If a fire spreads from a privately owned house to campus property, should it be counted as arson?

The rationale for stating that a fire spreading from a privately owned house to campus property should not be counted as arson hinges on the definition of the offense and the specific requirements outlined in law and reporting practices, such as those required by the Clery Act. Arson is typically characterized as the intentional act of burning property, and in this scenario, since the fire started off campus in a privately owned residence, it does not meet the criteria of being an act of arson related to campus property. The origin of the fire is crucial; because it began outside the confines of campus jurisdiction, it does not classify under this particular category for reporting purposes.

Additionally, the impact of the fire on campus safety does not change the classification of the event itself. If an external fire spreads to campus property, it might be a serious incident, but unless it was willfully set with the intent behind the act being linked to campus property, it wouldn't be categorized as arson under the defined terms. Thus, unless the fire originated on campus grounds or was deliberately set in a way that fulfills the legal definition of arson, it is not appropriate to categorize it as such.