Arson in the 2nd Degree is described as:

• A. Intentionally tries to destroy or damage a building by starting a fire or causing an explosion with the building being of another or of his own or of another to collect or facilitate the collection of insurance proceeds for such loss.
• B. Intentionally starting a fire or explosion in a building you own to collect insurance proceeds.
• C. Recklessly starting a fire in a building you own to collect insurance proceeds.
• D. Intentionally starting a fire or explosion that destroys an inhabited building.

Answer: (A)

Arson in the second degree centers on an intentional act to destroy or damage a building by fire or explosion, with the specific purpose of obtaining insurance proceeds for that loss. The defining element is this insurance-motive paired with an intentional act, and it can involve a building owned by the arsonist or by someone else—the ownership isn’t the limiting factor.

That’s why the statement describing intentional starting of a fire or explosion to destroy or damage a building, motivated by collecting insurance proceeds, is the best fit. It captures both the deliberate act and the insurance-fraud purpose, and it does not hinge on who owns the building.

The other options miss important aspects: one narrows to a building you own and omits the broader ownership scope; another uses recklessness instead of intentional conduct; and another focuses on destroying an inhabited building but omits the insurance motive, which is essential to second-degree arson.