If you ever had to look at your insurance policy for a home, seasonal home or rental property, you probably ran head-first into the terms "hazard," "peril," or "cause of loss." In any instance, the reference is to any number of events that could create damage that the policy covers. While some events are commonly understood, others aren't. Further, the term that appears in an insurance policy may not mean the same as it does in the dictionary.

This is part one of a two-part discussion on different causes of loss. After reviewing the information below, please be sure to read part two.

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Fire has been defined by the courts as "combustion sufficient enough to produce a spark, flame or glow." By definition, a fire is not smoke. A fire is not charring. A fire must produce a spark, flame or glow. And not all fires are covered under the fire peril. Over the years, the courts have distinguished between "friendly" and "hostile" fire. A friendly fire is one that burns where it was intended to burn: a flame on a gas stove; a fire in a fireplace; fire in an outdoor grill.

Lightning is "naturally generated electricity from the atmosphere." Damage covered by the lightning peril may be the result of lightning itself or the result of a fire caused by the lightning.

In basic or stripped-down policies, explosion refers to any explosion that occurs within a structure that is covered by a given policy. However, several types of explosive events are usually excluded such as:

• bursting of water pipes
• electrical arcing
• explosions of steam boilers or pipes owned, leased or operated by the insured
• rupture or bursting of pressure relief devices

The peril of windstorm involves damage caused by direct action of the wind, including high winds, cyclones, tornadoes and hurricanes. Windstorm coverage primarily covers wind damage to a building's exterior, but will also cover interior damage if the wind breaches the exterior (causes a hole or opening in a wall or roof).

Hail damage is just that: damage caused by the direct action of hail to insured property. As with windstorm, the hail or some other covered peril must cause damage to the outside of the insured dwelling allowing hail to enter the premises in order for interior hail damage to be covered. As a result, if a window were left open, allowing hail to enter a building, that damage would not be covered.

Riot usually refers to a gathering of three or more people that results in the use of force or violence against individuals or property. Damage caused to the insured property due to riot is covered under this peril. Coverage includes direct loss caused by striking employees whether a riot occurs or not. Civil commotion can be defined as an uprising or disturbance by a large number of people. As with riot, damage caused to the insured property due to such an uprising would be covered under this peril.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary summarizes five necessary elements of a riot: At least three persons must be involved; there must be a common purpose; there must be actual inception or execution of that purpose; there must be an attempt to help one another or to cooperate by force if necessary; there must be display of force or violence in such manner as to alarm a person of reasonable courage.

The aircraft peril provides coverage from damage caused by aircraft, including self-propelled missiles and spacecraft.

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language defines "aircraft" as "any machine or machines for flying, whether heavier or lighter than air; airplane, dirigible, balloon, helicopter, etc."

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