What you should know about fire damage in the home.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a US fire department responds to a fire every 24 seconds. While we hope that you’re never part of this statistic, it is important to know what to do after a fire has occurred and how your homeowners insurance can help you recover.
Is smoke and fire damage covered by your homeowners insurance?
Coverage for smoke and fire damage are both included in a basic homeowners insurance policy. The smoke doesn’t need to come from a fire within your house either – smoke damage to your home from a neighbor’s fire is also covered. A basic home insurance policy will cover the following:
- Your house (aka dwelling)
- Other structures on your property (such as a driveway, fences, sheds, and other structures that live on your property)
- Your personal property
- Additional living expenses – If your place becomes uninhabitable due to fire or smoke, then you might be covered under loss of use. This means your insurance company will help to pay for a temporary place to stay and basic living expenses
- Personal liability
- Medical payments to others coverage
When would home insurance not cover fire damage?
Generally, the only time your insurance won’t cover a fire is if you – or anyone named on your policy – caused the fire on purpose. That is considered an intentional act.
How do I clean up fire damage?
If the damage is extensive, don’t deal with it alone. Contact a professional restoration company to help. They will make a fire damage assessment and thoroughly assess the structure of the home. They can tell you when it is safe to begin to clean up.
Safeguard your property with quality homeowners insurance. Contact the team Lou Aggetta Insurance Services in Pleasant Hill to get started on your tailored policy.