Whereas California Penal Code 451 PC outlaws willfully and maliciously setting fire to property, California Penal Code 452 PC outlaws recklessly setting fire to property. Recklessly is less criminally blameworthy than willfully and maliciously. When you are reckless, you did not necessarily mean any harm; you were just acting in an extremely risky way that any reasonable person should have known would likely result in property damage or injuries. An example of PC 452 is dropping a match on the street after lighting your cigarette, and the match then causes some debris to catch fire. You may not have meant for the match to cause a fire, but you should have known that causing a fire was the likely result of your reckless actions. Since violating PC 452 does not involve malicious and willful behavior, it is only a misdemeanor offense.