When special fuel is lost or destroyed in quantities of seven hundred fifty (750) gallons or more through explosion, fire, collision, storage tank wreckage, wreckage of loading or unloading facilities, such as pumps and lines, or acts of Providence while in storage in this state or while being transported in this state, the owner of the special fuel shall be entitled to tax credit or refund of the tax paid thereon.

The department shall be notified by the owner of the lost or destroyed special fuel within five (5) days after the loss or destruction is discovered. The department shall make an investigation of the facts and circumstances surrounding the loss or destruction as may be reasonably necessary for the effective administration of this article.

The claim shall be made in the name of the owner of the lost or destroyed special fuel and shall be signed by the owner or his authorized agent and filed within three (3) years after the date of loss. All claims must be accompanied by proof satisfactory to the department that the special fuel for which credit is claimed was destroyed by or through one (1) of the means set forth in the first paragraph of this section, and in all cases where the special fuel alleged to have been destroyed was covered by insurance, the department shall not approve such claims unless and until the insurer has acknowledged and actually paid the loss.

Upon receipt of the claim, the department shall determine the amount of refund or tax credit due the claimant and in the case of refund the amount shall be refunded to the claimant as provided in Section 27-55-19.

If the department determines that any refund claim shall not be paid, it shall notify the claimant stating the reason or reasons why the claim is disallowed.

A claimant may, within sixty (60) days from the date of the written notice of the disallowance of his claim, appeal to the board of review as provided by law.