From 2009 to 2013, 18% of fires in Canada were caused by cooking equipment. However, water damage (caused by water main breaks, overflowing appliances and hot water tank leaks) has replaced fire and theft as Canada’s largest source of claim.1In recent years, 44% of claims were from water damage, and in 2013, payouts reached $3.2 billion.2
Homeowners were encouraged to install sump pumps to prevent flooding, but these appliances are now becoming a source of claims activity on their own—for both fire and flooding.3
Join Origin and Cause forensic engineers to learn about the appliances that are most likely to be the cause of a fire and flood claims. Most commonly found in kitchens, laundry rooms and basements, they include:
Michelle specializes in vehicle fire investigation, failure analysis, product liability, residential and commercial appliances, equipment malfunctions in sprinkler systems, and heating and refrigeration equipment. She also has experience investigating vehicle fires including transport trucks, forestry and farm equipment. Prior to entering the field of forensic engineering, Michelle performed mechanical engineering tests and evaluations for Ford Canada and was an equipment engineer for Samsung Austin Semiconductor.
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