A recent fire in military housing at Misawa Air Base, Japan, destroyed a kitchen and caused thousands of dollars in damage to government property. Base leaders at Misawa advise servicemembers to purchase renter’s insurance. (Courtesy of U.S. AIr Force)
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — It was a jolt Staff Sgt. Roderick Parker never expected: One January day, “I was in the middle of going to a meeting when I got a phone call: ‘You need to go home; your house is on fire.’”
The conventional maintenance crew chief with 35th Maintenance Group said his son, 18, left something in the toaster, which was connected to the microwave via electrical wiring. The microwave may have exploded. Parker said when his son returned to an empty house after a 20-minute library trip, the smoke was so thick he couldn’t get in the door; he called 911.
No one was injured, but Parker learned a costly lesson: Even military housing residents need renter’s insurance.
Through recent on-base publicity, Misawa leaders are stressing that need after 12 fires in base housing in 2004. In 11, residents had no renter’s insurance, said Col. Tom Yanni, 35th Mission Support Group commander.
Without coverage, occupants are liable for damage to the structure and any other government property unless the fire was caused by an electrical or mechanical problem in the building, base officials said.
The fire at Parker’s home remains under investigation, but officials estimate government property damage at more than $83,000. Base firefighters contained the flames but smoke damage pervaded the house, Parker said. “Everything we owned was covered in ... soot.”
He doesn’t know yet whether he’ll owe the Air Force, but it’s unlikely he’ll be faced with a six-figure bill. Military housing occupants need repay the entire debt only in cases of gross negligence, Yanni said.
“That’s something pretty egregious, like washing lawnmower parts in gasoline in your quarters. Most cases we see are simple negligence,” such as unattended cooking. For that, an occupant is liable for up to a month’s salary, generally paid over 12 months at a minimum of $50 per paycheck.
Renters insurance is advised for all base housing occupants, dorm dwellers and off-base housing residents, who often borrow furniture and major appliances from the base Furniture Management Office.
Those making a permanent-change-of-station move to Misawa are briefed on the importance of buying such insurance, but it is optional. “That question keeps coming up: Is there any way we can require it?” said Donna Marchak, assistant housing manager. Even Pacific Air Forces has asked, she said, “because of the growing costs of fires.”
Marchak said renters insurance also can be extended to cover personal property losses. One insurer in Misawa also offers coverage for damage from lightning, theft, flood, wind, hail, snow, water (such as burst pipes), falling objects, even a riot or strike. Coverage for a fire following an earthquake, volcanic eruption or tidal wave costs extra.
The type and amount of coverage determines the price, but at Misawa most packages cost less than $100 a year, officials said. Yanni, who pays $48 per year for his renter’s insurance, noted that most U.S.-bought insurance policies probably don’t cover all liability in Japan, so buying coverage locally is wise.
Parker said he and his family lost up to $5,000 in household goods from smoke damage.
Since the fire, his squadron and base organizations have helped with everything from kitchen utensils to meal coupons. “It was pretty moving to find you have that kind of support,” he said. The base even found Parker a house on the same street the day after the fire.
His first order of business upon moving in: Renter’s insurance. “It cost me $65 for the whole year,” he said.
