After a house fire, you may be at a loss for what to do next. Where should you go when you have nowhere to live? What should you do if your belongings are gone? When should you ask for help?
Although the road to recovery may seem impossible, there are ways to get back on your feet. Read on to learn what steps you should take to stay safe and recover (both emotionally and financially) immediately after losing everything in a house fire.
12 Steps to Take After Your House Burns Down
Step 1: Make Sure You’re Safe
Before you do anything following a house fire, make sure everybody is safe. Move you, your family members, and any pets out of harm’s way, whether that is somewhere on or entirely off the premises. A home that has experienced a fire may seem safe to re-enter once the flames have been put out, but it can contain many potential hazards, including:
- Smoke, ash, or soot particulates
- Structural issues (like a weak floor or waterlogged ceiling)
- Gas leaks
- Electrical currents (especially if there’s standing water)
If you really want to go back inside your house, wait until your fire department gives you the go-ahead. Even if the property is deemed “all-clear”, it may be advisable to wear protective gear such as gloves, masks (preferably an N95), and sturdy footwear.
Step 2: Prevent Further Damage
Once the fire has been put out, you’re going to want to secure your property to prevent it from further damage. Most homeowner’s policies include a “duty to protect the property from furtherdamage,” which means you must take reasonable, practical steps after a loss to prevent the issue from worsening. Otherwise, you risk reducing your claim payout.
This often includes:
- Securing the area. Rope off damaged areas or place barriers to prevent access.
- Board up windows or holes. If you have damaged windows, doors, or walls, board up these openings with secure materials, such as sheets of plywood.
- Extract excess water. Because standing water can lead to mildew, mold, and rot, removing it should be an immediate action.
Step 3: Contact Your Insurance Company (But Keep It Brief)
Next, you’ll want to notify your insurance company that a loss has taken place. This does NOT mean you’ll have to file a claim right away: you’re just letting them know that a disaster has taken place. They’ll likely want some initial details: start off by telling them the date and time of the incident, cause, and extent of the damage.
While prompt reporting is important (and can expedite the claims process), rushing to file a claim is not usually a good idea. Your insurance company will try to capitalize on your vulnerability to serve its best interests, so take the time to be thorough (while still filing within the deadline).
Step 4: Consider Hiring a Public Adjuster
Losing everything in a house fire is incredibly difficult. Luckily, you don’t have to try to rebuild your life all on your own. If you want extra help, consider hiring a public adjuster— they’re insurance professionals who understand all the complicated ins and outs of homeowner’s insurance policies and will help you get the settlement you deserve.
Unlike your insurance company, they always have your best interests in mind and can do everything from:
- Offer expert guidance
- Document damages & calculate losses
- File insurance paperwork
- Schedule debris removal & contractor repairs
- Negotiate directly with your insurance company
- Maximize your settlement payout (typically by 30% or more)
Although a public adjuster can help you at any point in the process, it’s best to involve them sooner rather than later—usually before you file proof of loss. They only get paid when you do, and their fees are usually only a small percentage of your claim, so you don’t have to worry about shouldering more of a financial burden.
Step 5: Secure Temporary Housing
If you’ve lost everything in a house fire, then you’ll likely need to find somewhere to live temporarily. Luckily, most homeowner’s insurance policies include coverage for Additional Living Expenses (ALE), which (as the name suggests) covers costs associated with living away from your home, and can include expenses such as:
- Rent or hotel fees
- Utilities (if you’re staying in a rental property)
- Food (if you’re staying somewhere cooking isn’t an option, such as a hotel without a kitchenette)
- Storage
- Pet boarding
- Transportation (for getting back and forth from places like work or school)
The amount of ALE you get to spend is typically about 10% to 20% of the insured dwelling coverage on your property. This means that if your house is insured for $300,000, you may have up to $60,000 to spend on additional living expenses. Regardless of how much you use, make sure you save all your receipts so you can be reimbursed!
Step 6: Ensure Your Utilities Are Turned Off
It may not seem necessary, but you’re going to want to confirm that all your utilities have been turned off. Usually, the fire department will do so—but it doesn’t hurt to double-check. Utilities such as gas, water, and electricity can actually cause further damage to your property if left on after a fire.
That’s because their systems can become compromised after fire damage, causing them to malfunction. Gas can leak and cause explosions, electricity can spark and reignite flames, and water can lead to burst pipes and flooding. Luckily, once you have them turned off, your utility company is responsible for making sure they can be safely turned back on.
Step 7: Review Your Policy
You’re going to want to review your insurance policy to check what type of fire coverage you have. In particular, you want to see if you’re insured with a replacement cost value (RCV) or actual cash value (ACV) policy. RCV will replace your damaged properties and belongings with those of a similar kind and quality, while ACV accounts for depreciation and pays you out according to that.
