purplepossum
Virginia, USA
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Joined: 09/22/2003
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In a previous discussion of a refrigerator fire I experienced several improtant points were brought up about an electrical cause for the fire.
I've provided a link to the previous thread Click Here
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javaseuf
Southern Cal
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Joined: 03/30/2005
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I am glad that damage was limited and no one was hurt.
One thing that sticks out like a sore thumb is that 3/8" large shut-off valve someone installed in-line with the gas line.
You will notice that just after this valve, there is the smaller Dometic supplied gas shut-off valve.
You don't need the large valve and the installation of this valve adds 4 more joints that could leak gas. (The two joints on the inverted flare union and the two joints on the valve itself).
I would eliminate the larger valve in order to eliminate the 4 extra un-needed additional joints to reduce the amount of gas-line joints that could be potential leak points.
Even without the cost of the refer, $2k doesn't seem that bad with the amoint of damage to the roof, side, decals, paint and interior of the refer compartment.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2003 F150 King Ranch
2001 Dodge Van w/Wheelchair Ramp
1991 Palomino Mustang PUP
Eureka Timberline Tent
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"Politically Incorrect And Proud Of It" 
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Kodiak5er
Alex Bay NY Summer; Sanford FL Winter
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Joined: 07/11/2004
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javaseuf wrote:I am glad that damage was limited and no one was hurt.
One thing that sticks out like a sore thumb is that 3/8" large shut-off valve someone installed in-line with the gas line.
You will notice that just after this valve, there is the smaller Dometic supplied gas shut-off valve.
You don't need the large valve and the installation of this valve adds 4 more joints that could leak gas. (The two joints on the inverted flare union and the two joints on the valve itself).
I would eliminate the larger valve in order to eliminate the 4 extra un-needed additional joints to reduce the amount of gas-line joints that could be potential leak points.
Even without the cost of the refer, $2k doesn't seem that bad with the amoint of damage to the roof, side, decals, paint and interior of the refer compartment.
The extra gas valve was factory installed by Newmar. I think it's there so you can shut off the gas to remove the fridge.
The fire was not caused by any gas or gas leak. The fridge was on 120 VAC when this happened. I feel the circuit board or the 120 VAC line itself shorted out and caused the fire.
One of the reasons I'm not fond of circuit breakers and would rather have fuses is that sometimes a breaker will not trip and will keep feeding the line until things get hot enough to start a fire, while a fuse is more of a sure thing. A little known thing about breakers is that you should turn all of them off at least ever six months to keep them from having the points stick together but no one does this, they usually forget.
Our roof is all aluminum so there is no damage to the roof, just the upper vent that is melted down on the frame of the vent. All the black on the roof came off with a washing except for what was on the Eternabond tape (that stayed black) I installed on all the seams about two years ago.
The damage to the inside of the fridge compartment is actually minimal because there was fiberglass insulation on both sides of the fridge and that didn't burn, only got soot on it so replacing the insulation will renew the sides.
The most damage is in the wiring (both 120 and 12 volt) and to the exterior of the fiberglass side just above the lower vent.
I have sent three e-mail's to Dometic and have not received any answers back from any of them as of today.
1990 6500 Chevy Kodiak, 8.3L Cummins 450 HP
6sp Allison 3060, 3.70 R/A Home Made Air Ride
2006 Newmar Cypress, Pics of '93 Mountain Aire
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Kodiak5er
Alex Bay NY Summer; Sanford FL Winter
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old guy wrote:sounds like the frig is going to cost you more than the fire damage to the TT. Thank God his angel wasn't sleeping.
I think you're right about the fridge costing more than the rest of the damage. The fridge will be about $1200 for a new one and most of the rest of the damage will be about $4-500 to fix.
I'm sure glad our "angel wasn't sleeping" either.
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NavyChaps
Bartlett, TN
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I'm glad your neighbors DID'NT just watch! Good luck on your repairs!
2004 Four Winds 5000, Ford E450 6.8l V-10 Master Tow, Tow Dolly Toad:2004 Saturn L-300.
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dalton4
Anchorage, AK
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Joined: 10/18/2003
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The $2000 number, did that come from the ins. adjuster or from a skilled rv shop. I would have been getting estimates from RV repair places to see if the ins. adjuster was in line with his settlement offer. Personally, I don't like taking settlement offers when there may be other consealed/unknown damages.
Anyway, good luck with the repairs and thanks for sharing.
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mdjohnson
Wisconsin
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I'm interested to know who the insurance company is in this case. Frankly, the fact that the refrigerator isn't covered disturbs me (and I'm in the insurance industry). It seems to me to be pretty vague to just say that "the refrigerator" caused the fire. Could it have been caused by corrosion or perhaps a power surge. It would also be interesting to know the wording in the policy that actually excludes it. Also is the adjuster trained in determining cause of fires. Most of the adjusters I know aren't. They only rate the damage done.
D & M, In Wisconsin now, born & raised in Colorado
3 boys!!!! 20, 17 & 14
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Mousefart
New Jersey
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Joined: 08/15/2004
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If the CIRCUIT BOARD on the fridge cause that fire then THAT should not be covered (according to your policy). The steel and plastic that makes up the rest of the fridge DIDN'T and COULDN'T start the fire, therefor it should be covered.
Hope you don't have your tow vehicle under the same policy. 
"Yes sir, your truck caught on fire, therefor the truck was the CAUSE of the fire, so it's not covered." 
Paul (Mouse)
2007 Flagstaff Shamrock 17 Hybrid (heavily modified for boondocking and winter camping).
2007 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab, 4.7L HO engine, Factory tow package, Equil-i-zer WD Hitch, Prodigy brake controller.
Yamaha EF2400 Generator.
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LAJERHOFF
MISSION VIEJO, CA. USA
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We can totally understand what happened to you and thank goodness no one got hurt. We lost our Safari last Nov 21st caused by a fridge fire and I got to watch it. Make sure that everything is double checked for repairs, because a lot more damage may exist in areas not visible until they start to do the repair.
Good Luck
Jerry/Laura and Shooter (Jack Russell)
1994 36ft Monaco Dynasty
1994 Jeep Cherokee
BPOE #2444
FMCA F314862
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Kodiak5er
Alex Bay NY Summer; Sanford FL Winter
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mdjohnson wrote:I'm interested to know who the insurance company is in this case. Frankly, the fact that the refrigerator isn't covered disturbs me (and I'm in the insurance industry). It seems to me to be pretty vague to just say that "the refrigerator" caused the fire. Could it have been caused by corrosion or perhaps a power surge. It would also be interesting to know the wording in the policy that actually excludes it. Also is the adjuster trained in determining cause of fires. Most of the adjusters I know aren't. They only rate the damage done.
The insurance company is Nationwide, we had it added to our vehicle policy (covered under comp). I don't know if the adjuster was trained in fires but I think not. They were going to hire an expert to look at the situation.
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