Opinion ID: 2507041
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Cause and Origin of Funkhouser Fire

Text: Funkhouser designated Michael J. Schulz as an expert in fire investigation to testify regarding the cause and origin of the Funkhouser fire. Specifically, Schulz would testify that the origin of the fire was located within the vehicle's instrument panel area with the key in an off position and [a]lthough there are multiple options within the instrument panel and surrounding area that could explain the electrical fire, the most likely origin point of the fire was in the lower portion of the panel in the vicinity of the wiring harness, cigarette lighter and the controls for the heating and AC system. According to Schulz, the cause of the fire was the ignition of combustible materials [4] by heat energy generated by abnormal and undesired electrical activity within the lower portion of the center instrument panel in the vicinity of the wiring harness, cigarette lighter and the controls for the vehicle's heating and air conditioning system. Further, the source of ignition was likely electrical activity emanating from one of the wires or connector in this vicinity. [5] Schulz opines that [t]here were no actions by the occupants of the minivan that served as the source of ignition. Additionally, Schulz would testify that other similar occurrences should have placed Ford on notice that Ford's Windstar minivans manufactured between 1999 and 2003 were or were likely to be dangerous for the use for which they were sold because Ford knew or should have known that the electrical components in the instrument panel area of these vans had the potential to fail and result in a fire with the key in an `off' position.