What happens after a fire, and what your policy does about it
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Or call (844) 543-5757 nowWritten for families in the first week. Whether you can go in, what happens when, how the money works, and who to trust.
These guides describe how standard Washington policies usually handle fire losses. Your policy language controls and your adjuster decides coverage; the aim is that you know what to expect.
Is the house safe to enter?
Release by the fire department, utilities, structural signs, air quality, what to wear and how long to stay: how to decide whether and how to go back into a house after a fire.
ReadFire claim timeline
What happens when after a fire claim is filed in Washington: the first call, the adjuster visit, advances, mitigation, scope approval, contents settlement, reconstruction, depreciation release and close-out, with typical durations.
ReadReplacement cost vs ACV
How replacement cost and actual cash value work on the building and contents parts of a Washington fire claim, what recoverable depreciation is and how to collect it, and the deadlines that catch people.
ReadChoosing a fire restoration contractor
How to choose a fire restoration contractor in Washington and avoid fire chasers: L&I registration, bond and insurance, what to sign and what never to sign, assignments of benefits, deductible offers and second opinions.
ReadQuestions homeowners ask us
Should I call my insurer or a restoration company first?
Both the same day: the insurer to open the claim, the restoration company to secure the house tonight. Policies require you to prevent further damage and adjusters expect mitigation before they inspect.
Can a contractor waive my deductible?
No. Washington law prohibits waiving, rebating or absorbing a deductible or offering anything of value to induce a claim. Anyone who offers is breaking the law and putting your claim at risk.
Not sure what to do first? Call and ask.
Dispatch has walked hundreds of families through the first day and will give you a straight answer before anyone rolls a truck.