Fire Damage Insurance Claim Texas
A house fire is one of the most devastating losses a Texas homeowner can experience. When it's over, your insurance company should make you whole. First Call Public Adjusters makes sure they do — fighting for the full fire damage settlement your policy provides.
Why Fire Damage Claims Are Frequently Underpaid in Texas
Fire damage claims are among the most complex and highest-value claims in the insurance industry — which is exactly why insurance companies assign experienced adjusters to minimize them. A thorough fire claim involves far more than the burned structure itself: smoke penetration into walls, attic, and HVAC systems; water damage from firefighting efforts; contents loss including furniture, electronics, clothing, and valuables; Additional Living Expense (ALE) coverage for temporary housing; and code upgrade costs to bring rebuilt portions into compliance with current building codes.
Most homeowners — overwhelmed by the trauma of a fire — don't know what they're entitled to claim, let alone how to document it. Insurance company adjusters know this. First Call Public Adjusters levels the playing field, documenting every covered loss and fighting for the complete settlement your policy provides.
🏚️ Structural Fire Damage
We document complete structural damage — burned framing, roof decking, drywall, flooring, and all structural elements — with line-item Xactimate estimates that reflect actual rebuild costs.
💨 Smoke & Soot Damage
Smoke travels further than fire. We document smoke penetration into walls, attic, HVAC, and unaffected rooms using professional testing methods that insurance adjusters frequently skip.
💧 Water & Suppression Damage
Firefighting causes significant water damage. We document all water intrusion from suppression efforts and include full remediation costs in your claim.
🛋️ Contents & Personal Property
We inventory all damaged or destroyed personal property — furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances, and valuables — using replacement cost values, not depreciated ACV.
🏨 Additional Living Expense (ALE)
If your home is uninhabitable, your policy likely covers temporary housing, meals, and additional living costs. We identify and maximize your ALE coverage from day one.
📋 Code Upgrade Coverage
Rebuilt portions must meet current building codes — often more expensive than original construction. We document all required code upgrades and include them in your settlement.
The smoke damage problem: Smoke penetrates far beyond the area of visible fire damage — traveling through wall cavities, ductwork, insulation, and HVAC systems into rooms that look undamaged. If smoke damage isn't thoroughly documented and tested, those areas won't be included in your settlement. We use professional smoke testing and HVAC assessment to document the true extent of smoke penetration — often adding tens of thousands to fire damage settlements.
How First Call Handles Your Claim
Free Property Inspection
We inspect your property completely at no cost — documenting every item of damage with photos, measurements, and professional assessment. No damage goes undocumented.
Full Policy Review
We read your homeowner's or commercial policy cover to cover, identifying all applicable coverages, limits, and provisions your insurer may not volunteer to apply.
Professional Claim Preparation
We build a complete, line-item damage estimate and submit it to your insurance company on your behalf — fully documented and professionally formatted.
Negotiation Through Settlement
We handle all insurer communication and fight until your claim is settled fairly. If needed, Ryan Lancon invokes and manages the appraisal clause process in-house as a licensed Texas insurance appraiser.
Homeowners Ask Us
My house fire was weeks ago — is it too late to hire a public adjuster?
No. Public adjusters can be hired at any stage of the claims process — even after an initial settlement has been made, in many cases. Call us immediately to discuss your timeline and what options remain. The sooner we engage, the more options you have.
My insurance company says my fire was caused by my own negligence — can they deny my claim?
Negligence by itself generally does not void a Texas homeowner's fire claim — most policies cover accidental fires regardless of how they started. Intentional acts are excluded, but accidents are covered. If your claim was denied due to cause-of-loss disputes, we review the denial and fight back.
What is ALE coverage and how long does it last?
Additional Living Expense (ALE) coverage pays for your temporary housing, meals, and additional costs while your home is being repaired or rebuilt. The duration and amount depend on your policy limits — most policies cover 12–24 months. We identify your ALE limits during our policy review and make sure you claim every dollar you're entitled to.
How much does a public adjuster cost for a fire damage claim?
First Call works on contingency — a percentage of your final settlement. No upfront fee, no hourly charge, and no cost for your initial inspection. Fire damage claims are often our highest-recovery cases because the initial insurance offer so frequently misses smoke, water, contents, and ALE coverage entirely.
Free Fire Damage Claim Review
Don't settle a fire damage claim without expert help. Call First Call Public Adjusters for a free review — no upfront cost.