Homeowner Lisa claims she was asleep when she woke up to smoke alarms blaring. She safely evacuated her home, but the fire destroyed her garage and spread to part of her home. The adjuster requests that Alex determine the fire's cause.
Notable Timestamps
[ 00:15 ] - The scenario outlines a garage fire claim and a need to investigate the cause of the fire.
[ 01:00 ] - When investigating a fire claim, is it origin and cause or cause and origin? Why?
[ 03:00 ] - NFPA 921 provides standards for fire investigators conducting origin and cause investigations.
[ 03:50 ] - Ring doorbell cameras or security footage is one source of origin and cause information. Footage may be automatically deleted, or the camera owner may refuse to cooperate.
[ 05:55 ] - The team discusses raccoons, dogs, and bike bandits caught by Ring cameras.
[ 08:15 ] - Garage fires can be hard to investigate because they often contain a large number of items and are often disorganized. These fires can burn quickly leaving little intact.
[ 11:05 ] - Neighborhood watch apps like "Citizen" can establish suspicious activity at the time of the loss. In this scenario, this leads to eyewitness reports about the cause of the fire.
[ 13:15 ] - Canvassing the neighborhood can help provide information, and experts can help investigate via forensic methods.
[ 14:10 ] - The insurance company determines that Lisa's policy covers the fire damage, but liability may extend to the guests who knocked over the battery charger.
[ 14:35 ] - Tonda provides a recap of the scenario and the points above.
Your PLRB Resources
CE Course: Adjusting 21st Fire and Explosion Claims: Investigative Tools and Techniques - https://www.plrb.org/courses/adjustingfireclaims/
CE Course: Investigating and Resolving Different Types of Wildfire Losses - https://www.plrb.org/courses/investigating-and-resolving-different-types-of-wildfire-losses/
Wildfires Map (includes recent historical wildfires) - https://www.plrb.org/wildfires/
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The views and opinions expressed in this resource are those of the individual speaker and not necessarily those of the Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB), its membership, or any organization with which the presenter is employed or affiliated. The information, ideas, and opinions are presented as information only and not as legal advice or offers of representation. Individual policy language and state laws vary, and listeners should rely on guidance from their companies and counsel as appropriate.
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