Leading Cause of Residential Fires

The leading cause of home fires and home-fire injuries is cooking, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Cooking-equipment fires cause the highest number of home structure fires and associated injuries. Cooking equipment was involved in two of every five (41%) reported home fires, with ranges accounting for 59% of such incidents and ovens cited as the source of 16%.

Human error or negligence can be blamed for most cooking fires. Unattended cooking is by far the leading contributing factor. Frying poses the greatest risk.

Injuries from cooking fires are often attributable to bad decisions. Fifty-nine percent of reported, non-fatal home-cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves. Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of these fires, but these incidents accounted for 15% of the cooking fire deaths.

Do you know how to deal with a cooking fire in your home? Proper use and the location of fire extinguishers should be understood by everyone old enough to use them, but even more important is attentiveness and prevention.

Borrowing or Renting Watercraft

Will your trip to the lake or beach this summer find your family at the counter of a jet ski, motorboat or other watercraft rental agency? Or are you considering borrowing such a “toy” from a friend? If so, it’s important to know how your homeowners insurance will apply if you damage the non-owned watercraft.

Most homeowners insurance policies significantly limit or exclude property damage to or liability arising from the use of watercraft. It’s true that some policies include a small amount of coverage for these vehicles, but such an amount may be limited to $1,000. Further, liability caused by the watercraft’s use may apply only if the vehicle falls below a specific size/horsepower.

Before using rented or borrowed watercraft, check your policy and give us a call if you have any questions. We can help you determine if any coverage is already included in your policy or if additional coverage is necessary.



Discourage
Burglars

Planning a summer vacation? If so, take measures to protect your home from intruders. Many break-ins can be easily prevented by following a simple guideline: Make it look like you aren’t gone.

Use this checklist to minimize evidence of your absence:

• Install automatic timers on lights.

• Cover your garage windows.

• Ask a neighbor to take in your mail and paper.

• Have home phone calls forwarded.

• Ask a neighbor to use your trash bins and take them out.

• Trim landscaping to eliminate hiding places.

• Install motion-detector lights.

• Use a security system with a loud alarm and/or flashing lights.

• Don’t hide a spare key in your yard. Rather, give it to a trusted source.

• Move valuable items that could entice a burglary away from plain view of windows and doors.
 
Graduation Parties Carry Some Risk

A family’s proudest moments call for celebration. When sons, daughters and other family members graduate college, parties strike up in backyards and meeting halls everywhere. If your party plans call for renting a facility and something unexpected causes damage to the facility or injury to a guest, will your homeowners insurance pay?

The good news is that your homeowners insurance will cover your liability for both damages and injuries. But how much will it pay, and what kind of insurance does the facility you rent carry? You might have to sign a contract with liability language in it. In that case, you need to consider carefully what you are agreeing to pay for in the event of damage or injury.

If you hire help for the party, such as caterers or a set-up/clean-up crew, know that many homeowners policies will not extend liability for damage caused by them. You’ll need to make sure your hired help carries adequate liability insurance.

If you are worried that the coverage under your homeowners policy is not sufficient to cover the potential liability of the event, consider purchasing a special event policy that will be in effect during the event only. These policies are designed to be affordable and offer a level of comfort that your personal assets won’t be at risk if something unfortunate and costly occurs. Call us for more information.

 

 


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You’ve been told that a home inventory is an essential piece of rebuilding your life if a fire, windstorm, theft or other peril destroys your belongings.

But conducting a home inventory can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Fortunately, there are tools available to make the process easier, more efficient and safer. Some vendors offer online inventory programs. One such tool, offered by the Insurance Information Institute, is free. This program will help you create a home inventory and make it simple for you to keep it up-to-date.

Tools such as these are essential in helping your insurance company’s claims adjuster expedite your claim and get you reimbursed for as much of what you lost as possible. By using secure online storage of your inventory, you will always be able to access it.

To review the Insurance Information Institute’s free home inventory program, visit www.knowyourstuff.org.
COPYRIGHT ©2011. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is understood that the publishers are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert advice is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. 05/11