Kodiak5er
Alex Bay NY Summer; Sanford FL Winter
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Joined: 07/11/2004
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We have been full timing in our RV since 1990 and in this particular RV since buying it new in 1993.
On Saturday morning we were sleeping in the RV and were awakened by our neighbors' shouts of fire. We got up and asked where the fire was and were told in our RV. As there was no smoke inside, the fire was behind the refrigerator, our smoke detectors didn't go off until we opened the door and created a draft that drew the smoke and fumes out through the inside cabinets. It is a good thing this fire happened on Saturday and not the day before (Friday) because there would not have been anyone to see the fire and get us up (we have our own RV spot on some waterfront property just outside of Alexandria Bay, NY and the tourist season is over for this year).
We have turned this into our insurance co and they will pay for all damage done to our 5th wheel (about $2000 worth) except the refrigerator itself. They say the refrigerator is NOT covered because our policy states that whatever causes the fire will NOT be covered and they have determined the refrigerator was the cause.
The refrigerator that we had was a Dometic, model S820 Silhouette and as far as I can determine, is not on the recall list from Dometic.
This is the receptacle the refer was plugged into.
Another shot of the receptacle.
A view of the roof vent from the roof.
Shows the back of the refer.
Shows the side view.
Showing the back of the fridge.
Side view of the roof vent.
Shows the 120V elect receptacle.
Shows the 12V wireing and heater.
Shows the whole side of the trailer in the fire area.
* This post was
edited 10/20/07 08:19pm by Kodiak5er *
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Picture of '93 Mountain Aire Story of it's death by fire and explosion
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STINGRAYRVMAN
PANAMA CITY
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Was the refer operating on gas or elec when fire started?
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Rich Panganiban
Southern California, USA
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Joined: 01/08/2005
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Thank God you guys were not hurt!
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Kodiak5er
Alex Bay NY Summer; Sanford FL Winter
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STINGRAYRVMAN wrote:Was the refer operating on gas or elec when fire started?
It was on electric but I don't think that had anything to do with it because the area around the heating element is not burned as bad as the area around the control board. You can see in the pictures the area around the heating element looks almost like new compared to the other side, by the control board and 120V plug.
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kottfam6wi
South Central Wisconsin
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Looking at the damage, awning, wall, roof around vent, you may have WAY more than $2000 in damage. I would double check on no coverage on fridge. That just doesn't sound right.
Joe
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fixruprbob
Raleigh, NC USA
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Don't you just love insurance companies? They have got more excuses than Carter has pills.
BTW it looks to me like the outlet started the fire not the fridge. You might ask for another opinion as to what started the fire.
Robert
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Kodiak5er
Alex Bay NY Summer; Sanford FL Winter
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Quote:Looking at the damage, awning, wall, roof around vent, you may have WAY more than $2000 in damage. I would double check on no coverage on fridge. That just doesn't sound right.
I did check on the no coverage on fridge and they are right, the policy does exclude whatever causes the fire.
Here's a picture of the trailer after I washed it off with some fantastic cleaner.
Cleaned up side view of trailer.
You can see it really isn't as bad as it looked before cleaning. The trailer is like the watch that "takes a licking and keeps on ticking".
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Kodiak5er
Alex Bay NY Summer; Sanford FL Winter
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Joined: 07/11/2004
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fixruprbob wrote:Don't you just love insurance companies? They have got more excuses than Carter has pills.
BTW it looks to me like the outlet started the fire not the fridge. You might ask for another opinion as to what started the fire.
Robert,
I thought the same thing and called them on it. They sent the adjuster back out for another look and he took the receptacle apart in front of me. I could see that all the wires were tight and nothing was burned inside the receptacle, they were going to hire an expert to determine the cause so I offered to settle with them if they threw another $300 in the pot, which they did and I settled, got the check yesterday and will fix it myself. My college education will come in handy with all the different things needing repair.
Earl
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kottfam6wi
South Central Wisconsin
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fixruprbob wrote:Don't you just love insurance companies? They have got more excuses than Carter has pills.
BTW it looks to me like the outlet started the fire not the fridge. You might ask for another opinion as to what started the fire.
It's actually obvious that the outlet did NOT start the fire. You can see that where the fridge was plugged in was protected from the fire and not melted/black. If the outlet or connection was the cause, there would be signs of arcing behind the plug. There clearly is none.
Joe
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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sounds like the frig is going to cost you more than the fire damage to the TT. Thank God his angel wasn't sleeping.
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