A woman was driving through a state park and threw her lit cigarette, causing a fire. The statement that she did not commit a crime, just an accident, is:

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Reckless Endangerment
• D. Arson

Answer: (B)

Causing a fire by discarding a lit cigarette shows reckless disregard for safety and property. In many jurisdictions, starting a fire through a careless act is a crime, even if there was no intent to burn a specific target. If a lit cigarette sparks a fire in a park, the act can be charged as arson in some circumstances, or as reckless burning/criminal negligence in others, depending on the laws of that state. The essential point is that the act creates a substantial risk of harm and results in a fire, so it is not merely an accident. Therefore the statement that no crime was committed is false.