What distinguishes residential arson from commercial arson?

The distinction between residential arson and commercial arson primarily revolves around the target type. Residential arson specifically involves the intentional setting of fires in private homes or dwellings, which are spaces meant for personal living and family residence. This category encompasses single-family homes, apartments, and other types of housing. In contrast, commercial arson pertains to businesses, which can include anything from small shops and offices to large warehouses and factories.

This differentiation is crucial in understanding the motives, potential victims, and legal implications associated with each type of arson. For instance, residential arson may often be motivated by personal grievances or disputes, whereas commercial arson can involve financial motives, such as insurance fraud or competition among businesses.

The other aspects mentioned, while they may vary between incidents, do not fundamentally define the classification of the fires in the same way that the target type does. The size of the fire, the time it occurs, and the method used to ignite it can vary widely in both contexts and do not serve as exclusive indicators of whether a fire is residential or commercial in nature.