‘H-D Forums’ Member Shares Harrowing Tale of Garage Fire
The fire wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but it still caused a ton of damage and destroyed at least two of his bikes.
Short of a serious accident while riding or having your bike stolen, one of the worst things that can happen to any motorcyclist is a garage fire. Unfortunately, that’s just what happened to H-D Forums member Since 1968.
Back in January, he was woken up by his smoke detectors going off. There was no fire in the house, but the garage was a different story. When all was said and done, the fire destroyed two motorcycles — a 2005 FXSTSi and a 2019 Heritage Classic — and ruined a ton of parts and other items stored out there.
The fire apparently started with a golf cart charger, extension cord, and ultrasonic rodent repellent device. Insurance investigators determined that one or more of these items failed and ultimately started the fire.
Since 1968 has taken this as a very expensive learning opportunity, and he’s shared what he’s learned with the forum. There’s a lot we didn’t know or understand about fire and smoke damage.
What He Learned
His first bit of advice? Clean off soot as soon as possible. Neither he nor us had any idea how corrosive soot can be once it gets wet. The soot itself isn’t so bad, but once it’s wet down by the fire department doing their thing, the clock starts ticking. After sitting for just a short time on paint or chrome, it will be destroyed beyond saving.
Since 1968 is in the process of restoring a classic Norton Commando. As a result, there were a lot of parts laying around in the garage. Parts that were stored in sealed plastic totes were more or less fine. However, parts stored out in the open were destroyed by fire, smoke, and soot damage.
The scariest thing about fires is that they can happen to anyone, at any time. You owe it to yourself to install smoke detectors and to check up on your homeowner’s insurance coverage.
Your motorcycle insurance will take care of your bike, but your homeowner’s will cover anything else that was damaged. Make sure that after the expensive cleanup and rebuild, there’s enough coverage left over to replace tools, equipment, and anything else you keep out there.
We here at H-D Forums feel really bad for Since 1968, but we’re glad his house was safe, and we appreciate him sharing his experience with us.
Photos: H-D Forums
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