Homeowner Jane Thompson lived 20 miles from the large Badone wildfire. One week after the fire department fully contained the wildfire, Jane called Evergreen Mutual and reported a strong smoke odor throughout her home.
Notable Timestamps
[ 00:20 ] - Jane also noticed discoloration on her walls and soot on her furniture. Jane was understandably concerned about her family's health and potential long-term damage to her home and personal property.
[ 01:10 ] - Can you name at least four of the major wildfires that have occurred in the US since 2016?
[ 03:25 ] - The adjuster might focus on the HVAC system, walls, and attic as these are the most likely to show signs of smoke infiltration and fire-related damage: smoke and soot can get pulled into the HVAC system; porous materials like drywall can absorb smoke; attics often have exposed insulation, which can easily trap soot and smoke particles.
[ 05:25 ] - A wipe test can reveal a layer of soot in areas not typically exposed to household pollutants, like inside closed cabinets.
[ 06:34 ] - Documentation and photographs are essential to fire and smoke investigation and claims.
[ 07:50 ] - Weather and fire reports can trace the wildfire's smoke plume trajectory.
[ 08:20 ] - NOAA can provide satellite imagery and local air quality index reports on the applicable area.
[ 09:20 ] - PLRB.org's Weather / CATs hub provides weather data and analysis, including wildfire bulletins and address searches.
[ 10:33 ] - Public cellphone location data can corroborate the timeline of smoke exposure, e.g. a spike in wildfire evacuation alerts and reduced activity in the area.
[ 11:30 ] - Industrial hygenists can perform environmental testing that can detect char and ash particles consistent with materials burned in the nearby wildfire.
[ 12:02 ] - Tonda provides a recap of the scenario and the points above.
Your PLRB Resources
CE Course: Adjusting 21st Century 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/
Employees of member companies also have access to a searchable legal database, hundreds of hours of video trainings, building code materials, weather data, and even the ability to have your coverage questions answered by our team of attorneys (https://www.plrb.org/ask-plrb/) at no additional charge to you or your company.
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