Wildfire Recovery Guide
Recovering from a wildfire.
A practical guide.
For homeowners, renters, and business owners navigating the weeks and months after a fire. This guide covers the steps that matter most — from immediate safety to insurance, documents, legal options, and finding stable ground again.
Immediate steps
When you first return
Before entering your property, wait for official clearance from local authorities. Zones and re-entry dates are typically posted on city and county websites.
Once cleared, wear protective gear — N95 mask, gloves, sturdy footwear. Check for structural damage, gas leaks, and downed power lines before entering. If you smell gas or see a downed line, leave immediately and contact your utility provider.
Documenting damage
What to capture and how
Once you can safely enter your property, document everything before moving or removing anything. Take detailed photos and video of all affected areas — structural damage, personal belongings, landscaping, vehicles.
Create a written inventory of damaged or lost items. Include purchase dates and estimated values where possible. This documentation will be essential for insurance claims and any legal proceedings.
Insurance and mortgage
Understanding your coverage
Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to begin the claims process. Ask about advance payments for immediate needs like temporary housing and essential supplies.
Key coverage types to review:
Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value
Replacement cost covers rebuilding at current prices. Actual cash value deducts depreciation — and may fall significantly short of what rebuilding actually costs today.
Loss of Use / Additional Living Expenses
If your home is uninhabitable, this coverage may pay for temporary housing, meals, and related costs. Many policyholders don’t claim the full amount they’re entitled to.
Contents Coverage
Review limitations on valuables like jewelry, art, and electronics. High-value items often require separate endorsements.
If your home is destroyed, mortgage payments typically continue even while you cannot live there. Contact your lender to discuss forbearance or modification options.
Replacing documents
What to replace and where to go
Birth & Marriage Certificates
Order through your county vital records office or online portal.
Property Deeds
Available through your county recorder’s office.
Social Security Cards
Request replacements through the Social Security Administration.
Tax Records
Request copies from the IRS or your tax preparer.
Trusts & Wills
Contact the attorney who prepared these documents.
Driver’s License / ID
Replace at your local DMV office or online.
Financial assistance
Programs that may be available
Several programs may provide financial relief after a wildfire. Eligibility varies by location and circumstances.
FEMA Disaster Assistance
Apply at disasterassistance.gov or through FEMA’s helpline. Available for qualifying disaster declarations.
Small Business Administration Loans
Low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.
State and County Programs
California and local counties often activate additional relief programs after major fires. Check your county’s official website for current availability.
Legal options
When a fire results from negligence, you may have options beyond insurance
If the fire resulted from the negligence of a utility company or another responsible party, affected homeowners, renters, and businesses may have legal claims that exist entirely outside the insurance process.
Having legal representation does not close off other paths — including participation in utility compensation programs, insurance claims, or government assistance. In many cases, it may help protect your position across more than one recovery path.
Not sure where you stand?
Zimmerman Reed offers a no-cost consultation to help you understand your options. No obligation to continue.
Emotional and community support
Recovery is not only financial
Losing a home or business to a wildfire is a traumatic experience. The practical steps above are important — but so is acknowledging the emotional weight of what
happened.
Community resources, mental health services, faith-based organizations, and local nonprofits can provide support that the legal and financial recovery process cannot. Connecting with others who have been through this often matters as much as any single practical
step.
For mental health or substance-use support, the SAMHSA National Helpline is available at 1-800-662-4357. If you are in immediate crisis, call or text 988.