Apt Fire now they want 1/2 Mill

Hello,
We had a fire in our apt last year in Florida. The fire dept deemed it as an accident. It was cause by a spot lamp for an iguana cage on the outdoor patio. It was winter and there were blankets on top of the cage and the lamp was about 3 feet away no where near the blankets. We had been doing this for the last 5 years with no problems. We bought a new bulb and the next day the apt caught fire. We of course lost everything. But now the apt complex's insurance company is trying to get $400,000 to 500,000 out of us. We don't make that kind of money. What recourse do we have and what can they do?
Thank you!
Mark

[OHlandlord]

I suggest you get an attorney now! While it was an accident, the lamp that caused the fire was yours. You plugged it in, changed the bulb, put blankets near the cage. The liability may well be yours. Your only choice is to get a lawyer. You will be pursued by the insurance company and their large group of attorneys as the fire was caused by your actions. I'm afraid I have no good news or other help. Sorry. If you had renter's insurance, this may have been covered by that.