First 48 Hours
Fire damage. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Fire damage claims turn on scope. Not on whether it is covered, but on how much. The first 48 hours set the ceiling on what you will recover.
Before you do anything: make your home safe.
If there is active fire, gas, electrical risk, or structural collapse risk, evacuate and call 911 first. Property damage is recoverable. Safety is not.
Immediate steps
The first hour
Every minute of the first hour after fire damage shapes the claim that follows. Work the list. Do not skip steps. Do not improvise.
- 01
Wait for fire officials to clear the structure
Do not reenter until they say it is safe. Re-ignition, structural failure, and toxic fumes are real risks for 24-72 hours.
- 02
Get the fire report number
Ask the responding department for the incident number and estimated time the report will be filed. You will need it for the carrier.
- 03
Secure the property
Board-up, temporary fencing, tarping. Required by your policy. Document before and after.
- 04
Begin temporary lodging arrangements
Your policy likely includes Additional Living Expense (ALE) coverage. Keep every receipt.
- 05
Contact your carrier and get a claim number
FNOL (first notice of loss) gets the clock started. Give the facts. Do not speculate on cause.
Critical
Document before you clean
Photograph everything first.
Your carrier will question anything you clean up before they see. Documentation preserves scope. Cleanup without documentation collapses scope.
- 01
Photograph the exterior before anything is touched
Every elevation. Roof if accessible. Any visible smoke staining on siding.
- 02
Interior walk-through with video narration
When officials allow entry. Smoke damage is harder to document weeks later when odor fades.
- 03
Inventory damaged contents before disposal
Brand, model, age, condition, and estimated replacement cost for every damaged item. Photos of serial plates where possible.
- 04
Preserve evidence of cause if safe
If it was a specific appliance or wiring issue, do not let anyone dispose of it until the carrier and any subrogation parties have seen it.
What to photograph and video
- ✓Full exterior, all four sides
- ✓Every room showing extent of char, smoke, and water damage from firefighting
- ✓Contents in place before disposal
- ✓HVAC system (smoke contamination in ductwork is often missed)
- ✓Attic/roof damage from ventilation or fire spread
- ✓Utility meters (electrical, gas) for pre-loss condition
- ✓Any soot on adjacent structures or your car
FNOL
Call your insurance carrier
Once the property is documented and safe, call your carrier. Ask for a claim number. Give the facts. State that you are reserving the right to supplement the claim as the full scope emerges. That is standard language, not a red flag.
Free claim review
Get a free claim review from a licensed Florida public adjuster.
We review your policy and estimate at no cost. If we take your case, our fee only comes from the increased recovery.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
Do not give a recorded statement yet.
You can decline until you have documented the full scope and, ideally, had a licensed Florida public adjuster review your statement. Once recorded, it is the canonical version of events.
If you know your carrier, read the carrier profile for specifics on how they handle fire damage claims. Each carrier has patterns. Knowing the pattern is half the advantage.
Policy requirement
Mitigate further damage
Your policy requires you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Emergency tarps, plumbing shut-offs, board-up, drying, mold control. Keep every receipt. These expenses are reimbursable.
What is reasonable mitigation?
Tarps on a damaged roof: yes. Full roof replacement in week one: no. Water extraction and drying: yes. Finish replacement before scope is agreed: no. The line is "prevent further damage," not "start repair."
Know the traps
Red flags in the first 48 hours
- CACarrier tries to attribute cause to excluded eventArson exclusions, undisclosed renovations, rental-use exclusions. If cause language feels coercive, stop and get representation.
- ALALE offer is lowballAdditional Living Expense should reasonably match your prior standard of living. Extended-stay hotels often qualify. Keep every receipt.
- SMAdjuster dismisses smoke damage beyond fire roomSmoke migrates through HVAC. Contents in unburned rooms can be total losses. Ozone/thermal fogging assessment requires specific expertise.
- COPressure to accept a flat contents settlementItemized contents claims routinely recover 2-4x flat offers when documentation supports it.
- DERestoration company demos before scope is agreedRestoration company incentives do not always align with yours. Control the sequencing.
Free claim review
Still building your claim? We can help right now.
A licensed Florida public adjuster will review your policy and loss documentation for free.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
Decision
When to call a public adjuster
You should call a licensed Florida public adjuster when the damage is substantial, when the carrier's first response feels like an anchor, when you are being asked to sign things you do not fully understand, or when the carrier is asking questions that feel designed to shift the narrative of cause.
You do not need one for a $500 screen repair. You almost always want one for a $30,000 kitchen restoration. In between, the rule of thumb is: if the claim complexity exceeds the time and expertise you can give it, get representation.
Public adjusters in Florida work on contingency. No recovery over the carrier's first offer, no fee. Our interests align with yours.
No obligation. No fee unless recovery.
Free claim review from a licensed Florida public adjuster.
No obligation. No fee unless we recover more than you were offered.
FAQ
Common questions about fire damage claims
How fast should I file a fire claim in Florida?+
What is ALE and how much can I use?+
Can the fire department tell the carrier I caused the fire?+
Do I have to use the carrier's preferred restoration company?+
Does my policy cover smoke damage to contents in rooms that did not burn?+
What if the fire damaged a detached structure like a shed or garage?+
If you need another one
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Go deeper
Deeper claim resources
Claim Process Guide
Every stage of a Florida insurance claim.
Florida Insurance Law
Statutes that protect policyholders.
Denied Claims
When carriers deny and how to fight back.
Claim Types
Every major damage category.
Carriers
Florida carrier profiles.
Glossary
Every claim term defined.
Help Center
Common problems homeowners face.
Case Studies
Real Florida settlements.
Calculators
Decision and settlement tools.
Storms
Every major Florida storm profiled.
Locations
All 67 Florida counties.
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Free claim review
Your policy says more than you think. Find out what you are actually owed.
Licensed Florida public adjusters. Free claim review. No recovery, no fee.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
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