A person with pyromania might hoard matches and lighters, burn holes in fabric, rugs, or furniture and set fire to pieces of paper or other flammable materials. They are motivated because of the emotions they experience when they set fires. But, they don’t have a desire to harm anyone and they aren’t looking for monetary gains from the fires they set. Someone committing arson, on the other hand, may burn down someone’s house to get revenge or to try to collect insurance money. Arson is a crime, whereas pyromania is a psychiatric diagnosis. Someone who commits arson does not necessarily have an underlying psychiatric condition; plus, setting fires is only one aspect of the diagnosis for pyromania