Opinion
No. 13,811.
Filed February 7, 1930.
1. NEGLIGENCE — Action for Damages from Fire — Fire Negligently Started on Adjoining Land — Evidence Held to Warrant Finding that Fire was Started by Defendants. — In an action for damages to plaintiff's buildings, including his barn, and the hay and grain therein, resulting from fire alleged to have been set by the defendants on their adjoining property, evidence held sufficient to warrant the jury's finding that the defendants set out the fires as alleged. p. 19.
2. NEGLIGENCE — Action for Damages from Fire — Evidence Held to Warrant Finding of Negligence in Setting Fire. — Evidence held sufficient to warrant jury's finding that defendants were negligent in setting fire to an accumulation of swamp grass, weeds, stubble and brush on their own land, at a time when such grass, etc., was dry, and while a strong wind was blowing in the direction of plaintiff's buildings, which caused the fire to spread rapidly until it set fire to said buildings and destroyed them. p. 19.
3. NEGLIGENCE — Action for Damages by Fire — Evidence Held to Warrant Finding that Fire Resulted from Act of Defendants. — Evidence held sufficient to warrant jury's finding that burning of plaintiff's barn and other property resulted from defendants' act in setting fire to dry grass, weeds, stubble, etc., which covered adjoining property, while a strong wind was blowing in the direction of plaintiff's property, there being testimony that, from the place where the fire started, the grass, etc., was "burned clean" to the property of the plaintiff. p. 20.
4. NEGLIGENCE — Action for Damage by Fire — Started in Accumulation of Marsh Grass, Weeds, etc., Covering Defendants' Land — Trying to Save Property in Emergency — Rule Not Applicable. — Where defendants started a fire in marsh grass, weeds, stubble, etc., which covered their land, at a time of great drought when everything was very dry and combustible, and while a strong wind was blowing, they were not relieved from liability for their negligent starting of the fire by the fact that the fire got beyond their control, thus creating an emergency, in which they attempted to protect their own property, as the emergency was created by their own negligent act. p. 20.
From Lake Circuit Court; E. Miles Norton, Judge.
Action by Irving Killingworth against Jacob Wilson and another. From a judgment for plaintiff, the defendants appealed. Affirmed. By the court in banc.
Mor N. Oppman, Ray C. Hedman and George E. Hershman, for appellants.
Steward Steward and Gavit, Hall, Smith Gavit, for appellee.
Appellee brought this action against appellants Jacob Wilson and George G. Silverman to recover damage alleged to have been by him sustained by reason of the destruction by fire of certain property belonging to the appellee.
The complaint was in two paragraphs and was answered by a general denial. The cause was submitted to a jury for trial and resulted in a judgment against appellants in the sum of $1,454, from which judgment this appeal is prosecuted. The only alleged error presented on this appeal is the action of the court in overruling the motion for a new trial, the several specifications of which motion presented on this appeal will hereinafter be noticed.
In the complaint, it was alleged, inter alia, that the appellee was the owner of certain property in the city of Gary in which he resided, and that, on said property, in addition to his dwelling house, there was located a large barn, coal shed, wagon shed, fences, and other improvements; that the appellants were the owners of certain real estate which adjoined that of appellee on the north and on the east; that the appellants had permitted a large quantity of marsh hay, long reeds, stubble, long grass, weeds and bushes to accumulate and spread over and upon this said land; that, for more than one month prior to September 16, 1927, there had been a great drought, and the earth had become dry and parched, and the marsh hay, reeds, stubble, long grass, weeds and bushes had become and were very dry and combustible; that on and during said September 16, 1927, a strong and steady wind was blowing from and across appellants' said land towards the land owned by appellee; that, on said day and while the wind was so blowing, the appellants carelessly and negligently set fire to the aforementioned accumulation of marsh hay, reeds, stubble, grass, weeds and bushes so on their said lands in many places along the north boundary of their said lands, which said fires so set, they were unable to control, and, by reason thereof, said fire spread rapidly over said lands of appellants and created a great fire, which fire spread to the premises of appellee and there burned his barn, harness, hay, grain in bin, robes and other property in said complaint specifically mentioned, and all without any fault or negligence on the part of the appellee, and he asked for damage in the sum of $5,000.
Appellants first urge that the verdict is not sustained by sufficient evidence, in that the evidence fails to establish the allegation that the appellants set out the said fires. In 1. this contention, we cannot concur. Two witnesses testified that they saw appellant Wilson starting fires there on the property the day in question and shortly before the property of appellee was burned, and one of them testified that he said to appellant Wilson at that time, "Ain't you scared this fire will get away from you?" and that Wilson replied, "No, I guess not"; that the wind was blowing from the northeast and carrying the fire directly towards appellee's premises.
It is next urged that there is no evidence of negligence on the part of appellants. In this we cannot concur. The appellants were the owners of a subdivision of lots in the city of Gary, 2. most of the said lots being vacant. These lots were covered with an accumulation of swamp hay, tall weeds and high grass; everything was dry; the strong wind was blowing from the northeast across the premises of appellants and directly towards the premises of appellee. Under these circumstances, and on this day, was it negligence for the appellants to set out this fire, scattering it along the north boundary of their premises? The jury by its verdict said these appellants were negligent in this matter, and this finding, upon the evidence, we approve. In fact, we do not see how the jury could reasonably have come to any other conclusion.
Appellants next say that there is no evidence that the burning of the barn and other property was the result of any act of appellants. There is no merit in this 3. contention. The testimony shows that the fire was started along the north line of the property of appellants, and that it traveled with the wind to the south and west until it reached the property of appellee, and there is testimony to the effect that, from the place or places where said fire was started, the grass, etc., was "burned clean" — ground entirely burned over — down to the property of appellee. The only reasonable inference to be drawn from the evidence in this case is that the fire set by appellants was carried by the wind and spread until it reached the premises of appellee, where it destroyed his said property.
Appellants next urge that the undisputed evidence was that the appellants were doing what they did, brushing and spreading fire, to protect their own property, and that, an emergency 4. having arisen, this they had a right to do, and were not, therefore, responsible in damages to appellee for his loss. The rule contended for by appellants has no application to an emergency created by the negligent act of such party. The evidence of witnesses for appellee, taken as a whole, fairly shows that appellants, as partners, were the owners of the lands where the fire was started; that said lands were overgrown with grass, weeds, etc., all of which were dry and inflammable; that the appellants were trying to sell their vacant lots, and, it is, we think, a fair inference from the evidence, that, as an aid to this sale, they desired to get rid of such weeds and grass thereon, and, as a means to that end, set fire thereto; also that, after said fire had been started, they realized the danger of its spreading to some houses owned by them, and then, and not before, they sought to save their own property.
Complaint is also made as to certain instructions given, but we find no error in that behalf. The instructions, taken as a whole, fairly state the law of the case.
Affirmed.