How to File a Wildfire Claim

Homeowners Insurance

If damage or destruction is caused by fire, coverage should be available under your homeowners or renters insurance policy. This includes your personal belongings and the physical structure of your home. If you must stay in a hotel and eat meals out because a wildfire has damaged your home, your insurance policy may reimburse you for these Additional Living Expenses, also known as ALE.

Your insurance company will be responsible for covering the costs of repairing or rebuilding your home due to damage caused by both fire and smoke based on your policy’s coverage limits and conditions.

You’ll want to check with your insurance provider, as the actual insurance payout you can expect to receive will differ depending on your policy’s specific terms and limits.

Auto Insurance

If you’ve chosen to include comprehensive coverage in your car insurance policy, your vehicle should be protected against damage caused by fire. It’s important to note that comprehensive coverage is typically not required, so check your policy to see if it is available.

Business Insurance

Typically, a business owner’s policy (BOP) will cover fire damage to the building itself, inventory, and other property.

If you’re worried about a loss of profit or income, check and see if you have business interruption insurance. This can help cover what profits you would have made if your business were operating as normal, as well as any overhead costs you might incur as you set up a temporary location for your business.

Step #1: Contact Your Insurance Company ASAP

The sooner you let your insurance company know the damage has occurred, the sooner they can send out an insurance adjuster and begin the reimbursement or payment process. Some insurance companies may even place time limits on claims—meaning, if you wait too long to file, they may not be required to pay out for the damage that has occurred. NOTE: Many companies may be overwhelmed in an emergency. Delays may be expected.

Step #2: Review Your Home Inventory

As is the case when making any homeowners insurance claim, having a home inventory is crucial to making the process smooth and seamless. Your home inventory documents should be saved somewhere online so you can access them from a hotel computer (or your phone), or they should be stored safely offsite.

It’s likely your insurance provider will ask you to complete a “Proof of Loss” form, in which you’ll need to provide descriptions of what’s been damaged or destroyed, how much they were worth, and when they were purchased.

If possible, do not throw anything away, no matter how destroyed or damaged it may be. You’ll want the insurance adjuster to be able to see the item and assess its damage for themselves.

Step #3: Ask What Is Needed

This is likely your first time facing such devastation, meaning you may not know what the insurance company needs from you. Don’t be afraid to request clarification on what they require in order to process your claim, and ask what you can expect the next steps to look like.