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Knowing the most important steps in how to file a wildfire home insurance claim can help you maximize your insurance payout and minimize the risk of your claim being denied.

Understanding how to file a home insurance claim is even more important if you live in a wildfire-prone area. For a successful wildfire homeowners insurance claim, you’ll need to document damage to your home, keep receipts, and speak with a claims adjustor. It may sound confusing, but we’ve outlined everything you need to know below.

Explore the wildfire insurance claims process below, including detailed steps to file a claim. Then, enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool to find affordable home insurance that covers wildfire damage.

8 Steps to File a Home Insurance Claim After Wildfire Damage

Having your home damaged or destroyed in a wildfire can be overwhelmingly stressful, but it only takes eight simple steps to file a home insurance claim.

Many homeowners are left wondering, “Does home insurance cover wildfire damage?” after a fire. As long as you follow our simple guide to filing a home insurance claim after a fire, you should get wildfire recovery assistance quickly.

Step #1: Contact Your Provider

As soon as it’s safe, contact your insurance provider about what’s happened to your home. Some insurance providers have an online option to start a home insurance claim, and most offer 24/7 phone support.

You’ll need to provide basic information about the damage to your house, but don’t worry if you leave something out. In this step, your insurance company only needs basic information.

The exact amount of time you have to file a wildfire claim varies by state. For example, residents of Arizona can file a homeowners insurance claim up to six years after the event. However, most homeowners have a year to file a claim. No matter where you live, you should check with your insurance company — your provider may require a quicker claim.

It’s best if you file as quickly as you’re able to, so you can use your fire insurance payout to repair your home. Additionally, your insurance company may reduce the amount they pay if you wait too long after an event because it’s harder to prove damage to your home was caused by a wildfire.

Learn More: Does USAA homeowners insurance cover fire damage?

Step #2: Document Wildfire Damage

Once the fire danger is over and you can enter your home safely, you’ll need to gather some information for your wildfire damage insurance claim. To get the most out of your Insurance for wildfires, you’ll need the following:

Take photos and videos of all affected areas, both inside and outside your home. Document everything — burned structures, soot damage, and any destroyed belongings. This evidence is crucial for substantiating your claim. Use our home fire safety guides and educational resources for more valuable resources.

Step #3: Keep Records and Receipts

Start a file to keep track of all communications with your insurance company. Save receipts for any expenses related to temporary lodging, food, or urgent purchases you’ve made as a result of the wildfire.

Knowing how to take a home inventory will also help. While it may seem tedious, keeping detailed records of everything during the claims process can protect you later on, especially if your claim is denied. It will also help when you file for reimbursement on anything you had to buy before your claim is settled.

Step #4: Perform Temporary Repairs

Prevent further damage by making temporary repairs, such as covering holes in the roof or boarding up windows.

Be sure to save receipts for any materials or services used, as your insurance company may reimburse those expenses later.

Make sure to avoid permanent repairs as best you can until your claim is processed. You’ll have a better idea of your repair budget once you know what your claim settlement is.

Read More: Home Fire Safety for Kids and Teens

Step #5: Submit a Wildfire Insurance Claim

Getting wildfire home insurance claims settled as quickly as possible requires working with your provider to submit your claim as soon as possible. Complete the necessary forms and include all documentation, such as photos, videos, and receipts.

You should also make sure you’re available if a representative from your provider has questions about your wildfire home insurance claim. Answering their questions and providing as much documentation as possible is the best way to get your claim settled.

When you file a claim, you’ll likely see your insurance rates increase. There are many factors that affect home insurance rates, but how many claims you’ve filed is one of the most important. You should always make sure your claim settlement will be more than your deductible to prevent your rates from increasing needlessly.

Step #6: Meet With an Adjustor

Your insurance company will send a claims adjuster to inspect the damage done to your home after a fire.

This is a crucial step in home insurance claims after a fire, so make sure to keep communications open. The most common ways a claims adjuster will contact you is over the phone and through email. The more you keep up with your adjuster, the faster your claim will resolve.

Be prepared to walk them through your home and provide any additional details. The more information you share with your adjuster, the more accurate your claim will be.

Learn More: Does homeowners insurance cover attorney fees?

