Smoke and firefighting water: the damage that did not burn
Short answer
Standard fire cover usually includes damage from smoke, soot and firefighting, because these are a direct consequence of the insured event.
Why this damage is part of the fire
Fire rarely destroys a whole home. Smoke, however, reaches everywhere and soaks into textiles, furniture and plaster, while firefighting water runs down to the floors below. As both flow from the event itself, good wordings treat them as part of it rather than as a separate risk.
What goes into the claim
Not only the burnt items. Smoked walls, furniture with a permanent smell, electronics the smoke passed through, and damage to the neighbours below — all of it is described and photographed before cleaning. A cleaned room is harder to prove than a smoked one.
The neighbours below
Firefighting water often damages someone else’s property. That liability is handled under the neighbour liability clause if you have one — it is cheap, and cases like this are exactly where it shows its value.
Frequently asked questions
- Is cleaning after a fire covered?
- The costs of cleaning and of removing the consequences are usually part of the settlement. Their scope is set out in the terms.
- What if items smell but still work?
- Permanent smoke contamination is damage even without visible burning. Whether it can be restored is assessed and described alongside everything else.
Have a question? Call me.
[email protected]