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A fire or heavy smoke event is disorienting. In the first hours, you’re juggling safety, cleanup, and the fear that your insurer will minimize the loss. You are not alone. Winter in Florida brings more heater, holiday, and kitchen fires, and fast action in the first 72 hours helps protect your property, your rights under the policy, and your eventual payout.

This guide walks you through immediate steps, explains how insurers calculate payments, what you can claim, what is typically not covered, why denials happen, and how to negotiate. It also shows how Surfside Claims assembles structure estimates, contents inventories, and fair valuations for smoke-damaged items for homeowners and commercial property owners across the Space Coast and all of Florida.

The first 72 hours: a step-by-step action plan

1) Make the scene safe and secure

• Call the fire department for a re-check if anything is still smoldering.
• Shut off utilities if advised. Do not re-energize systems until cleared.
• Board up broken doors and windows, tarp roof openings, and lock accessible points.
• Tip: Take photos before and after board-up and save all invoices.

2) Notify your insurance carrier and open a claim

• Report the loss promptly and get a claim number.
• Start a digital folder for:
  • photos and videos
  • receipts
  • mitigation invoices
  • all emails/texts with the insurer

3) Document everything (before cleanup removes evidence)

• Walk every room, attic, and exterior.
• Take:
  • wide “room overview” photos
  • close-ups of soot staining, charring, blistered paint
  • HVAC returns and supply vents
  • smoke trails around recessed lights or vents
• Do not discard debris or damaged items until they’re photographed and listed.

4) Protect and separate contents

• Bag small items in clear bags and label by room and item name.
• Separate clearly non-salvageable items from potentially cleanable items.
• Keep like items together for easier counting and valuation.

5) Start mitigation without erasing evidence

• Run air scrubbers or open windows **as advised by professionals**, but avoid aggressive cleaning of walls/ceilings **before** photos and a scope are created.
• If using a restoration vendor, ask them to:
  • photograph and inventory before packing out
  • provide copies of moisture/soot readings and logs

6) Arrange temporary living or business operations

If your home is uninhabitable, track Additional Living Expense (ALE) costs such as:

• hotel or short-term rental
• increased food costs
• laundry
• pet boarding
• mileage

For businesses, document Business Interruption and Extra Expense, including:

• lost income
• costs to continue operations
• temporary space
• rush shipping
• overtime

7) Call Surfside Claims early

Surfside Claims can help by building an insurer-compatible estimate for the structure, creating a room-by-room contents inventory, and valuing smoke-damaged items fairly.

Cleaning versus replacement: how to decide

Smoke can permanently affect porous materials and electronics. Some items clean well, while others lose function or resale value. Use these guidelines while your scope is being built:

Replace when:

• Items have heat deformation, bubbling, charring, or a strong persistent odor after a reasonable test clean.
• Porous materials (mattresses, pillows, insulation, books, many fabrics) retain soot and odor.
• Electronics show soot intrusion at vents or on boards. (Soot can be conductive and corrosive, increasing failure risk.)

Clean when:

• Hard, non-porous items and some semi-porous finishes respond to IICRC-appropriate cleaning methods.
• You can restore pre-loss appearance and function without lingering odor.

Always document test-clean results. If cleaning fails, those records support replacement.

How insurers pay for fire and smoke damage

Understanding payment types helps you plan repairs and negotiate.

ACV vs. RCV

• Actual Cash Value (ACV): replacement cost minus depreciation. Many policies initially pay ACV on structure and contents.
• Replacement Cost Value (RCV): pays the full cost to replace with like kind and quality. To collect recoverable depreciation, you typically must complete repairs or provide proof of replacement within your policy timelines.

Structure coverage

Adjusters price a scope of repairs using industry estimating software. Common line items include:

• demolition and debris handling
• cleaning and deodorization
• prime and paint
• drywall and insulation
• flooring and cabinets
• electrical repairs
• HVAC cleaning or replacement
• code upgrades (when applicable and covered)

Contents coverage

Contents are often settled item-by-item with ACV first, then RCV after you replace covered items and submit receipts.

ALE and Business Interruption

• ALE covers the increase in living costs above normal spending while displaced.
• Business Interruption covers lost income and extra expense per the policy, often requiring financial records and a clear connection to the covered loss.

