The Takeaways
- Between 2014-2018 approximately 179,000 house fires were caused by cooking fires.
- Turkey fryers cause an estimated $15M in property damage annually.
- Direct fire, smoke damage, and water damage are all likely to occur from cooking fires.
- If an accidental cooking fire is your fault, you are entitled to be brought back to pre-loss condition under the terms of your insurance policy.
- Your Public Adjuster will assist you in understanding what is owed under your homeowner’s policy and will be your advocate in obtaining a maximized settlement.
I caught my house on fire while deep-frying my turkey... will my insurance pay for this?
Nothing brings the family together quite like the holidays, especially during 2020 as we are all practicing social distancing. Most families are spending more time at home than ever before. Certainly, spending more time at home has allowed time for folks to jump on those tasks they’ve always wanted to do: tackle home improvement projects, redecorate, read a book, find a new hobby, or maybe even COOK FOOD AT HOME. Here is where the real fun begins!
Costly Kitchen Fires
Cooking at home can be another great way to bring the family together. However, some budding home chefs with too much heat can quickly burn the family dinner... and the house down. Between 2014-2018, US fire departments responded to approximately 179,000 house fires where the cause and origin of the fire were related to cooking. Additionally, it is estimated that deep fryers cause approximately $15 million in property damage per year.
If you have ever had deep-fried turkey, you’re well aware of how different it tastes when compared to an oven-cooked bird. Cooking time is dramatically reduced and the flavor benefits have been long debated among cooking enthusiasts. However, we are talking about gallons and gallons of oil... in a large pot... being heated with a large open flame... and sometimes placed too close to other flammable items. Many things can go wrong. The entire pot can tip over, the oil can combust from excess heat, or the oil can boil over directly onto the flame when the bird is lowered into the pot. Just a side note, peanut oil (the preferred oil for deep frying turkeys) can auto-ignite between 450-500 degrees without direct contact with a flame. Due to the dangers of deep-fryers, the fryer should be set up outside, away from trees, bushes, structures, and any other personal property that could catch fire in the event of accidental ignition.
Now we know a little more about deep fryer dangers. So, you’ve managed to accidentally catch your house on fire this holiday season. Is it a covered loss? Short answer: Yes. The sticking point here is that this would be considered an accidental fire which is a covered loss on most home owner’s policies. A Public Adjuster should review your insurance policy to make you aware of what losses are covered under your homeowner’s policy and if your property has sustained damage that would warrant an insurance claim. Even in the case of an accidental fire, a Public Adjuster is still your advocate who will fight for a maximized financial recovery.
Common Damage From Cooking Fires
There are essentially three types of damage generally created by cooking fires. The first is direct fire damage caused by the ignition of cooking oils that create heat and flames that physically burn your property. The second is smoke damage from cooking oils that don’t ignite but are heated to their “smoke point”. The smoke then fills your structure with thick black smoke. Obviously, if the cooking oil catches fire as in the first example, one can assume it would reach the “smoke point” before igniting resulting in direct fire damage and smoke damage. Finally, we should consider any water damage resulting from the fire department’s fire exhaustion efforts as well. These instances can result in severe damage to your property and should be carefully reviewed under the direction of a Public Adjuster.
You're Still Entitled To Pre-loss Condition
If you find yourself dealing with a cooking fire, a Public Adjuster can provide an upfront consultation to determine if filing a claim is right for your loss. Upon filing a claim, your Public Adjuster will walk you through every step of the recovery process. Even if you have caused the fire accidentally, you are still entitled to be brought back to pre-loss condition as set forth within the terms of your insurance policy and your Public Adjuster is prepared to fight for just that.
Contact True View Commercial for a no-cost claim review. Our team of experts will correctly identify the damage profile and assist you in developing a plan that will maximize your financial recovery... even if you burnt the turkey.
