Types of fire damage we handle
Fire damage is rarely just fire. Smoke, water from firefighting, secondary contamination, and structural compromise all show up on the same claim. Common categories:
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Structural damage. Burned framing, scorched roof systems, compromised foundations, and walls weakened by heat. Even areas that didn’t burn directly may need replacement because of heat exposure and smoke saturation.
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Smoke and soot contamination. Smoke penetrates HVAC systems, insulation, drywall, and personal belongings far beyond the visible burn area. Professional remediation is expensive and often disputed by carriers who want to limit their exposure to the visible damage.
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Water damage from firefighting. The water and chemical foam used to extinguish a fire saturates structures and contents. Carriers sometimes try to call this a separate, non-fire loss to apply a different deductible or sub-limit — it isn’t.
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Loss of contents. Furniture, clothing, electronics, appliances, personal items. The carrier wants a detailed sworn proof of loss; you want fair valuation. The gap between those two positions is what we negotiate.
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Additional living expenses while displaced. Rent for temporary housing, meals, laundry, pet boarding, increased commuting — every additional cost while your home is uninhabitable. ALE is routinely underpaid.
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Damage from code upgrades required for rebuild. Modern code may require upgrades that weren’t in your original home — sprinklers, electrical, structural. Without the right endorsement, these costs come out of your pocket.
Who is responsible for fire damage in Arizona?
Two responsibility questions run in parallel after a fire.
First, your own carrier is responsible for paying the loss under your policy. They owe you a duty of good faith and fair dealing under Arizona law. This is the first-party claim, and it’s our primary focus.
Second, if someone else’s negligence or a defective product caused the fire, that party may have third-party liability. A defective appliance manufacturer, a contractor whose work caused the fire, a utility company whose equipment failed, or a neighboring property owner. The third-party claim runs alongside the first-party claim. Your carrier may pursue subrogation against the at-fault party after paying you; sometimes the better path is for you to pursue the third-party claim directly.
We figure out which path makes sense based on the facts and the size of the losses.
What to do after a fire
- Don’t re-enter the property until cleared by fire authorities. Structural compromise, smoke residue, and chemical contamination are real safety hazards.
- Document everything before cleanup starts. Photos and video of every room and exterior view. The visible damage is half of what you’ll need to prove; the other half is the contents inventory.
- Report the claim to your carrier within the policy’s notice provision. Prompt notice. Late notice is the most-used denial basis.
- Get an ALE allowance in writing before you sign anything. Many policyholders sign hotel arrangements the carrier offers that turn out to be inadequate. Demand a written allowance.
- Save every receipt for every fire-related cost. Hotels, restaurants, laundry, clothing, gas, pet care, increased commute. Everything.
- Don’t sit for an Examination Under Oath without counsel. If the carrier demands an EUO, that signals they’re considering denial. Get representation before you sit.
- Call a first-party property damage attorney before accepting a settlement. Once the release is signed, the claim is over and supplemental claims become very difficult.
How can a fire damage attorney help?
Read the policy and find the coverage you have
Most fire claims involve multiple coverage parts — A, B, C, D, plus possible Ordinance & Law, loss-of-use, debris removal, business income (for small businesses). Many policyholders don’t realize what’s in their policy until we walk through the declarations page with them.
Document the loss completely
We coordinate with public adjusters, inventory specialists, contractors, and structural engineers to scope the loss in a way that survives carrier scrutiny. The carrier’s adjuster will document what they think they need to pay; we document what they actually owe.
Manage the contents inventory
Contents is where most claims bog down. We bring the methodology and the patience to get it done right.
Negotiate ALE so it covers what it should
ALE underpayment is one of the most common ways carriers stretch out a claim. We make sure the allowance reflects your actual displaced living costs.
Stand between you and the EUO
You have the right to counsel during an Examination Under Oath. We attend with you and keep the examination within proper bounds.
Pursue subrogation or third-party liability where it makes sense
Where the fire’s cause points to a third party, we evaluate the third-party claim and coordinate it with the first-party recovery.
Work on contingency
Nothing up front. Our fee comes out of the recovery.
