CILA - The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters

Special Interest Group:Liability

Proving the Cause of Fire - 4 Pump Court with Burgoynes

In many major fire losses much of the potentially relevant evidence as to the cause of the fire has been destroyed. Proving the cause of the fire will depend on drawing inferences from limited physical evidence.

This seminar addressed the legal and technical difficulties that arise in practice. Transcripts of each of the presentations given can be downloaded using the link below.

Programme

Proving the cause of fire - Michael Davie, 4 Pump Court

  • can the fire speak for itself?
  • the Sherlock Holmes approach to causation
  • circumstances where a robust approach to causation may be taken
  • the use of inference where positive or scientific proof is not enough

Forensic analysis of the cause of fire - Neil Sanders, Burgoynes

  • fire investigation overview and techniques
  • arson-tell tale signs
  • causes – electrical, smoking, hot work, extraction ducts, chimney fires, pyrolysis, with case examples
  • how to get a good forensic report
  • case example – Cutty Sark fire

Recent development in insurance for fire losses - Alex Charlton QC, 4 Pump Court

  • waste warranties
  • hot work warranties
  • proving breach
  • non-disclosure

Download Presentations (PDF format, 249Kb)

A report on the event is also available.

Event Report

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