As Texans, we can't take the threat of fire lightly. In fact, the Lone Star State is one of the leading states in the nation when it comes to fire deaths. Fires happen for a wide range of reasons, from cooking accidents and pure carelessness, to more sinister means like a code violation, faulty electrical equipment or defective alarms.
The El Paso Fire Department is trying to determine what went wrong on a recent November night. Sometime after 4 a.m., passersby began reporting that two buildings were on fire, including the factory for a company that specializes in custom car stereos, texas BoomBox. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours, finally gaining control over the flames by 8 a.m.
Several homes in the area were evacuated as a precaution, however, there were no reports of injuries. Authorities say that the roof collapsed and that around $400,000 worth of damage was done in the fire. Officials are now conducting an investigation into what could have caused the fire.
Oftentimes, a fire like this could start because of negligence or faulty equipment and spread into residential areas, threatening the lives and valuables of everyone in the vicinity. Sadly, insurance companies will sometimes try to shortchange their customers and offer insufficient compensation for injuries or destroyed possessions. Other times, insurance companies will try to shirk their responsibilities completely, leaving owners high and dry.
If you've been affected by a fire and are seeking compensation to make you whole again, you may want to consider speaking with an attorney.
Source: kfoxtv.com, "Investigation into what caused structure fires underway in south-central El Paso," J. Valencia, N. Barrett, November 29, 2016