Your Guide to Rebuilding: Steps to Follow After Wildfire Damage in California

California residents have already faced hardship in the very early days of 2025. According to recent data, tens of thousands of Californians have already been displaced by the ongoing fires, and over 10,000 homes have been destroyed.

Wildfire survivors, whether they evacuate or not, will face a host of challenges as a result of being in the path of these disastrous flames. From suffering property loss to incurring costs related to your evacuation, you may wonder if you have any recourse.

Depending on your situation, you may have some form of financial recourse to help you rebuild your life. Below, we’ll go over the main steps you should take after sustaining wildfire damage in a California fire to preserve your rights and start rebuilding. If you need more help rebuilding after a fire, our team here at Kermani LLP can help answer your questions and provide solid legal advice you can rely on.

Understanding the Impact of Wildfire Damage

The impact of wildfire damage can be extreme, and it affects the entire ecosystem where the fire occurs. From an environmental perspective, wildfires often damage ecosystems and habitats and produce air pollution from the smoke. Smoke can result in serious health problems for those who get exposed. Sadly, both humans and animals can perish in these fires, and the loss of life is irreplaceable.

Wildfires also destroy any property in its path, totaling cars and leveling homes. When fires aren’t controlled, they can disrupt a community’s access to power and water. Economic losses are typically substantial on both the individual and collective level.

First Steps After Wildfire Damage

If you have sustained wildfire damage in California, then your first step is to ensure your safety. While the threat of the immediate fire may have passed, it’s important to remain cautious about sifting through debris, which could still be dangerous. The area could also still be impacted by smoke.

Only return to your home after it’s safe to do so, and local authorities have cleared any evacuation orders. Once you’ve done so, you can get started with contacting your insurer, documenting your losses, starting a claim, and contacting a California personal injury lawyer if you need additional assistance.

Contacting Your Insurance Provider Immediately

Most standard fire insurance policies require policyholders to alert the company about any damage as soon as possible after the incident occurs. You should contact your insurance provider immediately as soon as you realize that your property is damaged, but you need to handle this communication delicately.

When you reach out to your insurer, let them know that a fire has damaged your home, but don’t go into details or specifics about the extent of the damage until an investigation has occurred. The last thing you want to do is compromise your future claim by making a comment like, “It’s not too bad”. In general, your conversations with your insurer will be recorded, so anything you say could potentially be used against you later if you file a claim.

If you’re unsure about handling this initial call, then you can consult with a local attorney in your area. They can provide you with solid legal advice to help you navigate the call and preserve your rights.

Documenting Losses: Photos, Videos, and Inventory Tips

Next, you need to start documenting your losses. You’ll want to gather up as much evidence as possible that proves the extent of your property loss and the costs you’ve incurred as a result of the fire.

Take photographs of your property and the damage. If possible, then consider recording a video that can fully detail the scene. Take detailed notes about any valuables that you remember being in the home prior to the fire.

From there, you’ll want to see if you can recover any receipts, warranties, or proof of value on the items or properties you’ve lost.

You also want to save any receipts that document your spending that arises due to the loss of your home. Additional living expenses (ALE) is a form of insurance coverage that reimburses you for those extra costs. If you had that type of coverage, then you could be eligible to file for compensation for those losses. If you and your family are also experiencing pain and suffering as a result of the fire, then you’ll want to document that as best as possible. If you attend therapy or need to seek counseling, then be sure to save any copies of those bills.

Filing a Claim and Understanding Your Policy Coverage

Next, you’ll want to research your options when it comes to filing a claim. Depending on your coverage levels, you could potentially be able to file multiple insurance claims.

For instance, if your car was totaled or destroyed and you have car insurance, then your policy might cover the wildfire damage to your car. If you owned your home and had homeowner’s insurance, then you can file a claim through that policy.

To better understand your options, it might be best to look over and review all your insurance policies. If you need help understanding the terminology and your options, then a wildfire attorney can help you go over everything.

Temporary Living Arrangements and Financial Aid

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, you’ll need to secure temporary living arrangements. If your home was a total loss, then an insurance claim can help you receive around four months’ worth of temporary rent support. Depending on your household size and income level, you may qualify for temporary housing assistance or other forms of financial help while you determine your future plans. FEMA disaster assistance is always available to those in need. You can contact the FEMA hotline at 1-800-621-3362 to learn more about their relief services in detail. You can also contact a local California wildfire attorney for help getting connected with local resources and groups that are willing to help.

Planning Your Rebuilding Journey

Once your temporary needs are secure, you can start planning your rebuilding journey. The home rebuilding process will likely be slow, especially as the entire community is likely in a similar situation to yours. First, you will need to register to have your property taxes reevaluated. From there, you should start receiving payments from your insurance company. You’ll want to fully understand the risks of rebuilding your home in the same area since the wildfire risk is likely to remain high in the coming years.

Financial Considerations During the Rebuilding Process

Finances will likely be a huge hurdle to cope with during the rebuilding process. One recent development made possible by Insurance Commissioner Lara could speed up your recovery process. In January 2025, the Commissioner ordered insurance companies to make advanced payments on claims to help facilitate a faster recovery for wildfire survivors in the state. These payments will apply to survivors of the Palisades, Eaton, and other fires.

How California Wildfire Attorneys Can Help

When you’re feeling the impacts of California wildfires first-hand, you need a reliable legal advocate you can trust to help guide you through your recovery process. It’s normal to feel a wide range of emotions after this type of traumatic property loss, and you may struggle to find the time and focus necessary to go through insurance policies, calculate your damages, and pursue a claim.

California wildfire attorneys can take care of all these legal aspects while you focus on you and your family’s immediate survival and needs.

The team here at Kermani LLP has been advocating for clients like you since establishing our firm in 2011. We are prepared to fully educate you about your potential options for recovery, and we’ll provide you with reliable legal counsel that you can use to better your situation and facilitate your recovery.

If you do suffer damage, then you can revisit this guide and follow the steps to rebuild. If you need additional legal counsel and advice, you can schedule a free consultation with our local California attorneys now by filling out our online form.