When you purchase homeowner’s insurance, the last thing you want to do is use it due to fire damage. However, if fire should break out on your property, it is important to know how to contact your insurance company and file a claim.

The good news is that your homeowner’s insurance will cover you in the event of a fire. This means that your insurance company will cover the cost to help you repair your home. It will even help cover expenses if you have to move out of your home to a new location during repairs.

Let’s talk about fire insurance, what it actually covers, and how to file a claim when necessary.

How Does Fire Insurance Actually Work?

Fire insurance covers your home in the event of a fire. It typically pays to repair your home after the flames destroyed part or all of the structure. It is part of your homeowner insurance policy and it doesn’t require anything additional to your policy.

Different Types of Fire Coverages

Fire insurance has different types of coverage, with each handling different expenses after the fire.

Dwelling Coverage:

Your home is your dwelling, and that means the structure and materials are protected by this policy. Insurance will typically provide the payment in one lump sum, allowing you to repair your home at your own pace. Your payment will only be as big as your dwelling coverage limit. It’s important to make sure your coverage is more than the value of your home.

Personal Liability Coverage:

If a fire happens to spread from your home to a neighboring home, you can be held liable for the damage. Personal liability insurance helps cover the expense of a settlement if your neighbor pursues legal action against you. The amount of coverage may not be enough to cover someone else’s home, which is why personal umbrella insurance can help supplement coverage limits and keep you from paying a hefty out of pocket expense.

Loss of Use Coverage:

If your home is damaged to the point that you can no longer live there, this coverage will help pay for additional living expenses. A hotel, short term rental, or the cost of relocating is all covered under loss of use.

Personal Property Coverage:

If personal property is damaged when your home catches fire, this coverage will help pay to replace your items up to a specific amount. You can raise your personal property coverage limit for more protection if you’d like.

What is Covered Under Fire Insurance?

There are different types of fire that are covered under most fire insurance policies. Your insurance company will know specifics, but here are the most common:

• Candle fires
• Electrical fires
• Grease fires
• Some accidental fires

How to File a Claim

Once the fire is under control and it is safe to return to your home, it’s time to call your insurance agent. To file an insurance claim you need a few pieces of information.

1. Your name and policy number
2. The date and time the fire took place
3. A description of the event, detailing what happened
4. A report from the police or fire department
5. Records of the damage like pictures, video, or both
6. Insurance information of anyone involved

Once your claim is filed, your insurance company will review all of the information and send out a claim adjuster to assess the damage. Once they take a look at the scene, they will process your settlement and get your funds to you as quickly as possible.

Working with a fire restoration company like McMahon Services not only takes the stress out of the repair work of your home, but our experts will work with your insurance company as well. With McMahon on the scene after a fire, we will take all the necessary photos and video, call your insurance company to make sure everything is processed as quickly as possible, and help board up and secure the property.

A fire is a scary and complicated problem to deal with, but we are available 24/7 to offer you expert help through getting this unsettling process. Contact us anytime, and we will provide you with a free consultation to help you get your home back to normal as quickly as possible.