Fire & smoke damage claims
documented all the way down.
A fire loss is never just the burn. Smoke, soot, the water used to put it out, your belongings, and the months you can't live there are all part of the claim — and all places where payments come up short. We build the full picture and pursue every covered dollar.
The full scope of a fire & smoke damage claim
Coverage varies by policy — this is what we look for, document, and pursue when it applies. The claim you file should be as complete as the loss you suffered.
- 01Structure & rebuild — Fire-damaged framing, systems, and finishes — priced to actually rebuild in New York City, not a patch estimate.
- 02Smoke, soot & odor — Smoke travels far beyond the burn room. Soot residue and odor can affect finishes, ductwork, and contents rooms away — testing and proper remediation belong in the claim.
- 03Water & extinguisher damage — Firefighting saturates the building. Water and chemical damage from suppression is part of the fire loss and has to be scoped like one.
- 04Contents & personal property — A real inventory of damaged belongings, valued item by item — not a lump-sum guess.
- 05Loss of use / additional living expense — If you can't live there, the policy's ALE coverage helps pay for where you do — for as long as the rebuild honestly takes, not just the first weeks.
- 06Debris removal & emergency services — Board-up, securing the property, and debris removal are covered costs too — they belong on the claim, not on your card.
We worked the carrier side. We know where the money goes missing.
Our adjuster spent years handling property claims from inside the carrier's process. On fire & smoke damage losses, these are the patterns we watch for.
Smoke and soot damage far from the fire room is easy to leave off a quick inspection. It's often the largest under-scoped item on a fire loss.
The suppression water damage can rival the fire damage — and it frequently gets thin treatment in the carrier's first estimate.
ALE that assumes a fast rebuild leaves you paying rent out of pocket when the real timeline runs long. The period has to reflect reality.
The first days decide the claim
No countdown clocks, no pressure — just how claims actually work. Early documentation is the difference between what happened and what gets paid.
Most policies require prompt notice of a loss. Delay alone can complicate coverage — the clock starts at the damage, not when you get around to it.
Water migrates, mold can begin within 24–48 hours, smoke residue etches surfaces — and repairs made before documentation erase the proof.
Reserves and first impressions get set in the first days. What's missing from the early record rarely gets paid later.
Don't discard damaged property, don't sign off on scope, and don't accept a first offer before an independent review.
From damage to settlement, in four steps
You stay focused on your home or business. We run the claim.
Free inspection & policy review
We come to you, assess the damage, and read your policy line by line to find every coverage that applies.
We document the loss
Full photo evidence, inventory, and a detailed estimate the insurance company can't brush aside.
We fight the carrier
We file, push back on lowball offers, and negotiate directly with your insurer from start to finish.
You get paid
The settlement goes to you. We coordinate our vendors to put your property back together.
Independent facts — not our claims
Here's what government studies and regulators say about property claims and representation.
Typical claim payments were $9,379 with a public adjuster vs. $1,391 without in non-catastrophe property claims, in a state review comparing represented and unrepresented policyholders.
OPPAGA Report 10-06 (2010). Gross settlements before adjuster fees; Florida data.
After Superstorm Sandy, a federal claims review paid over $258 million in additional money to more than 15,000 flood-insurance policyholders — most in New York and New Jersey — after litigation in New York federal court revealed damage reports had been altered to reduce payments.
FEMA Sandy Claims Review, 2015–2018; U.S. Senate oversight records.
Public adjusters are licensed and regulated by the NY Department of Financial Services, and you can cancel a compensation agreement without penalty until midnight of the third business day after signing. Verify any public adjuster's license on the DFS portal — including ours.
NY Department of Financial Services.
Fire & Smoke Damage claim questions
Is the water damage from firefighting covered?
The fire was small but the smoke is everywhere. Is that a claim?
Do I need to keep damaged property?
What if the city vacated the building?
The fire started in a neighboring unit or building. Whose insurance pays?
Do you handle fire claims for landlords and businesses too?
Had a loss? Let's talk today.
Answer a few quick questions — it takes under a minute. We'll review your situation free, with no obligation, and if we can help, we'll take it from there.
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