Homeowners Insurance and Fires: What to Know
Homeowners insurance covers fire and smoke damage, including repairs and temporary housing—here’s what you need to know to protect your home.
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Fire damage and homeowners insurance
House fires can happen unexpectedly, whether from cooking accidents, electrical problems, or severe weather. Beyond fire and smoke damage, you may also face temporary housing and extra expenses while repairs are underway.
Most homeowners insurance policies cover damage to your home, your belongings, and additional living expenses if you can’t stay there. To help your claim go smoothly, take photos of the damage, save receipts, and contact your insurer as soon as possible.
Knowing what your policy covers and what to do next can make a stressful situation easier to manage. Below, we explain how fire and smoke damage coverage works and how to file a claim.
Does my homeowners insurance cover fire damage?
Yes, all homeowners policies cover damage by fire. Fire is one of the “basic named perils'' (alongside internal explosion and lightning) covered by every form of homeowners coverage. In insurance terms, the word "peril" refers to the cause of a loss. There are several forms of homeowners insurance, each with a different list of perils the insurance company will cover. No need to worry: because fire is one of the perils listed at the most basic level, any homeowners policy form will cover damage resulting from a fire.
How to Read a Homeowners Insurance Policy | The Zebra
Master the essentials of your homeowners insurance policy, learn how to interpret the declaration page, identify coverage limits & recognize exclusions.
What types of fires will my homeowners policy cover?
The most important thing to remember about insurance coverage is that the cause of loss must be accidental. Insurance will not cover a loss if the cause was intentional.
Some examples of types of fires your insurance will cover:
- Chimney fires
- Accidental house fires
- Electrical fires
- Earthquake fire damage
- Fire started by someone else
What is in your homeowners policy?
Homeowners policies cover more than just your building. There are six parts to a homeowners policy, and each part represents a covered element. Let's examine how these policy parts affect a claim after fire damage to your home.
- Coverage A: Dwelling. This refers to the home itself and any attached structures.
- Coverage B: Other Structures. Do you have a detached garage, shed or carport? These would fall under other structures coverage.
- Coverage C: Personal Property. No need to worry about this, either. This part covers repair or replacement of personal belongings damaged by a covered peril, either at their actual cash value or on a replacement cost basis.
- Coverage D: Additional Living Expenses. Think: loss of use coverage. Was the fire damage so severe that it rendered the home uninhabitable for some time? This clause helps cover the additional costs of temporary relocation while your home is being repaired.
- Coverage E: Personal Liability. Say the fire spread across the property line and your neighbor’s fence went up in flames. This section protects against lawsuits and related damages if the damages extended to the property of someone else.
- Coverage F: Medical Payments. Did a guest’s injury from the fire result in a hospital run? This coverage pays for medical costs for those not listed as residents of the household, the injuries were sustained on your property.
If a fire starts in your residence and spreads to your vehicle, then most likely, it’s your homeowners or renters policy that will cover the damage to the vehicle. Any fire that starts in your garage, however, is more likely covered by your car insurance.
Getting paid after the claim
If your homeowners insurance covers fire and smoke damage, your insurer will pay for covered repairs and losses up to your policy limits. Those limits are set when you buy your policy and are listed in your policy documents.
You’ll still be responsible for your deductible, which is the amount you pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in. After that, your insurance helps cover the remaining costs, up to your coverage limits.
If the damage goes beyond those limits and you don’t have additional or excess coverage, you may need to pay the difference yourself. That’s why it’s important to review your limits and make sure they reflect the true cost of rebuilding and replacing your belongings.
Will homeowners insurance rates increase after a fire claim?
Yes, rates will likely increase after any type of claim, but by how much depends on the severity of the damage, your claims history, and other factors. The table below shows average homeowners' insurance premiums after a fire or weather claim; your individual rate will vary, but this gives you an idea of what to expect.
Updating data...
| Company | Weather claim | Fire claim |
|---|---|---|
| Amica Mutual | $904 | $904 |
| CSAA | $1,308 | $1,308 |
| Country | $2,483 | $2,483 |
| Farmers | $1,159 | $1,733 |
| North Star | $1,736 | $1,736 |
| Shelter | $3,168 | $4,993 |
| State Farm | $1,649 | $1,649 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
You can also check out our guide to the best home insurance companies based on the results of The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey, third-party reviews, and other factors.
The best way to save is to shop around!
Does homeowners insurance cover smoke damage?
Where there’s fire, there’s smoke. Smoke can damage property, even if the damaged items didn’t erupt in flames. Smoke can mar walls, ruin furniture, break glass, and compromise electronic devices. If the smoke came from the fire and damaged your belongings, they, too, can be covered under your home insurance.
Can high-risk homes still get fire coverage?
Yes, but it may take a little extra effort. Homes in wildfire-prone areas or older homes with outdated wiring can be harder to insure because insurers see them as higher risk. While most standard homeowners policies include fire coverage, homeowners in high-risk areas may have fewer options or need additional coverage to fully protect their property.
In most cases, homeowners or dwelling policies provide solid fire protection. Coverage typically includes your home, other structures on the property, personal belongings, and additional living expenses if you need to move out during repairs. If your home isn’t in a high-risk area or extremely old, a standard homeowners policy is usually enough to cover fire damage.
➡️ The FAIR Plan
If you can’t get coverage through a standard homeowners insurer, your state’s FAIR Plan may be an option. FAIR Plans are state-mandated programs designed to provide basic fire coverage for high-risk homes when private insurance isn’t available.[1]
FAIR Plans offer limited coverage compared to standard homeowners insurance. They typically cover only a small number of perils, often just fire-related losses. For example, California’s FAIR Plan covers fire, internal explosion, and lightning unless you add endorsements. That means risks like theft or hail usually require a separate policy.[2]
Eligibility isn’t automatic. You may need to show that you’ve taken steps to reduce fire risk, such as making repairs or updating safety features. FAIR Plans also aren’t usually cheaper than private insurance, so they’re best used as a last resort after you’ve been denied coverage elsewhere.
How common are house fires?
House fires are more common than many people realize. In 2024, U.S. fire departments responded to a home structure fire about every 96 seconds, causing an estimated $19 billion in property damage.[3]
Most home fires start accidentally, often from everyday activities like cooking, candles, or electrical issues. While safety improvements have helped reduce fire risks over time, fires still pose a real threat to households.
The good news is that standard homeowners insurance policies are generally designed to cover fire-related losses, as long as the damage falls within your coverage limits. Understanding those limits ahead of time can help you avoid surprises if a fire does occur.
Homeowners insurance and fire damage: FAQs
What are FAIR plans? III
How to Apply. CA FAIR Plan
Fire loss in the United States. NFPA
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.