What type of building classification elevates Arson to a Class A Felony?

The classification of arson as a Class A Felony is specifically elevated when the act involves an occupied structure. This is because the presence of individuals significantly increases the risk of harm and potential loss of life. Arson is considered particularly dangerous and serious when it threatens people’s safety, which is why statutes often have harsher penalties for setting fire to buildings that are inhabited as opposed to those that are unoccupied or vacant. This distinction underscores the legal system's focus on protecting human life and accounts for the potential consequences surrounding actions that could lead to injury or death. Other classifications, such as unoccupied structures or commercial buildings without people present, do not carry the same level of severity in legal terms.