Was it the previous owners burning trash?
Was it the transformer sitting in our backyard that caught on fire?
Was it deliberate?
Not technically, really. After calling the power company about the transformer (she said transformers, when they blow, only blow a fuse and don't start fires. Ok. Yeah.), our buyer's agent who consulted with the seller's agent ("Um, well, it was the transformer that started the fire.") and several other sources that all blamed it on the transformer, it was one of our neighbors who cleared the smoke on this one.
The house sits behind a strip mall that has, of coursee, back doors for deliveries and pick-ups. Well, one of the trucks hit the power line going across the back that was attached (underground) to the transformer. Transformer caught on fire and the neighbor on the other side of us put the fire out before it reached the house, which no one was living in at the time.
Very handy guy to have around. The strip mall owns the fence and hasn't made any attempt to replace it so far.
No worries. We always come up with a work-around.
I'm sure it's all wrapped up in insurance BS. If it's the truck driver's fault for hitting it, it's the responsibility of the trucking company to pay the repair. Here's where it gets tricky. The trucker should have called the accident in to his company and told the person he delivers to at the strip mall. The strip mall owner should then contact the electric company. Trucking company pays for the fence and electric company bill for repairing the pole and transformer. If you can get in touch with the electric company again they can probably give you the name of the trucking company responsible and you can call them for repairing it. You have the neighbor there to verify that is what happened. Strip mall people may not even know who is responsible. I'd push the hell out of that. Find out what the pressure treated lumber would cost to replace it, call the trucking company insurance adjustor and let it rip. If they won't comply tell them that they'll have an attorney's letter sent to them within two weeks. They usually comply. :) (Working the Accident Line at a trucking company finally pays off)
ReplyDeleteYou know the hubs. He won't push it. The electric company was absolutely no help because customer records (even if the house was empty) is privileged information and they don't archive after an account closes.
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