Displacement & renters
You had to leave your home because of the fire
Some families couldn't stay in their homes safely — heavy smoke, an evacuation, or days they simply couldn't live there. The costs and disruption of being displaced may be recoverable.
Deadlines may apply
Being pushed out of your own home is more than an inconvenience. You may have paid for a hotel or to stay with family, missed work, thrown out food, or lived for days with smoke you couldn't escape. If the fire made your home unsafe or unusable, those losses may be the responsibility of the parties behind the fire.
This may apply if you
- Evacuated or were told to shelter in place for days
- Paid for a hotel, motel, or other place to stay
- Couldn't safely use part of your home because of smoke
- Lost food, had to clean, or replaced damaged belongings
What may be recoverable
- Temporary housing, hotels, and extra travel costs
- Spoiled food and damaged or replaced belongings
- Cleaning and removing smoke odor
- Lost wages and the disruption to your family's life
Renters have rights too. Depending on the situation, you may not owe full rent for time your unit wasn't livable, and you should be careful before signing anything your landlord or an insurer puts in front of you.
What to keep
- Receipts for hotels, food, travel, and cleaning
- Photos and video of smoke, damage, and conditions at home
- Any evacuation notices or messages from your landlord
- Notes on the days you couldn't live or work normally