and destruction of property. In that regard, it carries harsh sentences. Arson laws vary from state to state. However, they all group arson by degree. For instance, first-degree arson is different from second-degree arson. First-degree arson includes fires in homes and churches while second-degree arson involves fires in vehicles and deserted buildings. The major types of arsonists include the pyromaniac, the juvenile firesetter, the revenge firesetter, the thrill-seeker, the fraudster, the terrorist, and the crime-concealment firesetter. The main motives for arson include vandalism, revenge, extremism, profit, excitement, and crime concealment. Elements of Proof for an Arson Fire The elements necessary to prove arson include malicious conduct, presence of fire, and ownership of property. First, the intent behind the burning must be malicious; the aim of starting the fire should be causing harm (Gardner & Anderson, 2016). In arson cases, intentional or reckless conduct is sufficient proof for a fire to be categorized as arson. Second, an incident is described as an arson only if actual burning is visible (Gardner & Anderson, 2016). There must be fire. The presence of smoke only cannot be used as evidence to prove arson. Third, there must be proof of ownership because vacated and closed up houses are not considered in arson cases (Gardner & Anderson, 2016). It is necessary to provide proof of occupancy. If a house is burnt under the assumption that it is uninhabited, then the action amounts to arson. The most essential aspect is the fact of occupancy and not the knowledge of occupancy or lack thereof. An individual who burns his/her own house while living there is not charged for arson. However, if he/she burns it with intent to defraud the property’s insurer, then they are guilty of arson. Motives for Individuals to Commit Arson Investigators need to understand why an individual decides to commit arson. The three categories of motives for individuals to commit arson include social, psychological, and economic. Examples of motives for individuals to commit these crimes include vandalism, profit/financial gain, and revenge. Vandalism Vandalism is a social motive because individuals who participate in such crimes act under the inf