Once the authorities declare that it is safe to return to your home, the first thing you should do is inspect your home for safety. Carefully search your home – including your attic and crawlspace – for any signs of structural damage or instability, as well as sparks, smoke, or burning embers.
If using a battery-powered flashlight to inspect your home, turn it on before entering your home, as sparks from the battery can ignite burning embers, hot spots, gas leaks, or oil leaks. In addition, switch all appliances, lights, and the main circuit breaker to the “off” position during this initial inspection of your home.
If you notice burning, smoke, or the smell of gas, leave the premises and call your local fire authority or gas supplier for help. Do not reenter until professionals have informed you that it is safe to do so.
If, after your initial safety inspection, the property appears structurally stable and there are no burning embers or hidden hot spots, conduct a secondary damage inspection and check the status of your utilities. Look carefully for damage – such as burned or melted material on your outside electric meter or burned or exposed wiring anywhere inside or outside the house – before turning on the main circuit breaker. If you find that you have no power after turning on the main circuit breaker, return it to the “off” position and contact your local utility company.
If you use oil or propane to heat your home, turn off the valves to the system and have your local supplier conduct a total system inspection before attempting to use it, as leaking oil or gas is dangerous and can ignite hidden hot spots, sparks, or embers.
In addition, until you hear that the city or town water supply is safe, do not drink the water and avoid turning on your faucets to keep contaminated water out of your pipes. If your drinking water comes from a home well or another private supply, boil it until you can have it tested for microbial contamination.
When inspecting the outside of your home after a wildfire, keep in mind that tall structures are those that are most likely to be unstable. Stay away from trees, power poles and outdoor structures such as barns, fences, gazebos, and play sets, especially those that are visibly burned.
Once you’ve determined that your property is safe and you’ve gotten a sense of where any damage is located, you can make another round of inspections to focus on documenting that damage with photographs. These photos will help you when you report your insurance claim. You want to avoid taking photos during your initial pass through your home – you first need to determine if you should even be there.
Property damage caused by fire or smoke, including water or other damage caused by
fire departments while putting out a fire, is covered under a standard homeowners policy. If damage occurred to your vehicle, it would be covered under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy.
