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Icelandic building fire traced to battery charger, owner disputes insurance claim

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A fire in an industrial building in Húsavík, Iceland, started from a battery charger, according to a police investigation report.
  • The owner of the company, Garðavík, is disputing the insurance company's assessment of the damage, arguing it is more extensive than reported.
  • Despite the damage, the father-son owners are continuing business operations from rented premises.

A fire that destroyed an industrial building in Húsavík, Iceland, originated from a battery charger, a police investigation has concluded. The owner of the affected company, Garðavík, is now in a dispute with the insurance company over the extent of the damage.

There it is stated that the fire originated from a charger and that is an irrefutable conclusion.

— Guðmundur VilhjálmssonThe owner of the company, Garðavík, commenting on the police investigation report.

Guðmundur Vilhjálmsson, owner of Garðavík, stated that the police's technical report is conclusive, identifying the charger as the source of the blaze. However, he noted a significant discrepancy between the police's findings and the insurance company's damage assessment. "The difference is striking," Vilhjálmsson said.

The difference is striking.

— Guðmundur VilhjálmssonDescribing the discrepancy between the police's findings and the insurance company's damage assessment.

The company is preparing a statement for the insurance firm to argue that the property sustained more damage than initially evaluated. Vilhjálmsson confirmed that the building's walls cannot be reused. Despite the setback, he and his son, Friðrik Aðalgeir, who co-owns the business, are undeterred. "We are just in rented premises now, and there is no stopping us father and son," Vilhjálmsson added.

We are just in rented premises now, and there is no stopping us father and son.

— Guðmundur VilhjálmssonExpressing determination to continue business operations despite the fire.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.