State Farm - United Policyholders

1 State farm State farm CLAIMS PO BOX 52260 PHOENIX, AZ 85072-2260 May 23,2014 KERRI F OLIVIER 2125 WICKES RD COLORADO SPRGS, CO 80919-4842 RE: Claim Number: Date of Loss: Type of Policy: Policy Number: 06-08Z4-966 June 26,2012 Homeowners 86-03-6949-4 Dear Ms. Olivier: Thank you for submitting your claim for your windows on the north side of your home and garage door. State farm had engineer John Peterson MS, PE from Knott Laboratory inspect these items. He conducted his inspection on May 15, 2014, and has provided a report of the findings. The windows located on the north side of the home were not damaged as a result of the fire. The swelling observed in the garage door panels is consistent with repeated moisture exposure and is not related to fire. Based on this information provided from Mr. Peterson's inspection and report, there is no ADPL damage to the windows, and the garage door is wear and tear which was address in a letter dated May 6,2014. Based on the Homeowners Policy FP-7955, it reads as follows: SECTION I -LOSSES INSURED COVERAGE A-DWELLING We insure for accidental direct physical loss to the property described in Coverage A, except as provided in SECTION 1-LOSSES NOT INSURED.

2 SECTION I -LOSSES NOT INSURED 1. We do not insure for any loss to the property described in Coverage A which consists of, or is directly and immediately caused by, one or more of the perils listed in items a. through n. below, regardless of whether the loss occurs suddenly or gradually, involves isolated or widespread damage, arises from natural or external forces, or occurs as a result of any combination of these: g. wear, tear, marring, scratching, deterioration, inherent vice, latent defect or mechanical breakdown; However, we do insure for any resulting loss from items a. through m. unless the resulting loss is itself a Loss Not Insured by this Section. Although we are unable to provide coverage for the windows or garage door because of the policy language, we are happy to consider any additional information you would like to provide. We are still in the process of reviewing and gathering information on the documents you provided from National Smoke and Armstrong lab and will be in contact with you once this is completed.

3 Thank you for working with me we are happy to consider any additional information you would like to provide. I am looking forward to working with you to bring your claim to conclusion. You may reach me at 970-395-4588. Sincerely, a ice Carson I im Representative 9703954588 State farm Fire and Casualty Company Enclosure: Knott Laboratory Report LABORATORY, UC: forensic : engineering & Animotion May 23,2014 VIA EMAIL Janice Carson State farm Insurance Box 52260 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2260 Re: Insured: Claim Number: Subject Address: Dear Mr. Carson: Kerri Olivier 06-08Z4966 2125 Wickes Road Colorado Springs, CO 80919 At your request, Knott Laboratory, LLC inspected the property noted above for reported damage to the windows and garage door as related to the Waldo Canyon wildfire that occurred during the summer of 2012. This report contains the findings and conclusions reached as a result of that investigation. Persons present at the time of Knott Laboratory's site visit included Mr.

4 John Peterson, MS PE (Knott Laboratory) and Ms. Kerri Olivier (homeowner/insured). Executive Summary: Knott Laboratory, LLC inspected the property noted above for reported damage to the windows and garage door due to the Waldo Canyon wildfire. Knott Laboratory concluded the windows and garage door were not damaged by the wildfire. Background: The subject structure is a two-story, wood-framed residence with a single-story attached two car garage. The front of the structure faces north and a photograph of this north face is presented in Figure 1. Records obtained from the EI Paso County Assessor's Office indicate the structure was constructed in 1989 making the age of the home approximately 25 years. The windows throughout the home were reportedly replaced approximately four years prior to the Waldo Canyon fire with Jeld-Wen vinyl windows. The residence is located near an area of Colorado Springs, Colorado known to have been exposed the Waldo Canyon wildfire that occurred between approximately June 23 and July 10, 2012.

5 Various items were reportedly indicated by State farm Insurance as requiring replacement due to the fire including the windows located on the south wall of 7185 South Tucson Way Centennial, CO 80112 3987 p f Janice Carson May 23, 2014 Page 2 of 14 the structure. More recently, Ms. Olivier (homeowner) reported washing the northern windows with a power sprayer and subsequently observed water had intruded at some of the north facing windows, specifically at the vertical interface between the operable and inoperable portions of the window. Ms. Olivier attributed this to damage from the fire. Ms. Olivier also reportedly expressed concern to State farm Insurance that the garage door on the north face of the structure was damaged as a result of the fire, more specifically, the power-washing performed by a contractor subsequent to the Waldo Canyon wildfire. Thus, Ms. Olivier contacted State farm Insurance with her concerns. Purpose: Per the letter dated May 14, 2014 as provided by State farm Insurance, the purpose of Knott Laboratory's investigation was to determine and provide our professional opinion relating to the following questions: 1.

