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Daria Uhlig is a seasoned writer and editor with more than a decade of experience creating personal finance content. She has been writing for Compare.com since 2024, and her work also appears in notable publications like USA Today, Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, Credible, GOBankingRates, AOL, and Insurify.
As a licensed Realtor and resort property manager, Daria specializes in real estate topics, including landlord, homeowners, and renters insurance.
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Sara Getman is an insurance editor for Compare.com. With several years of insurance experience, Sara is passionate about helping readers better manage their money by breaking down complex topics into simple, clear, and easy-to-understand language.
Sara earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Simmons University, where she served as editor-in-chief for the school’s literary and art magazine, Sidelines. She has been editing for Compare.com since 2025.
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
John Leach is a licensed insurance agent who reviews and fact-checks articles for Compare.com. John has several years of experience reviewing and editing various insurance topics, and he also holds a valid personal lines producer license from the California Department of Insurance (NPN #20461358).
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Fire insurance reimburses you for any damage to or the destruction of your home or personal property from a fire. It’s part of a standard homeowners insurance policy, so you usually don’t need to purchase additional insurance to get it.
The insurance covers fire damage from many sudden, unexpected events, including lightning strikes, kitchen accidents, and, in some cases, electrical fires.[1] But coverage details can vary by policy, and so do homeowners’ coverage needs.
In this guide, you’ll learn how fire insurance works, what it covers, and how to file a claim.
Fire insurance coverages include liability, dwelling, personal property, and additional living expenses.
Policies often cover wildfires, but you might need stand-alone or additional insurance if you’re in a wildfire-prone area.
Insurance companies typically exclude losses from fires caused by neglect or intentional acts.
All standard homeowners insurance policies, from the most basic HO-1 policies to renters insurance, to policies for condos and co-ops, cover fires. In the event of a fire, home insurance provides four types of protection:[2]
Liability coverage for visitors injured in your home
Dwelling coverage for the structure of your home and possibly detached structures like a garage or deck, up to coverage limits
Personal property coverage for furniture and other personal belongings
Additional living expenses, or loss of use coverage, if the fire displaces you from your home
If you live in an area prone to wildfires, you might need additional coverage or a separate wildfire insurance policy. You may also have a separate wildfire deductible.
If you don’t live in a high-risk area, you might need additional fire insurance coverage if your homeowners insurance doesn’t have enough “other structures” coverage for you to repair or rebuild detached structures on your property, like a garage, deck, or patio.[3]
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Home insurance covers house fires caused by sudden, unexpected events. Kitchen fires are the most common type. Even if you accidentally leave your stove unattended and a fire starts, your insurance will likely cover the damage.
Electrical fires from appliances and other equipment failures are also covered in most cases. Your policy will cover arson unless the policyholder started the fire. Home insurance also covers fires from malfunctioning heaters and lightning strikes.
Many, but not all, policies cover wildfires. Always confirm your coverage and policy limits if you’re in an area where wildfires occur.
Most property insurance won’t cover damage from a fire you set on purpose. Home insurance won’t cover electrical fires that result from neglect. For example, if a fire starts from electrical wiring that you knew was worn out or broken, but that you failed to replace, your insurance likely won’t cover the damage.
Home insurance may not cover wildfires, especially if you live in an area where they’re common. You’ll need a stand-alone policy in that case. Even if your policy covers wildfires, you might have to pay a separate deductible if you file an insurance claim. Your policy also won’t cover fires caused by an uncovered peril, like an earthquake.
A DIC policy increases your policy limits and covers perils that standard homeowners policies usually exclude.[4] Most policies cover fires, but your insurance company may exclude wildfire coverage in high-risk areas or may refuse to cover your home altogether.
Certain situations may require a DIC policy. For example, California’s FAIR Plan, its insurer of last resort, provides basic fire insurance coverage for high-risk properties that traditional insurers won’t cover. But its coverage is limited. One of its limitations is that it doesn’t offer liability insurance. Homeowners can purchase separate DIC insurance to fill that gap.[5]
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Standard fire insurance doesn’t have its own premium because it’s included in your homeowners insurance rate. Rates vary according to many factors, including:
Your insurance company
Your home’s construction, age, and condition
The distance to the nearest fire hydrant or fire department
Whether you choose actual cash value or replacement cost for personal belongings
Additional coverages you’ve added
The following table shows the average annual premium for several levels of dwelling coverage, according to Compare.com data. The higher the amount of dwelling coverage you have, the higher your monthly premium will be.
Dwelling Coverage Limit  | Average Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $156 |
| $300,000 | $215 |
| $400,000 | $273 |
| $500,000 | $328 |
| $750,000 | $470 |
Thirty-eight states face wildfire risk, but homeowners in areas where drought and dry undergrowth are common could face obstacles when getting home insurance.[6]
If you live in a higher-risk area, you may have a separate wildfire deductible or need an additional policy.
