Real Estate & Property Law

BARBECUE FIRES THAT START ON A CONDO DECK, AND BURN DOWN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Don't kid yourself. If you are one of the wooden structure Condo Associations in California that has not yet banned charcoal or large container propane barbecues from use on decks, you could be sorry. Here is a sample letter one owner wrote to the owners in their complex, and I find it accurate relating to a condo development in the Tahoe area, where the fire danger is high.

"Dear Owners

I am writing because I want to make sure all of you understand what can happen if a fire is started on a deck in any of our units because of the use of a barbecue cooker. Summer is here and it is a dry, hot one and the area around us could be considered nature's "tinder box", beautiful, but dangerous. If a fire starts in our complex and burns down a building or more, or worse, the surrounding area, my question is ... do we have enough insurance to cover us and all of our neighbors' homes, because I believe we (all the owners) could ultimately be held responsible."

Good question. ... Especially since the State has adopted fire regulations that ban use of these types of open flame barbecues within 10 feet of multistructure complexes. Insurance companies are looking at this. Some are recommending rules changes to prevent the hazardous situations. High tenancy and vacation rental complexes are especially susceptible because of the "truth evident" that renters do not tend to take the same precautions as owners since they have no interest in the property.

Full post as published by California Condo & HOA Law on September 12, 2009 (boomark / email).