If you’ve just had a fire, get everyone safe first. The claim can wait a few hours. When you’re ready, here’s what to do, what your policy usually covers, and where fire claims get underpaid. We’re GB Claims, a licensed public adjuster working for homeowners across Rockland, Westchester and Orange counties, the NYC metro area, and throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. We represent you, not the insurance company. That also means no kickbacks from contractors or mitigation companies – you are the only person we work for.
One thing before anything else: call us before you file the claim. You can call us after too – but it makes a huge difference whether we file it for you or it goes in without us. Filing it the wrong way is a common mistake that costs real money, and it happens for no good reason. Get us in first and it gets filed correctly.
Large fire, commercial building or apartment building? See our Fire & Large Loss Claims page. Already have the carrier’s estimate or a denial? Get a free second opinion — we tell you within 24 hours what may be missing.
What to do in the first 24 hours after a house fire
- Don’t go back in until the fire department says it’s safe.
- Get the fire report number from the fire department. Your carrier will ask for it.
- Report the claim to your insurance company. Get the claim number, and write down every call: date, name, what was said.
- Ask about additional living expenses (ALE) right away. If you can’t live in the house, your policy likely pays for a place to stay and the extra costs of being displaced. Ask for an advance if you need it.
- Secure the property. Board up windows and doors and tarp the roof if needed. Keep the receipts.
- Photograph and video everything once it’s safe, including rooms that look fine. Smoke damage is often in places you wouldn’t expect.
- Don’t throw anything away and don’t let anyone start demolition until the damage is documented.
- Don’t sign a settlement, a release, or a contractor’s assignment of benefits in the first few days.
What a homeowners policy usually covers after a fire
Fire is a covered peril on standard homeowners policies. That generally includes:
- Dwelling: repairing or rebuilding the house, including fire, smoke, soot and the water damage from putting the fire out
- Other structures: garage, shed, fence
- Personal property: everything you own that was damaged, including items that were only smoke-damaged
- Additional living expenses: rent or hotel, extra food costs, extra mileage, and similar costs while the home is unlivable
- Loss of rents: for landlords, rent lost while units are out of service
- Debris removal and, if you carry it, ordinance or law (code upgrade) coverage
Limits, deductibles and exclusions vary. Your declarations page and policy language decide what’s owed.
Where fire claims get underpaid
- Smoke migration. Smoke and soot get into HVAC ducts, attics, wall cavities, insulation, and rooms far from the fire. Carriers often scope only the room that burned and a quick cleaning for the rest. Smoke odor that won’t come out means materials need replacing, not just wiping.
- Cleaning vs. replacing. Carriers lean toward cleaning. Some items and surfaces can’t be cleaned back to pre-loss condition.
- Code upgrades. A major fire repair often has to meet current building code: electrical, framing, egress, insulation. Ordinance or law coverage may pay for that, and it’s often left out of the first estimate.
- Matching. When damaged siding, flooring or cabinets can’t be matched, patching creates a visible mismatch. Whether a full replacement is owed depends on your policy and the facts.
- ACV vs. RCV. With replacement cost coverage, the first payment is often actual cash value after depreciation. The rest is paid once you repair or replace, within the time limit in your policy. Depreciation itself is often taken too heavily.
- Contents. A full house of contents is a huge list to build. Owners under stress leave things off, and carriers won’t add them for you.
- ALE. Displacement costs get cut short, or the ALE period ends before the house is really ready.
Why fire claims get denied or delayed
Most fire claims are paid, but some get delayed or denied over the cause of the fire, questions about vacancy, a lapse in coverage, misrepresentation on the application, or a dispute over what was damaged. If the carrier asks for a recorded statement or an examination under oath, take it seriously and prepare. If you got a denial or a partial denial, get it in writing, read the exact policy language cited, and get it reviewed. We handle denied and underpaid claim appeals regularly – a denial is often where our work starts.
When does a public adjuster pay for itself on a fire claim?
A fire damage public adjuster is licensed by the state to represent the policyholder. We inspect the whole house including smoke-affected areas, write a full line-item estimate, build the contents list with you, track ALE, and negotiate with the carrier.
Fire claims are where a public adjuster most often makes a difference, because they’re large and have a lot of moving parts. It’s worth talking to one when:
- The fire caused more than light damage to one room
- There’s smoke damage through the house
- You’re displaced and need ALE handled
- The carrier’s estimate looks low or you got a denial
Public adjuster fees are regulated state by state – in New York they’re capped at 12.5% of the recovery, and New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut have their own rules. It’s always in a written contract before work begins.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do right after a house fire for insurance?
Get safe, get the fire report number, report the claim, ask about additional living expenses, secure the property, and photograph everything before cleanup or demolition.
Does insurance cover smoke damage in rooms that didn’t burn?
Usually yes. Smoke and soot damage from a covered fire is generally covered wherever it spread. It has to be found and documented, which is where claims get shortchanged.
Will insurance pay for a hotel after a fire?
If the house is unlivable, most homeowners policies pay additional living expenses: housing plus the extra costs you have because you’re displaced, up to your policy limits.
My fire claim was denied. What can I do?
Get the denial in writing and read the policy language it relies on. Denials can be challenged with evidence. A public adjuster or attorney can review your options.
Do I need a public adjuster after a house fire?
For a small, contained fire the carrier is paying fairly, you may not. For larger fires, smoke through the house, displacement, or a low offer, a public adjuster usually earns the fee.
Can I hire a public adjuster after I already filed the claim?
Yes. You can hire one at any point, including after a first payment, as long as you’re within your policy’s time limits.
Talk to a licensed public adjuster about your fire claim
Had a house fire in NY, NJ, PA or CT? Call (845) 456-6699 or text (845) 422-4444. Tell us where the claim stands and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can help. We work only for you – never for the insurance company, and with no kickbacks from contractors or mitigation companies.
GB Claims LLC – Licensed Public Adjuster: NY, NJ, PA, CT