Does Home Insurance Cover Fire Damage?

In the aftermath of a fire, homeowners often face a number of expensive home restoration projects, from repairing damaged structural elements and critical home systems to replacing personal belongings; clearing out smoke, soot, and debris; and removing the water and chemicals used by firefighters. In most cases, a home insurance policy provides a homeowner with coverage to help them manage the financial consequences of this disaster.

When Does Home Insurance Cover Fire Damage?

Many times, it is a simple human error or an unintentional mistake that leads to a home fire and substantial property damage. Some of the most common accidental home fire scenarios include:

• Leaving food that is cooking, baking, frying, microwaving, or grilling unattended.
• Placing a heating appliance, like a space heater, too close to a flammable or combustible item.
• Forgetting to blow out a candle before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Overloading an electrical circuit with too many devices.
• Improperly disposing of fireplace, fire pit, or wood-burning stove embers.

If these or other similar types of mishaps and home hazards are the cause of fire damage, home insurance usually helps cover the cost of property repairs, replacement items, and cleanup, minus any deductible and up to the homeowner policy limits.

In addition, if a natural event, like a direct lightning strike, is the cause of a home fire, the resulting damage is typically covered by a homeowners policy—even if the event itself is not listed as a covered peril. However, coverage for certain acts of nature may be excluded from a policy if a homeowner lives in a high-risk area for that particular threat. To make sure you understand the full extent of your protection against fire damage, it is important to review your specific home insurance policy details with your local insurance professional.

What Type Of Fire Damage Is Excluded From Home Insurance?

Since home insurance was originally called “fire insurance,” it is not surprising that a homeowners policy still includes extensive coverage for fire damage. In fact, many longtime insurance companies, including The Andover Companies, were formed to preserve a community and its buildings against the threat of a fire catastrophe.

However, that does not mean a homeowners policy will cover all types of fire damage. Here are some reasons why home insurance may not cover a loss:

• An owner or someone in the household intentionally set fire to the home.
• The fire occurred in a vacant home that was not properly insured with a Dwelling Fire Insurance policy.
• A war or nuclear radiation or contamination caused the fire.
• The fire could have been avoided if a homeowner had not been negligent—e.g., failed to address a rodent issue, an outdated electrical system, or a dirty chimney or grill.

How Do You Protect Your Home Against Fire Damage?

There are many ways homeowners may be able to help safeguard their home from a fire, or at least reduce the extent of damage this destructive event could cause to their property. Examples include putting smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in key areas around their home, regularly checking the condition of electrical cords and outlets, and cleaning out the clothes dryer lint trap after every use. If you would like to learn more about home fire prevention, please download our tips sheet: