Monday afternoon in Napa, a car crash ignited a brush fire that significantly damaged the city’s only distillery. 

Napa Distillery Damaged in Fire Caused by Car CrashArthur Hartunian, a co-owner of Napa Valley Distillery, was one of the only people inside the building when the fire began on Monday. He recounts that her narrowly escaped. 

Around 3:30 pm Hartunian was on the phone with his wife and co-owner, Lusine, while he was working on paperwork. He heard a loud noise that seemed to shake the building and went to investigate what caused it. When he got downstairs and outside the building he saw one of the several Italian cypress trees standing right next to his office, was engulfed in flames. 

Hartunian ran back to his office to save a few important files, documents, and his special distillery recipe book. While he was back in his office the windows shattered due to the heat of the flames and smoke began to fill the room. 

Firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes and were able to quickly contain the fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the fire and the driver involved in the car crash walked away without injury. 

Navigating the Aftermath of a Structure Fire

If your business has sustained damage from a fire, you will likely file an insurance claim. Fire insurance is generally a requirement in California, especially in high-risk areas. The California Department of Insurance offers insurance plans to residents and businesses who cannot obtain insurance through private companies. 

When filing a claim with your insurance company, you will need to follow many steps as accurately as possible. 

Some steps you may want to take include:

  • Document the extent of damages: when it is safe to do so, documenting damages through photos and videos will be essential to the success of your claim.
  • Notify your insurance: it is important to notify your insurance company about the incident and start the claims process. Most insurance companies have a timeframe in which you must report such incidents. 
  • Secure the property: you should take precautionary measures to prevent further damage. This may include boarding up windows that have been broken or putting a tarp over a damaged roof. 
  • Make a list of damages: compile a detailed list of all damaged and destroyed items and their value. This will be helpful during the claims process.
  • Meet with the insurance Adjuster: they will assess the extent of damages to the property and help determine the value of your claim. Be sure to be present during their inspection and make sure they take note of all damages.
  • Thoroughly review your policy: ensure you understand your coverage, any limitations within it, your deductibles, and exclusions. This will give you a better understanding of how much compensation to expect.
  • Meet with an experienced attorney: you may want to consider meeting with an attorney with experience handling fire damage and insurance claims so they can help you understand and navigate the process better.

“We are thankful for firefighters’ swift response to this fire, as I’m sure Arthur and Lusine Hartunian are,” says attorney Gerald Singleton, of Singleton Schreiber, “As one of the nation’s leading fire lawyers, I’ve seen incidents like this one turn out much differently.

“The Hartunians have a long road to recovery for their business ahead of them, but it is important that they know they may be able to take legal action to help them get back on their feet.”

If your business has been damaged in a fire, contact the team at Singleton Schreiber for assistance. They may be able to help you file a claim and obtain compensation. Call today at (415) 635-0533 or contact  info@singletonschreiber.com to learn more.