Familiarize yourself with the specific steps involved in filing a claim and the documentation required at each stage. If you’re struggling to understand your policy, either reach out to your insurer for clarification or contact a public adjuster.
Step 8: File an Insurance Claim
You’ll have to file a proof of loss form, which is a legal document that includes details surrounding the loss, such as the date, cause, the extent of the damage, the amount of money you are asking for in compensation, and more. When filing a proof of loss form, you’ll need to submit supporting “documentation” to back up your claim. This can include things like:
- Photos: Try to capture different angles of the fire damage.
- Videos: Record the fire damage while providing a helpful voiceover.
- Notes: Take detailed notes about how, why, when, and where.
- Items inventory: A list that outlines all the items that were damaged and their estimated costs for replacement.
- Fire Report: Request a copy of the fire report from the fire department.
Step 9: Start Debris Removal
Although you’re going to feel tempted to start throwing damaged items away immediately after a fire, you’re going to want to wait. Your insurance company may ask to inspect the items or assess the extent of the damage before processing your claim. However, once they give you the go-ahead, you’re free to start on debris removal.
In most cases, after a house fire, the expense of clearing the debris is either completely covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy or covered up to a certain limit. For example, if your policy has a 10% limit on debris removal and the claim was for $50,000 in total damages, the insurance company will therefore cover up to $5,000 in debris cleanup charges.
Step 10: Determine What You Can or Can’t Keep
In the aftermath of a house fire, there are going to be items that you can and can’t keep. In particular, items that are considered porous (ie, readily absorbable) have likely been contaminated by harmful smoke and chemical toxins, and will need to be thrown out. Keep an eye out for scorch marks, strong odors, or signs of mold.
Salvageable items tend to include:
- Clothing & upholstery (after a professional cleaning)
- Electronics & appliances
- Hard-surfaced furniture
- Glassware & metalware
Meanwhile, non-salvageable items tend to include:
- Food & beverages
- Medications & cosmetics
- Paper products & books
- Items made from plastic & rubber
Step 11: Replace Vital Documents
Before you start worrying about replacing non-essentials like clothes or decorations, you’re going to want to immediately replace any vital documents that were lost in the fire. This can include documentation like:
- Driver’s licenses
- Birth certificates
- Social security cards
- Passports
- Citizenship papers
- Marriage certificates
- Banking information
You’re going to want to start by replacing your ID first, as that will open the doors for replacing everything else. Most DMVs and government offices have procedures in place specifically for fire victims, so the replacement copies should be expedited.
If not, it may be worth it to pay a little extra to get them faster. (Save the receipts; in some cases, your policy will cover the cost of replacement documents.)
Step 12: Weigh Buying vs. Rebuilding
After a devastating house fire, you’re left with two options: buying a new home or rebuilding. There are a few questions to ask yourself before making a decision:
- Is the property considered a total loss? Thanks to Wisconsin’s valued policy statute, insurance companies are required to pay out your full policy limit if your home is considered a total loss.
- How much will it cost? Buying a new home in Wisconsin costs around $323,900 on average, while rebuilding can cost anywhere from $375,000 to $1,000,000.
- What’s my time commitment? Building a new home can take anywhere from 7 to 14 months, while buying can be a much faster process (depending on your area’s residential inventory).
- How strong is my emotional attachment? If you have a strong emotional attachment to the property (such as land that’s been in your family for generations), then you may want to rebuild.
Helpful Organizations After a House Fire
Your insurance policy isn’t the only help available to you after a house fire! There are plenty of community resources, programs, and charities to assist you in the event of a disaster. Some of these organizations include:
- The Salvation Army: If you need emergency lodging, financial aid, or long-term recovery, The Salvation Army can help. Just call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or visit your local Salvation Army branch.
- American Red Cross: After a disaster, the Red Cross can assist with things like emergency lodging, financial aid, mental health support, and more. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or find your local chapter through the Red Cross website.
- FEMA: Even if you have insurance, FEMA may be able to provide you with money and other services to help with recovery after a major loss. You can apply online, by phone ( 1-800-621-3362), or in person at a Disaster Recovery Center.
- 211: By calling 2-1-1, you’re connected to a local community resources specialist who will help you navigate the crisis and find assistance for housing, food, and more.
- Disaster Distress Helpline : It’s normal to feel stressed or anxious after a house fire. If you need crisis counseling or emotional support, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 for 24/7 service.
Have You Experienced a House Fire? Then Contact Fortitude Today
If you’re struggling to recover after losing everything in a house fire, then contact Fortitude Public Adjusters today. We’re Wisconsin’s most trusted insurance professionals for a reason, and we’re here to help you on the road to recovery.
We’ll navigate the claims process, advocate on your behalf, negotiate with your insurance company, and more to ensure your rights as a policyholder are protected.
