Strange, how a fire can ignite from the most unlikely source; especially when that source is water related. A condo in an affluent community drew the unlucky straw of being located next to a pump station that ran the lawn sprinkler for six homes. When the lightning struck, it traveled through the pipework of the irrigation system and caught a two-car garage on fire. At stake was a basement stock full of hanging suits, jackets, and pants accumulated over a 70-year period. Belongings of a traveling businessman scientist (not a hoarder) who had passed away a few years prior. A child during the Depression, he could not bear to throw out a rag. This overabundance of clothes included a collection of unusual hats and 15 pounds of socks alone. All told, the smoke-damaged pile of clothes amounted to 1,000 pounds, all of which the policyholder wanted clean as soap.
The claimant was the daughter who had moved into the home as a caretaker. Her intention was to donate her father’s wardrobe to veterans because the clothes were of high quality. She asked that the entire collection, including duffel bags, luggage, and briefcases, be fully restored if possible. A soft contents washing system developed by Esporta of Kelowna, BC, Canada, was put to the test.