Code upgrades (Ordinance or Law)

Ordinance or Law coverage can fund code-required upgrades for damaged areas, such as electrical updates, smoke detectors, or finish requirements. Coverage is typically subject to a percentage limit. You’ll usually need documentation from a contractor or a building official that identifies the code requirement.

What you can claim after a house fire or commercial fire

• Building and interior finishes affected by heat, smoke, or water used to extinguish the fire
• Contents (furniture, clothing, electronics, tools, inventory/stock)
  • Include brand, model, age, original price (if known), and current replacement cost

• Cleaning and deodorization of salvageable items and structure
• ALE for homeowners (and Loss of Use for tenants, if applicable)
• Business Interruption and Extra Expense for commercial policyholders
• Debris removal and reasonable emergency services
• Inspection fees that document damage when required by the policy

What fire insurance often does not cover

Policies vary, but common exclusions/limitations include:

• intentional acts or fraud
• wear and tear, prior damage, or long-term odor issues unrelated to a covered loss
• off-premises property beyond stated limits
• certain smoke from agricultural/industrial sources not tied to a covered peril
• upgrades beyond code-required work if you lack Ordinance or Law coverage or exceed the limit
• fine arts, jewelry, or collectibles beyond special sub-limits unless scheduled

Tip: Review your declarations page and endorsements to confirm limits and sub-limits.

Can insurance deny a fire claim? Common reasons for denials or underpayment

Yes. Denials and underpayment often involve:

• late notice or failure to protect the property from further damage
• insufficient documentation of cause or extent of damage
• treating items as “cleanable” when replacement is warranted
• disputes about origin and cause, or allegations of non-covered sources
• missing proof for ALE or Business Interruption

You can respond with evidence. Preserve scene photos, keep damaged parts when possible, obtain origin-and-cause documentation when needed, and present insurer-compatible estimates and inventories.

How to get the most out of a fire claim

• Document early and often: photos, videos, item lists, serial numbers, receipts.
• Build a clear scope: detailed, line-item estimates for structure; IICRC-aligned cleaning protocols with realistic labor/equipment/time.
• Value contents fairly: use current like kind and quality pricing, not bargain substitutions.
• Track all temporary costs: keep receipts and a simple spreadsheet for ALE or Extra Expense.
• Preserve leverage: don’t discard debris; don’t rush to sign releases before hidden damage is addressed.
• Communicate in writing: summarize calls by email and request written carrier positions.
• Bring in a licensed advocate: a public adjuster aligns the estimate, policy language, and proof to your benefit and manages negotiations and timelines.

Negotiation strategies that work in Florida

• Anchor your claim with strong documentation: photos, origin notes, estimates, code notes, and contents spreadsheets with pricing support.
• Challenge low “cleaning” decisions using test-clean results and expert opinions when odor, staining, or corrosion persists.
• Reference policy language for applicable endorsements (Ordinance or Law, matching, replacement cost) when relevant.
• Escalate professionally: request reinspection, and consider appraisal or mediation when appropriate.
• Manage contractors and payments: confirm scopes match funded work and submit supplements for missed items before work closes.

How Surfside Claims supports you in the first 72 hours and beyond

You deserve an advocate who works for you. We inspect, photograph, and scope the structure, create a complete contents inventory, coordinate with restoration vendors, and negotiate for fair value. We also help you secure ALE or Business Interruption support and pursue recoverable depreciation when the policy pays ACV first.

If your claim involves related damage (like water used to extinguish the fire), we can help tie the documentation together so the full scope is addressed.

Call: (321) 503-2280

Email: myclaim@surfsideclaims.com

Website: surfsideclaims.com

Schedule a free claim review.

Summary

In the first 72 hours, secure the property, document every room and item, preserve evidence, and begin ALE or Business Interruption tracking. Decide on cleaning versus replacement based on material, function, and test results. Understand how ACV and RCV affect structure and contents, and when code upgrades may be covered. Claims can be denied or delayed without strong documentation, but you can improve outcomes with a detailed scope, consistent records, and firm negotiation. Surfside Claims builds estimates, inventories, and a strategy that reflects the real impact of smoke and fire so you can move forward with confidence across Florida.