According to the National Fire Protection Association there are an average of 355,400 residential fires each year, making homes the most likely type of property to be affected by a fire in the U.S. In terms of all property fires the dollar loss for residential fires accounts for 43.3%. there are about 37,000 fires at industrial properties every year, adding up to $1 billion in damage to property.
Most homeowner policies cover the structure and contents of the home as well as other structures on the property, both attached and unattached, like garages and sheds. Trees, shrubs and other features that make up the landscaping on a property are often covered to varying degrees as well.
Often, a lot of the damage to a property during a fire is caused by the smoke that is created. Smoke damage can vary. Sometimes it is just an odor that is left behind, that needs to be dealt with but it can also mean that, hard to clean, residue is left behind. Both types of damage may require professional restoration work. Sometimes the act of extinguishing a fire causes secondary damages to a building because chemical fire retardants and large amounts of water are used in the process, which then need to be dealt with.
Most policies also cover the costs of living expenses if people need to relocate while their home is being repaired or rebuilt.
For the most part, business protection policies work the same way except that you get the option of adding business income insurance, which allows you to file a claim to cover any money lost while the business halts during repairs, rebuilding and restocking.
Often based on where you live, your policy may help cover wildfire damage. Every policy is different so read yours carefully. The greatest risk usually comes to buildings close to grasslands and areas near forests. Wildfires are very unpredictable and hard to manage and extinguish. In Ft. McMurry, Alberta, Canada about a third of the town was destroyed by a wildfire, recently. 374 homes were destroyed and 52 were damaged.
Fires occur frequently and often result in many different secondary damages which may give room to different interpretations by the claims adjusters working for your insurance company. To make sure that you are being treated fairly and getting the settlement that you deserve consult an expert public adjuster or attorney in this field.
Read more about fire damage claims
Fire Damage, Smoke Damage, Property Damage, Wildfire, Replacement Cost, Actual Cash Value
Flood Damage, Overland Flood, Overland Water, Basement Flood Damage, Water Damage
Roof Leak Damage, Roof Damage, Roof Shingle Damage, Property Damage Claims
Water Damage, Burst Pipe, Plumbing and Service Line Damage, Sewer backup, Overflow, Accidental Discharge
Lightning Damage, Physical damage, Secondary Effect Damage, Electromagnetic Effect Damage, Changes in Ground Reference Potential
Landslide, Mudslide and Snow Slide (Avalanche) Damage, Erosion, Weather Damage, Earthquakes
Sinkhole Damage Claims, Natural Sinkholes, Man-Made Sinkholes, Water Main Break, Ground Collapse
Business Interruption, Loss of Income, Business Income Insurance, Business Insurance Claims
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