Last updated: 02 November 2025

Fire Claims

Fire moves fast and leaves a complex mix of damage — visible charring, smoke residues, odour, and water damage from firefighting. This guide walks you through the early decisions, evidence, and repairs so you can recover safely and confidently.

Safety and first steps

• Don’t re-enter until the fire service says it’s safe.
• Photograph rooms from the doorway before you move anything.
• Secure doors and windows; arrange boarding-up if needed.

What insurers look for

Cause (electrical fault, appliance failure, chimney, or accidental ignition), extent of damage, and immediate risks (structural stability, contamination). Be clear about the sequence of events and who attended.

Contents vs buildings

Buildings will usually include structural repair, plaster, joinery, wiring, and decoration. Contents covers furniture, clothing, electronics, and soft furnishings. Smoke can permeate everything — list what’s cleanable vs. total loss.

Specialist restoration

Expect a restoration company to test for soot types, clean salvageable items, deodorise, and pack out contents. Ozone or hydroxyl treatment may be used for odour control.

Scope and quotes

For buildings, the schedule often includes stripping back to sound material, rewiring as needed, new plaster, kitchen and bathroom replacements, and decoration. Ask to see the scope and query anything missing.

Examples

• Kitchen fire: Units replaced, surfaces deep-cleaned, appliances tested or replaced, redecorations.
• Loft electrical fire: Roof timbers assessed, wiring renewed, smoke-damaged ceilings replaced.

Fire claims are noisy, messy and stressful. The right team will sequence safety, strip-out, odour control, and reinstatement sensibly so you can move forward.