6 Are the five windows on the north side of the home damaged? 2. What kind of damage are the windows displaying? 3. What caused the damage to the windows? 4. The insured indicated the windows are leaking is this related to damage from Waldo wildfire? 5. What is the damage to the garage door and would it be related to fire or smoke from the Waldo wildfire? 6. What is the repair method for the windows or garage door? 7. Please review any documentation or photos the insured would like for you to review. Procedure: Knott Laboratory inspected the structure on May 15, 2014. Available evidence was documented and photographed during the inspection. Knott Laboratory also reviewed photographs of the windows with water intrusion that were taken by and provided by Ms. Olivier. Findings and Discussion: For clarity, Knott Laboratory has divided this portion of the report into the following sections: Site Investigation, Window Investigation, and Garage Investigation. Site Investigation The presence of a wildfire in the proximity of a structure does not immediately indicate the structure or its finishes were damaged by the nearby fire.

7 An assessment of the structure is necessary as temperatures from wildfires can vary greatly, but as with all fires, the amount of energy (or heat) given off is highly dependent on the amount and types of fuel present (vegetation, wood, plastiCS, gasoline, etc.) as well as atmospheric convection patterns, topography and distance among other factors. The presence of a nearby wildfire does not necessarily indicate the ambient temperature surrounding a Janice Carson May 23,2014 Page 3 of 14 structure was raised to damaging levels as the heat generated by the 'fire rises naturally due to convection, and damage typically occurs due to radiant heat rather than an overall increase in surrounding ambient temperatures. Radiant heat (outwards) from a fire dissipates into the atmosphere and the intensity of that heat is reduced greatly with increasing distance from the heat source. Similar to a camp fire, the surface of an item facing the fire can feel the effects of the radiant heat while the opposite face does not feel the effects of the radiant heat.

8 Typical residential structures are constructed of a select set of materials. Many of these materials, such as vinyl and plastic, have a known temperature ranges wherein they will melt or burn and provide the best indicator of actual temperatures to which a structure was exposed. Thus, through inspecting the condition of these materials on the structure, Knott Laboratory can determine, to a reasonable degree of certainty, the temperatures to which the structure was exposed. It should be noted that duration of heat exposure is also a key component in the transfer of heat causing damage, that is, lower temperatures required significantly longer durations of exposure to generate damage whereas higher temperatures require less exposure time. Based on aerial mapping of the fire conducted by the United states Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDAFS)1 and the structure's location (Figure 2), Knott Laboratory determined the subject structure is approximately 400 feet from the nearest mapped burn reach of the Waldo Canyon fire which is indicated to the west along Moorfield Avenue.

9 Radiant heat will not typically extend this distance. Ms. Olivier reported the neighbor directly north of the subject residence (across Wickes Road) had the roof catch fire, which was extinguished prior to burning the structure. The nearby structures all remained intact and did not burn down. Thus, the greatest exposure to damaging heat from the fire was from the west, but it is likely minimal due to the distances involved. Knott Laboratory performed an on-site investigation of the surroundings for evidence of direct fire damage (burn/char) and/or heat damage to flora. Based on studies performed by the United states Department of Agriculture (USDA) and others, most plant tissue begins to die if heated to temperatures between 1220 to 1310 Fahrenheit2. The extent of damage is also time-temperature dependent wherein mortality of flora can occur at higher temperatures after a short period, while death at lower temperatures requires a longer exposure. Thus the flora on a property is typically a good starting indicator as to the temperatures in which the structure may have been exposed to.

10 1 USDA Forest Service Fire Data. 2 Brown, James K.; Smith, Jane Kapler, eds. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects ottire on fiora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2. Ogden, UT: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 257 p. Janice Carson May 23, 2014 Page 4 of 14 As the fire occurred nearly two years ago, the on-site flora has undergone almost two full growth cycles since the fire; however, the immediate surrounding flora (specifically the coniferous trees which do not lose their needles during the winter) did not show evidence of heat damage, particularly on the north side of the property (Figures 3 and 4). Additionally, Ms. Olivier opined that she was surprised to come back to her home shortly after the evacuation was lifted to find her outside flowers remained undamaged. Thus, Knott Laboratory concluded the fire did not generate elevated temperatures capable of damaging the nearby trees (1220 to 1310 Fahrenheit).