Can My Insurer Deny a Fire Claim If I Caused It?

If you purposefully set the fire, it is arson. This is a deliberate act of fraud or destruction, and an insurer will almost always deny the claim. In severe cases, it can lead to policy cancellation and criminal charges. Your policy exists to cover sudden and accidental losses, not intentional damage you cause.

Ordinary negligence is different. This means you made a mistake, like falling asleep with a candle burning or forgetting to turn off the stove. These accidental fires are typically covered under a standard homeowners policy. The key distinction is your intent and the foreseeability of the damage at the time.

After a fire, your insurer will order an investigation. A fire marshal or the insurer's own expert will determine the origin and cause. Their report is crucial evidence. If they conclude the fire was intentionally set, the claim will be denied and the case may be referred to law enforcement.

You have the right to obtain your own independent investigation, especially if you disagree with the insurer's findings. This can be important if the cause is ambiguous. A public adjuster or a fire investigation consultant can provide a second opinion on the origin and whether it points to an accident or intentional act.

Once the insurance claim is filed, you need to mitigate further damage. This means boarding up windows and tarping the roof to prevent weather from causing more harm. Water and soot from firefighting efforts can lead to secondary water damage and mold if not addressed quickly. Acting fast is important to limit the scope of the loss.

Contact local water damage pros for emergency board-up and water extraction. They can secure the structure and begin drying it out to prevent mold, which is a common issue after firefighting efforts dampen building materials. This mitigation work is often a covered part of your claim, as it prevents the loss from worsening.