Fire damage public adjuster for denied or underpaid claims

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Who we help after a fire

Our fire clients range from families who lost everything to owners whose building still stands but smells of smoke in every room:

• Homeowners after a kitchen, attic or electrical fire, a total loss, or smoke and ash from a fire next door or a wildfire
• Landlords and owners of multi-unit homes, including units that took smoke and water damage when a neighboring unit burned
• Business and industrial property owners (see commercial claims and industrial claims)

Call us before you sign off on the first estimate, or after the insurer has denied the fire claim outright.

What our fire damage clients say

Accurate Claims Consulting

5 Stars - Based on 37 User Reviews

Yelp Rating

5 Stars - Based on 6 User Reviews

These guys are freaking experts at fire damage settlements. We were so stressed about starting over after the Thomas fire and now we’re at ease and off to a fresh start.

Seok Zeng, Google review (Thomas fire)

Just when I was about to lose hope because the insurance company wrongfully denied our claim. I’m so thankful for the excellent work the accurate team did for me and my family.

Jackie Williamson, Google review (denied claim)

Read all of our reviews

Recent fire damage claim results

• Attic fire, San Diego (March 2022). The insurance company offered $92,000; we secured a $311,000 settlement. San Diego attic fire case
• House fire, Laguna Beach (October 2020). A fire that started in the attic caused structural and roof damage. The insurer offered $46,583; we secured a $351,216 settlement. Laguna Beach house fire case
• Electrical fire, San Diego (January 2021). A total loss to a 12,000 sq ft commercial building. The insurer offered only $250,000; we secured a $741,000 settlement. San Diego fire damage case
• House fire, Los Angeles (April 2022). After a devastating fire, we recovered every limit the policy offered. Los Angeles house fire case

Insurer-side training, policyholder-side loyalty. Our public adjusters have worked for major insurance companies like Farmers, State Farm and Allstate, which gives them inside knowledge of what you are owed for your claim. Each has a Bachelor’s degree at minimum, and some are US military veterans. About Accurate Claims Consulting

How we handle a fire damage claim

1. Document before cleanup. We photograph every room, including rooms the flames never reached, and record soot, residue and odor before anything is cleaned or thrown away.
2. Scope the rebuild. We price demolition, structural repairs, smoke cleaning or replacement of porous materials, and the HVAC system that spread the smoke.
3. Build the contents list. We inventory burned and smoke-damaged belongings item by item, at today’s replacement cost.
4. Claim every coverage. We check the dwelling, other structures, contents and additional living expense limits, and answer the insurer on exclusions and cause of loss.
5. Settle on contingency. Our fee is a share of what the insurer pays, so there is nothing to pay up front.

What insurers dispute on fire claims

Does a policy exclusion really apply?

Not always the way the insurer reads it. On a house fire in Calexico, the insurer denied the claim citing a vacancy exclusion; we reversed the denial and secured a $230,000 settlement for the homeowner. Calexico fire damage case

What if the insurer says the fire was set on purpose?

An arson allegation has to be answered with evidence. When an insurer tried to deny a Los Angeles homeowner’s claim for a fire with heavy smoke damage, calling it arson, we submitted evidence that the fire was accidental and secured a $250,000 settlement. Los Angeles electrical fire case

Can smoke damage just be cleaned?

Sometimes, but porous materials such as carpet padding, insulation, upholstery and drywall absorb residue, and ductwork can keep spreading it. An estimate that assumes surface wiping will come in too low. Our article on smoke and soot damage explains how to document it.

Are ash and contents part of the claim?

Yes. Ash and smoke reach closets, drawers, electronics and the air handler, and contents are often the larger number. See our guides to ash and HVAC damage after a wildfire evacuation and to building a personal property inventory.

Licensing and where we work

Fire claims in California are handled by public adjusters licensed through the California Department of Insurance, the agency policyholders can also contact with questions or complaints about how a claim is handled. For Arizona properties, the regulator is the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.

Public Adjusters Services Areas

Water used to put out a fire often leaves its own damage, and wet materials can grow mold within days: see our water damage claims and mold damage claims pages. We also handle storm damage, earthquake damage, theft and vandalism and personal property claims.

Fire damage claim questions