If such measures were not properly taken, the lodging business may bear part of the responsibility apart from the guest's own fault.

The lodging business's response when a fire breaks out: even if the fire was caused by a guest's fault, the lodging business must respond quickly and appropriately as soon as the fire starts. For example, whether the alarm sounded in time and whether guests were given directions to evacuate quickly through emergency exits are important criteria.

The guest's fault and the lodging business's responsibility: even if a guest started the fire, the lodging business must make active efforts to minimize the danger and reduce the damage. For example, if the fire alarm system did not work properly, this may be regarded as the lodging business's negligence, and the lodging business may have to answer for the additional damage it caused.

Comparative negligence: the court can compare the guest's fault with the lodging business's fault and adjust liability for damages. Even if the guest's fault is substantial, if the lodging business neglected safety measures, the faults may be offset and liability shared.

Whether the lodging business breached its duties: even if a fire was caused by a guest's mistake, the lodging business may still be liable if it did not properly maintain and give guidance on emergency evacuation routes and fire equipment. Whether it fulfilled these duties is an important criterion in judging legal liability.

In the end, even when a fire is caused by a guest's fault, the lodging business is not free from responsibility for safety management. If preventive measures were inadequate or the response to the fire was inadequate, the lodging business must bear part of the liability for damages.

When a fire breaks out at a lodging business due to outside causes, the lodging business's liability depends on how controllable and foreseeable the outside cause was and on how the business responded. Examples include a fire that spreads from a nearby building to the lodging business, or a fire caused by a natural disaster.

Fires from outside causes arise from events the lodging business cannot directly control. Examples are flames spreading to the lodging business from a fire in an adjacent building, or a fire caused by lightning. Damage to a lodging business from sparks at a construction site is also classed as an outside cause.

Duty of prevention: a lodging business has a duty to take preventive measures to protect guests from outside dangers. Examples include whether equipment such as fire detectors works properly and whether emergency evacuation routes are secured. Whether these basic measures were taken can determine the lodging business's legal liability.

Adequacy of the response: when a fire breaks out from outside causes, whether the lodging business carried out an appropriate emergency evacuation plan is an important factor in the legal judgment. If guests were not alerted so they could quickly evacuate through emergency exits, or if evacuation routes were blocked, the lodging business will find it hard to escape liability.

Efforts to minimize damage: whether active efforts were made to minimize the damage after the fire also affects legal liability. Whether the lodging business had appropriate firefighting equipment, and whether it promptly reported the damage and carried out recovery work, are considered.

To add: the Supreme Court holds that a lodging operator owes guests a duty to protect their safety under the lodging contract and is liable for breach of contract if it violates that duty (Supreme Court Decision 93Da43590, January 28, 1994). As in the case, when there are no lineal ascendants or descendants, the spouse 丙 is the sole heir and inherits 甲's damages claim, and 丙's own damages for emotional distress are claimed under Article 752 of the Civil Code, which covers cases of loss of life. Where the owner's negligence is disputed, fire inspection records and the condition of alarm equipment are key evidence.