Ventura County Public Adjuster

Your Insurance Claim Negotiators

Fire Damage Playbook

First 72 Hours After a Fire

What to do in the first three days after a house fire — in order, with the things insurance carriers don't tell you.

Jordan L. Eller · CA Licensed Public Adjuster License #4005444 · CA DRE Broker License #01347939

General guidance, not advice on your specific claim. This checklist describes typical steps after a residential loss. Your policy, carrier, and circumstances determine what actually applies to you. Talk with a licensed public adjuster or attorney before relying on any item here to make claim decisions.
First 24 hours · Safety & access

Day 1 — Stabilize and document

Do NOT re-enter the home until the fire department clears itSmoke-damaged structures can have hidden hot spots, weakened framing, and toxic residue. Wait for written clearance.
Get the fire department incident report numberYou'll need this for the carrier. Ask the IC (incident commander) on scene or call the fire marshal's office in 24-48 hours.
Take photos and video of EVERYTHING — exterior, every room, every closetWide shots and close-ups. Smoke damage looks subtle on camera but adds up fast. Do this BEFORE you touch anything.
Find a safe place to stay tonightSave every receipt — hotel, food, pet boarding. ALE (Additional Living Expense) coverage reimburses this, but only with documentation.
Call your insurance carrier's claim hotline to report the lossGet a claim number. Do NOT give a recorded statement yet, and do NOT estimate the loss amount. Just report it.
Hours 24–48 · Mitigate further damage

Day 2 — Lock it down, list it out

Board up windows, tarp the roof, secure the propertyCalifornia policies REQUIRE you to mitigate. Carriers reimburse reasonable mitigation costs — keep every receipt and photo.
Start your contents inventory — every damaged item, brand, model, age, replacement costThis is where most homeowners leave money on the table. Use your phone to record video walk-throughs room by room. Save it.
Pull receipts, manuals, photos of belongings from email and cloud backupsSearch your Amazon, Costco, Best Buy, and Apple order histories. Screenshot everything that proves what you owned.
Do NOT throw anything away yet — even if it looks destroyedCarriers and adjusters need to see and verify the damaged items. Photograph them, then store in a garage or storage unit.
Notify your mortgage company in writingMost lenders require notice within 30 days. Insurance checks usually have to be co-endorsed by them — get ahead of this.
Hours 48–72 · Set the table for the claim

Day 3 — Build your leverage

Get an independent estimate from a licensed contractorCarriers send their own estimator. Yours gives you a number to compare against. Ballpark high — soft costs, code upgrades, and overhead/profit are real.
Ask your carrier in writing for a complete copy of your policyCalifornia law requires them to send it within 30 days. Most homeowners have never read theirs — and that's where carriers exploit gaps.
Decide whether to handle the claim yourself or hire a public adjusterPAs work only for you (not the carrier). Studies show represented claims settle for ~30-50% more. The earlier we get involved, the better.
Document smoke and soot in unaffected areas — they're often covered tooSmoke travels through HVAC. Drapes, electronics, attic insulation, and even non-burned rooms often need cleaning or replacement.
Open a dedicated email folder and notes file just for this claimEvery call, every adjuster name, every promise. If it goes sideways months from now, this paper trail wins it for you.
Red flags to watch for
  • The carrier's adjuster is rushing you to sign a Proof of Loss before you have a contractor estimate
  • You're being told smoke damage in unaffected rooms isn't covered (it usually is)
  • Code upgrades, debris removal, or ALE are being omitted from the offer
  • The first offer is wildly below your contractor's estimate

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Ventura County Public Adjuster · Serving Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties

SOS Public Adjusters Affiliated with SOS Public Adjusters

Disclaimer. Jordan L. Eller is a California-licensed Public Adjuster (CDI License #4005444) and California DRE Broker (License #01347939). Public adjusters represent insureds only, never insurance carriers. The interactive tools on this site — including this quiz, the denial decoder, and the claim checklists — provide general educational information about residential insurance claims and are not legal, tax, accounting, or claim-handling advice for your specific situation. Outcomes depend on your individual policy form, endorsements, declarations, loss circumstances, prior claims history, and carrier handling. Do not rely on tool output to decide whether to file, settle, or dispute a claim. For advice specific to your loss, schedule a no-obligation consultation by calling 805-252-7742.