Arson as First Degree Murder?

[thegrungediva]

A California man was sentenced to death for setting a wildfire that killed 5 firefighters.  Read more here.  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5goGvr2aGMuUAVRMZr4RxsQhYLfGQD98KTTNG0

My understanding had been that there's a difference between "murder" and "manslaughter".  If someone does something stupid or negligent which results in

Comments

[kalibex]

I believe that it was interpreted that by setting a fire which automatically put firefighters (and the entire community) in danger, the subsequent deaths can be interpreted as desired by the accused (a form of premeditation).

Firefighters are among those who are highly-trained protectors of the entire community. By causing those deaths, the accused in effect struck at the safety of the entire community, beyond the mere fact of 'only' five deaths.

People may now die (and, of course, property - resources - be lost) who would not have been, had those firefighters not been killed.

When the entire community and its protectors is attacked thus - the community tends to band together to put down this type of 'mad dog'.