N.C. Gen. Stat. » Chapter 14
NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-318 (2026)

Exposing children to fire

✓ current as of July 2026
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If any person shall leave any child under the age of eight years locked or otherwise confined in any dwelling, building or enclosure, and go away from such dwelling, building or enclosure without leaving some person of the age of discretion in charge of the same, so as to expose the child to danger by fire, the person so offending shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1893, c. 12; Rev., s. 3795; C.S., s. 4443; 1983, c. 175, s. 9, 10, c. 720, s. 4; 1993, c. 539, s. 221; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2004–2022 · leading case: State v. Cheeks (N.C. Ct. App. 2019).
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State v. Cheeks (N.C. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 6× “But this Court has addressed this issue under North Carolina General Statute § 14-318(a3), and we see no reason for these two subsections of this statute to be treated differently.”
In re: D.S. (N.C. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 4× “¶ 24 CCDSS, relying on N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-318 (2021) (establishing a Class 1 misdemeanor for leaving a child under 8 years old alone while confined in a building or dwelling due to the potential risk of exposing the child to fire), argues it “would be reasonable to conclude…”
In re: D.S. (N.C. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 4× “¶ 24 CCDSS, relying on N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-318 (2021) (establishing a Class 1 misdemeanor for leaving a child under 8 years old alone while confined in a building or dwelling due to the potential risk of exposing the child to fire), argues it “would be reasonable to conclude…”
State v. Hacker, 605 S.E.2d 741 (N.C. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 2× “4(a), the judgment shows a conviction for child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-318.4 (a3). The references on the judgment to "ser[ious] bod[i]ly inj[ury]" and to N.”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-318(a3) — 1 case
State v. Cheeks (N.C. Ct. App. 2019). “But this Court has addressed this issue under North Carolina General Statute § 14-318(a3), and we see no reason for these two subsections of this statute to be treated differently.”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-318(a4) — 1 case
State v. Cheeks (N.C. Ct. App. 2019). “But this Court has addressed this issue under North Carolina General Statute § 14-318(a3), and we see no reason for these two subsections of this statute to be treated differently.”
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