Consider purchasing insurance through your state’s FAIR Plan if you can’t find coverage or enough coverage. Just be aware of the limitations, and know that coverage can be more expensive.[7]
The easiest way to mitigate your fire risk and lower your rates is to prepare and fireproof your home.
For example, you might replace flammable fencing and create a hard-surface perimeter around your house to keep vegetation from driving flames to your doorstep. Clean up any underbrush, cut down low-hanging tree branches, and clear your roof and gutters of any dry leaves. If you need to replace your siding or roof, consider fire-resistant options.[8]
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Filing a fire insurance claim is the same as filing a claim for other types of damage. Here’s how to file a claim:[9]
Verify your coverage, ask how long you have to file a claim, and what documentation you’ll need. If you need to stay somewhere else, also ask about your policy limits and how to document your expenses.
Document all visible damage to your home and personal property.
Write down everything you lost or what the fire damaged.
Fill out the claim forms as quickly and thoroughly as possible. If you have them, include an inventory list and any photos you took.
The adjuster will inspect the damage and estimate the repair costs.
Take steps to protect your home. For example, you can board up broken windows and cover roof holes with a tarp.
How quickly you’ll receive your claim payout will depend on the extent of the damage. It can range from a few weeks for minor damage to several months if the fire destroys your home. Your adjuster should keep you updated on the process.
Your insurance company might deny your claim if the fire was caused by a peril your policy doesn’t cover, you missed a deadline for filing the claim, or you neglected to make important repairs. A lack of proof of the damage and the value of damaged items can also lead to denials, as can suspicion of fraud.
First, contact your insurance agent to find out why the claim was denied. If you think the denial was an error, ask your insurer to review the decision or file an appeal through the insurer’s claims process. If you’re still dissatisfied with the outcome, you can file a complaint with your state insurance department.[10]
Keep in mind that the process varies by insurer, so ask your agent for instructions.
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Reducing fire risk can help you lower your insurance premiums and prevent catastrophic damage. Here are some steps you can take to safeguard your home.
Install smoke detectors and fire alarms.
Purchase fire extinguishers for high-risk areas like the kitchen and garage.
Update old wiring and electrical systems that may be a fire hazard.
Clear vegetation from around your home if you’re in a fire-prone region. It’ll help keep embers from starting a fire close to your home.
Use fire-resistant roofing and materials to keep embers and flames from entering your home.
Install sprinklers (where applicable) to help limit damage until firefighters arrive.
Let your agent know about any fire-protection measures you’ve taken, because they could earn you a discount.
Fire insurance is typically included in your standard home insurance policy. Here’s more information about what it covers and how to claim damage.
Standard homeowners insurance policies include fire coverage, so you don’t need a stand-alone policy. But do check your coverage to make sure it covers wildfires if you’re in a high-risk area.
Yes, home insurance includes coverage for fires. You won’t need to get a separate policy.
Yes. Policies typically cover smoke damage as well as damage from ash and soot.
Your insurer pays out either actual cash value or replacement cost, depending on your coverage, after verifying the damage. Actual cash value considers the depreciated value of your home and the items, while replacement cost coverage pays out the current value of comparable items.
It’s a good idea to check your policy to make sure you have replacement cost coverage for your valuable items.
Yes. Standard homeowners insurance policies usually cover wildfire damage. But you can purchase additional insurance if your policy excludes wildfires or provides inadequate coverage if you’re in a high-risk area.
Yes, unless the policyholder is the arsonist. Fire insurance, and homeowners insurance in general, doesn’t cover damage you do intentionally. Coverage is for unexpected emergencies only.
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Daria Uhlig is a seasoned writer and editor with more than a decade of experience creating personal finance content. She has been writing for Compare.com since 2024, and her work also appears in notable publications like USA Today, Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, Credible, GOBankingRates, AOL, and Insurify.
As a licensed Realtor and resort property manager, Daria specializes in real estate topics, including landlord, homeowners, and renters insurance.
Sara Getman is an insurance editor for Compare.com. With several years of insurance experience, Sara is passionate about helping readers better manage their money by breaking down complex topics into simple, clear, and easy-to-understand language.
Sara earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Simmons University, where she served as editor-in-chief for the school’s literary and art magazine, Sidelines. She has been editing for Compare.com since 2025.
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
John Leach is a licensed insurance agent who reviews and fact-checks articles for Compare.com. John has several years of experience reviewing and editing various insurance topics, and he also holds a valid personal lines producer license from the California Department of Insurance (NPN #20461358).
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