Step #7: Review Your Claim Settlement

Once the adjuster completes their assessment, you’ll receive a settlement offer. Review it carefully to ensure it covers all damages and expenses.

Meeting with an adjuster might feel intimidating, but you’ll be given plenty of opportunity to present your case. To effectively negotiate with a claims adjuster, you can counter a settlement offer sent by your insurance company. Your adjuster will keep in communication with you, where you can present evidence that supports your claim, like photos and repair estimates. Remember to stay polite but firm.

If all else fails, you can always get legal help from an attorney who specializes in insurance cases.

If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to discuss them with an insurance representative. It’s especially important to contact your provider if you think there’s been a mistake in what your insurance covers. Learn more about your insurance agent’s role in the claims process.

Step #8: Close Your Claim

After agreeing to the settlement and receiving payment, confirm that your claim is officially closed. While you hopefully won’t need it, it’s always a good idea to keep all documentation in case you need to reference it in the future. To ensure any wildfire claims you file go smoothly, you can do things like protect your home and update your coverage.

Once your claim is officially closed, you’ll receive a check from your provider for the agreed-upon amount. Every company is different, but most get payments into policyholders’ hands in about a week.

Read More: Does Nationwide homeowners insurance cover fire damage?

How to Handle Wildfire Claims Denials

You know how to file an insurance claim after a wildfire now, but what happens if your claim is denied?

For starters, there are things you can do to minimize your future risk of having a claim denied. Picking the right company is crucial, especially if you need California wildfire insurance. Take a look below to see which providers have the worst track record for denying homeowners insurance claims after a wildfire.

If you’ve purchased coverage from one of the best homeowners insurance companies and you’re still facing a denied wildfire insurance coverage claim, use the following tips to resolve the problem:

• Understand the Denial: Review your denial letter carefully to determine why your claim was denied. If need be, ask a representative for help.
• Submit a Formal Appeal: Fill out the necessary paperwork with your provider to get your case reviewed. Make sure to provide any evidence your company requires.
• File a Complaint: If your appeal to your insurance company is denied, you can file a complaint with your state’s insurance department.
• Get Help: Most insurance companies offer mediation with a neutral third party to review claims. You can also get legal help from an attorney who specializes in insurance claims.
• Prevent Future Issues: Make sure you understand your home insurance policy before you have to make a future claim. You should also maintain clear records of all communication with your insurer.

With fire risks increasing, getting home insurance for wildfires can be a stressful prospect. It might be harder to find coverage in wildfire-prone states like California, but finding a policy isn’t impossible.

With a little bit of information about your home and the risks in your neighborhood, you can buy cheap homeowners insurance for wildfires online easily.

FAIR Plans for High-Risk Homes

FAIR — which stands for Fair Access to Insurance Requirements — helps homeowners in high-risk areas get insurance coverage. For example, the California FAIR plan provides coverage to California residents in even the most fire-prone areas.

Unfortunately, FAIR plans have limited coverage compared to traditional policies. To mitigate the risk that you’ll have to file a claim, multiple insurance providers cover you in a FAIR plan. When you file a claim, you’ll do so through the FAIR website, but multiple companies will each pay a portion of your claim.

Since coverage is limited, you might have to be resourceful to get wildfire insurance in California. Check out the tips below to maximize your California wildfire coverage.

FAIR shouldn’t be your first stop for home insurance, particularly because it won’t cover everything you lose in your home. In fact, one of the requirements for FAIR approval is providing proof that you’ve been denied coverage from other providers. However, if you can’t find coverage anywhere else, a FAIR plan will make sure you won’t completely lose your home after a fire.

File A Homeowners Insurance Claim After Wildfire Damage With Ease

When it comes to homeowners insurance and wildfires, making sure you have adequate coverage is one of the best steps you can take to avoid problems. Knowing how to file a wildfire home insurance claim and increasing your home fire safety can help minimize the risk of filing a claim altogether.

Planning ahead saves time, and more importantly, lives. Check out wildfire safety tips: https://t.co/sED9YkeLwI pic.twitter.com/bM9tNgHUjs

— Allstate (@Allstate) August 8, 2023

Checking that your coverage is the most affordable option periodically is an important step in maintaining a policy that works for you. Whether you want to shop for a new insurance company or need your first policy, you can find affordable home insurance rates by entering your ZIP code into our free comparison tool.