This declaratory judgment action was precipitated by a tort action that was filed by appellant-dеfendants Edward DeLoach, Troy Denison and Jerry Mosley against appellant-defendant Perkins Hardwood Lumber Company (Perkins Hardwood). In that underlying tort action, it had been alleged that the negligence of apрellant Perkins Hardwood was the proximate cause of injuries sustained in a multivehicle collision. The allegations of negligence related to a wood fire begun by an employee of appellant Perkins Hardwood, the smoke from which fire had allegedly reduced visibility on the roadway and' caused the collision.
At the time of the collision, appellee-plaintiff Bituminous Casu-; alty Corporation was the liability carrier for appellant Perkins Hard-: wood. After the tort action was filed, appellee initiated this declaratory judgment action, seeking a declaration that, under the “pollution exclusion” of the policy, it afforded no liability coverage to appellant Perkins Hardwood for damages resulting from the collisiоn. Cross-' motions for summary judgment were filed. After conducting a hearing, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of aрpellee and denied appellants’ motion for summary judgment. Appellants appeal from the trial court’s orders.
1. In relevant part, the “pollution exclusion” provides: “This in-' surance policy does not apply (1) to bodily injury or property damage arising out of the actual, alleged or threatened dischаrge, dispersal, release, or escape of pollutants. . . . Subparagraph (1) of this exclusion does not apply to bodily injury or property damage caused by heat, smoke or fumes from a hostile fire. As usеd in this exclusion, a hostile fire means one which becomes uncontrollable, or breaks out from where it wаs intended to be. Pollutants mean any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste. Waste includes material to be recycled, recоnditioned or reclaimed.” The uncontradicted, evidence of record shows that the fire in question was nоt a “hostile fire.” Thus, the specific limitation on the scope of the exclusion is *232 inapplicable аnd the contractual interpretation issue that is presented for resolution is whether the exclusion is so broad as to negate the existence of liability coverage for injuries which allegedly resulted from the disсharge of smoke from a non-hostile wood fire.
Appellants urge that the pollution exclusion is ambiguous as to whether the smoke from a wood fire is deemed to be a pollutant. However, the exclusion clearly and unambiguously defines a pollutant as an “irritant or contaminant including smoke. . . .” The exclusion does not require that the “smoke” result from the burning of any specified material in order to be considered an “irritant or сontaminant.” “ ‘It is the duty of courts to construe and enforce contracts as made, and not to make them for the parties.’ [Cit.] The law will not make a contract for the parties which is different from the contract which was executed by them.”
Sellers v. Alco Fin.,
2. Appellants further urge the inapplicability of the exclusion on the ground that the underlying tort action is not predicated upon the discharge of the smoke but upon the fаilure of appellant Perkins Hardwood to warn motorists of the presence of the smoke. However, the policy broadly excludes coverage for damages “arising out of” the discharge of smoke. Any dаmages that may have resulted from a subsequent failure to warn of the presence of the Smoke would clearly be damages “arising out of” the initial discharge of the smoke. “[N]o right of recovery would exist at all had the [discharge of smoke] not originally occurred. . . . ‘ “Courts have no more right by strained construction to makе the policy more beneficial by extending the coverage contracted for than they would have to increase the amount of the insurance. [Cit.]” ’ [Cit.]”
Cotton States Mut. Ins. Co. v. Crosby,
3. The trial court correctly granted summary judgment in favor of appellee and correctly denied appellants’ motion for summary judgment.
Judgments affirmed.
