A comparison of property loss by property class is presented for eight cities, and the frequency distribution of error codes is reported; attention is focused on fire officer, cause and origin, and arson investigation deficiency codes. Elements in the prosecutive process are reviewed, including indictments and information, arrests and warrants, Miranda rights, proceedings before arraignment, arraignment, pleas, insanity and entrapment defenses, and Federal antiarson and related statutes. Also provided are 1979-1980 UCR arson reports for the eight sample cities. Procedures followed in typical arson investigations are reviewed. The importance of establishing the fire's point of origin and of accurately determining and convincingly communicating the true fire cause is emphasized. A summary of national fire information reporting systems is provided; contributing factors to fire cause misclassifications and variations in usage are examined. Finally, the followup investigation processes employed in the eight cities studied are highlighted. Approximately 80 tables are included.