A Tale of Two Fire Accidents

Hartland, NYIn upstate New York, a single house burned and claimed 3 lives. In Southern California, hundreds of homes have been lost without, so far, a single death. As wildfires continue to rip through southern California, officials battling the blazes are amazed there hasn't appeared to be more fire injury than there has, given the destruction. As for the fire accident investigation, it's still too early to determine the cause of the blazes currently ripping through areas such as Yorba Linda and Anaheim—dubbed the Freeway Fires. However, the recent fire that ripped through Montecito was no fire accident, officials now say.

"The so-called Tea fire in Santa Barbara County destroyed 210 homes and caused two injuries, but so far—thankfully—no deaths. Officials were able to get the word out in time and evacuations were done safely. However the massive destruction of homes and property in Santa Barbara County, together with the fires currently burning elsewhere in the state, is going to mean a huge price tag for the insurers.

Real estate in sun-kissed California is not cheap, and replacing damaged structures and landscaping will be expensive. Yes, that's what you carry home insurance for. However, one can assume that rates for fire insurance in California will rise for everyone, as insurers attempt to minimize their losses and recoup some of the dollars they most assuredly will have to pay out.

That's why it's so damning to hear that the Tea fire in Santa Barbara County was not a fire accident, and was likely caused by human error, according to officials. They've stopped short of using the 'A' word—arson—but have nonetheless ruled out "all accidental causes," and are appealing to the public for information.

Meantime, a reader blogging in the Las Angeles Times online indicated that "from what I've heard, the Orange County/Corona fire was started by a cigarette tossed from a car that ignited some shrubs off the road, which then sent embers flying in the heavy Santa Ana winds." While that has yet to be proven as well, the destruction is remarkable and heartbreaking. After fire ripped through the Oakridge Park in Sylmar, an upscale collection of well-tended mobile homes, there is now nothing left but ashes.

Thousands of acres have been burned and millions of dollars in homes and property have been destroyed. Alongside the heroic act of fighting the fires on the part of the state's crack firefighting response team, are the investigators combing the aftermath for clues.
Although there have been about a dozen injuries to firefighters and civilians, so far there have been no deaths reported in California.

However, the same cannot be said for a house fire in upstate New York earlier this month that claimed the lives of three young children and severely injured their 59-year-old grandmother.

The fire accident occurred late in the night on November 3rd, when a house in rural Hartland—about 25 miles northeast of Buffalo, erupted into flames and burned to the ground. Leona Heigl, 59, made an attempt to rescue her three young grandsons, but was overcome by smoke. The young brothers died in the flames, while Heigl was rushed to hospital after suffering fire accident injury.

Heigl was admitted to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and burned lungs. Fire officials at the scene suggested that the fire, which claimed three young lives, was not deliberately set, and appeared to be an accident.

While the fire accident in upstate New York does not appear to be arson, the jury is still out in southern California as the fire accident investigation continues. Amazingly, given the destruction there have so far been no deaths reported, and minimal fire injury. However, questions will remain long after the flames are extinguished for good, and the smoke clears.