Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.48
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020 (2026)

Arson in the first degree

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) A person is guilty of arson in the first degree if he or she knowingly and maliciously:
(a) Causes a fire or explosion which is manifestly dangerous to any human life, including firefighters; or
(b) Causes a fire or explosion which damages a dwelling; or
(c) Causes a fire or explosion in any building in which there shall be at the time a human being who is not a participant in the crime; or
(d) Causes a fire or explosion on property valued at ten thousand dollars or more with intent to collect insurance proceeds.
(2) Arson in the first degree is a class A felony.
[ 2007 c 218 s 63; 1981 c 203 s 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.48.020.]

Notes:

Intent—Finding—2007 c 218: See note following RCW 41.08.020.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 66 cases (12 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: State v. Sweany, 281 P.3d 305 (Wash. 2012).
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State v. Sweany, 281 P.3d 305 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 12× “RCW 9A.48.020. The specific issue in dispute is whether “property valued at ten thousand dollars or more” refers to the property’s market value or to the property’s insured value.”
State v. Arndt, 453 P.3d 696 (Wash. 2019). · cites it 2× “Third, the State charged her with first degree arson under RCW 9A.48.020 with special allegations of domestic violence and a particularly vulnerable person aggravating circumstance.”
State v. Bainard, 199 P.3d 460 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 8× “See RCW 9A.48.020, .030. ¶ 44 The legislature codified common law arson as first degree arson, leaving intact the concerns for the danger to human life.”
State v. Leech, 790 P.2d 160 (Wash. 1990). · cites it 3× “3 We agree with the Court of Appeals disposition of the defendant's first two contentions.”
State v. Bainard, 148 Wash. App. 93 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 5× “See RCW 9A.48.020, .030. ¶44 The legislature codified common law arson as first degree arson, leaving intact the concerns for the danger to human life.”
State v. Pang, 940 P.2d 1293 (Wash. 1997). · cites it 9× “Arson] in the First Degree, in violation of RCW Section 9A.48.020. An arrest warrant was issued by Judge Bill Stream [2] of King [County] Court, on March 3, 1995.”
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 2× “070(2)); arson in the first degree (RCW 9A.48.020(2)); burglary in the first degree (RCW 9A.”
State v. Latham, 667 P.2d 56 (Wash. 1983). · cites it 2× “Petitioner *61 was arrested, charged and tried on one charge of first degree arson in violation of RCW 9A.48.020. One month before trial, the petitioner moved, in limine, to exclude certain evidence.”
State v. Azad Haji Abdullah, 348 P.3d 1 (Idaho 2015). “”), and Wash. Rev.Code § 9A.48.020 (“A person is guilty of arson in the first degree if he or she knowingly and maliciously .”
State v. Linehan, 56 P.3d 542 (Wash. 2002). “See RCW 9A.48.020, 9A.40.020, 9A.44.040. Moreover, these statutes define the crimes within the statutes delineating the degrees.”
State v. Linehan, 147 Wash. 2d 638 (Wash. 2002). “Rape in the first degree, for example, provides that “[a] person is guilty of rape . . . when such person engages in sexual intercourse with another person by forcible compulsion where the perpetrator [uses one or more of the listed alternative means].”
State v. Plewak, 732 P.2d 999 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 4× “They entered to search the ground floor while the second floor still was burning, but found no one.”
Show all 66 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(1) — 6 cases
State v. Tierney, 872 P.2d 1145 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994).
State v. Bainard, 199 P.3d 460 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “See RCW 9A.48.020, .030. ¶ 44 The legislature codified common law arson as first degree arson, leaving intact the concerns for the danger to human life.”
State Of Washington v. Shelly Arndt (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
State of Washington v. Stephen George Hyrniak (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State Of Washington v. Jacob L. Eveland (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(1)(a) — 9 cases
State v. Leech, 790 P.2d 160 (Wash. 1990). “3 We agree with the Court of Appeals disposition of the defendant's first two contentions.”
State v. Pang, 940 P.2d 1293 (Wash. 1997).
State Of Washington v. Phillip Linch Schloredt (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
State Of Washington, V. Rick Left Handed Wolf Stone (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
State Of Washington v. Jacob L. Eveland (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(1)(b) — 7 cases
State Of Washington v. Cesar Ramos-avila (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State Of Washington v. Kamran Monghate (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
State Of Washington v. Ronald Benjamin White (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
State Of Washington, V. Charles R. Peavey (Wash. Ct. App. 2022).
State of Washington v. Michael Joseph Allred a/k/a Michael Joseph Navarro (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(1)(c) — 3 cases
State v. Bainard, 199 P.3d 460 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “See RCW 9A.48.020, .030. ¶ 44 The legislature codified common law arson as first degree arson, leaving intact the concerns for the danger to human life.”
State v. Bainard, 148 Wash. App. 93 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “See RCW 9A.48.020, .030. ¶44 The legislature codified common law arson as first degree arson, leaving intact the concerns for the danger to human life.”
State Of Washington, V. Nicholas K. Garrison (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(1)(d) — 3 cases
State v. Sweany, 281 P.3d 305 (Wash. 2012). “RCW 9A.48.020. The specific issue in dispute is whether “property valued at ten thousand dollars or more” refers to the property’s market value or to the property’s insured value.”
State v. We, 158 P.3d 1238 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
State v. Pang, 940 P.2d 1293 (Wash. 1997).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(2) — 4 cases
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “070(2)); arson in the first degree (RCW 9A.48.020(2)); burglary in the first degree (RCW 9A.”
State v. Eriksen, 259 P.3d 1079 (Wash. 2011).
State Of Washington v. Timothy J. Rohn (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
In Re The Det. Of G.r. (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(c) — 1 case
State Of Washington, V. John H. Hann (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(l)(a) — 2 cases
State v. Pang, 940 P.2d 1293 (Wash. 1997). “Arson] in the First Degree, in violation of RCW Section 9A.48.020. An arrest warrant was issued by Judge Bill Stream [2] of King [County] Court, on March 3, 1995.”
State v. Cater, 345 P.3d 843 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(l)(b) — 3 cases
State v. Sweany, 281 P.3d 305 (Wash. 2012). “RCW 9A.48.020. The specific issue in dispute is whether “property valued at ten thousand dollars or more” refers to the property’s market value or to the property’s insured value.”
State v. Sweany, 256 P.3d 1230 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011).
State of Washington v. Maria Hernandez Martinez (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(l)(c) — 1 case
State v. Bainard, 148 Wash. App. 93 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “See RCW 9A.48.020, .030. ¶44 The legislature codified common law arson as first degree arson, leaving intact the concerns for the danger to human life.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.48.020(l)(d) — 5 cases
State v. Sweany, 281 P.3d 305 (Wash. 2012). “RCW 9A.48.020. The specific issue in dispute is whether “property valued at ten thousand dollars or more” refers to the property’s market value or to the property’s insured value.”
State v. We, 138 Wash. App. 716 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
State v. Pang, 940 P.2d 1293 (Wash. 1997). “Arson] in the First Degree, in violation of RCW Section 9A.48.020. An arrest warrant was issued by Judge Bill Stream [2] of King [County] Court, on March 3, 1995.”
State v. Pockert, 768 P.2d 504 (Wash. Ct. App. 1989).
State v. Sweany, 256 P.3d 1230 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011).
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