In the first week after losing a home to wildfire, three decisions shape everything that follows: how thoroughly you document the loss before cleanup starts, how quickly you contact your insurer, and which debris removal program you choose. Getting those three things right won't make the process easy, but getting them wrong adds months and money to an already difficult situation.
Walberg, Inc. has worked fire cleanup on the Camp Fire, Carr Fire, and Dixie Fire. The property owners who moved through the process most smoothly were the ones who knew the decisions coming at them before they had to make them. This guide covers the first steps, not the debris removal process itself.
Document Everything Before Anything Is Touched
The single most costly mistake we see after a fire is property owners, or well-meaning family members, entering the site and moving or removing material before documentation is complete. Every item that's disturbed or removed before it's photographed and inventoried is harder to claim.
Your insurance claim is built on the documented loss. That means photographs and video of the entire site from multiple angles, ideally before any debris moves. It means walking every room you can safely access and noting what was there, not from memory after the fact, but documented in the moment. It means a written inventory of contents if you kept one, or as detailed a reconstruction as you can manage from purchase records, credit card statements, and photographs taken inside your home before the fire.
If you can't enter the site safely, which is often the case in an active burn area, don't enter. Wait for the county or fire department to clear access. But be ready to document immediately once access is available, before any cleanup begins.
Call Your Insurer Before You Talk to Anyone Else
Your homeowners policy has time requirements and notification rules. Most policies require prompt notice of a loss. "Prompt" isn't defined the same way in every policy, but calling within 24 to 48 hours of the fire being declared controlled is the right standard to aim for.
The call accomplishes several things. It opens your claim file. It puts your insurer on notice that you'll need a public adjuster or company adjuster to inspect the site. It starts the clock on additional living expenses (ALE) coverage, which is often available immediately to cover temporary housing while your primary home is uninhabitable.
Don't wait to call because you don't have all the information yet. You won't have all the information yet. Call to open the claim and let the process start.
California has specific rules about insurer obligations after declared disasters, including deadlines for insurers to acknowledge claims and begin the adjustment process. The California Department of Insurance publishes guidance on these rules at insurance.ca.gov. It's worth a quick review so you know what your insurer is required to do and by when.
Understand the Two Debris Removal Programs
After a major wildfire, the state typically activates a two-phase government debris removal program through Cal OES and the county. This is the decision that has the most downstream impact on your timeline and your control over the process.
The government program runs Phase 1 as a hazardous material survey of your site, conducted by state contractors at no cost to you. Phase 2 is bulk debris removal, also done by state contractors at no direct cost to eligible property owners. The costs are typically billed to your insurance or, in some cases, handled through a lien waiver process.
The advantage is that you don't have to manage contractors. The disadvantage is that you don't control timing. Phase 2 crews work through a county on a schedule set by the program, and in large fires that affected thousands of parcels, waiting 12 to 18 months for Phase 2 crews to reach your lot is common. You also have less control over what happens on the site when crews do arrive.
The alternative program (also called the opt-out path) lets you hire a private contractor who meets county requirements and run the process yourself. You're responsible for all permits, inspections, and documentation. It typically moves faster because you're not waiting in a county-wide queue. It also means the private contractor route depends on you finding a qualified contractor, managing the permit sequence, and paying out of pocket (typically reimbursed through insurance).
The opt-out deadline is set by the county after the disaster declaration and can be as short as 30 days. Missing it doesn't always lock you out entirely, but it adds complications. Call your county's environmental health or public works department within the first week after the fire is contained to ask about the deadline.
Once you've opted out, the process that follows is covered in our post on clearing a fire-damaged lot before rebuilding, which walks through the permit sequence, hazmat survey, and county clearance certificate steps in detail.
What Your Insurance Should Cover
Most standard homeowners policies include at least four types of coverage relevant to a total loss:
Dwelling coverage pays to rebuild the structure up to the policy limit. If you've had the same policy for years without updating the dwelling limit, there's a real chance your coverage doesn't reflect current construction costs. This is a conversation to have with your adjuster early.
Personal property coverage pays for contents. The adjustment process for contents is detailed, and the reimbursement amount depends on whether you have actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost value (RCV) coverage. ACV pays the depreciated value. RCV pays what it costs to replace the item new.
Additional living expenses (ALE) covers temporary housing and increased living costs while your home is uninhabitable. This coverage typically has a time limit, often 12 to 24 months, which may not be long enough given typical rebuild timelines after a major fire.
Debris removal is often covered separately or as part of dwelling coverage. How your policy handles this matters for how you structure the cleanup scope with a contractor. Get clarity from your adjuster on whether debris removal costs are drawn from the dwelling limit or covered separately.
California's Fair Claims Settlement Practices Act sets standards for how adjusters must handle claims. If you feel your claim is being delayed or undervalued, the California Department of Insurance has a consumer complaint process and can intervene in bad faith situations.
Decisions in the First 30 Days
The timeline below shows what needs to happen and when.
| Timeframe | Action |
|---|---|
| Day 1 to 3 | Document the site; call insurer to open claim |
| Day 3 to 7 | Request adjuster inspection; start ALE claim for housing |
| Day 7 to 14 | Contact county to ask about opt-out deadline and program details |
| Day 14 to 30 | Decide on government program or alternative program; if opting out, start contractor search |
| Day 30 | Opt-out deadline in many counties (confirm with your county) |
The contractor search matters on the alternative program path. Not every contractor is approved or experienced in county disaster recovery work. See our post on how to choose a demolition contractor in California for what to look for, including CSLB license verification and what county fire debris experience actually means.
What Not to Do
A few actions that seem reasonable but cause problems:
Don't hire anyone who shows up unsolicited offering immediate cleanup for cash. After major fires, unlicensed contractors target affected areas. An unlicensed contractor can't pull permits, isn't insured, and leaves you holding liability if something goes wrong.
Don't remove or dispose of any debris before your insurer has inspected the site. Your claim depends on the documented loss. Premature cleanup can reduce your claim amount.
Don't sign over power of attorney or claim authority to any contractor or public adjuster without understanding exactly what you're agreeing to. Some post-disaster solicitations involve agreements that assign your claim benefits to the contractor, which removes your control over how the money is spent.
Don't assume your insurance limit is enough. If you're underinsured, you'll need to make up the difference. California has legislation expanding guaranteed replacement cost coverage in wildfire-affected areas, but it applies to policies issued or renewed after specific dates. Check your specific policy, not the general rule.
Common Questions
Should I hire a public adjuster?
Public adjusters work for you rather than for the insurance company, and they typically charge a percentage of the claim settlement. They can be worth it on large or complicated claims, particularly if the initial settlement offer seems low or your policy terms are complex. They're not necessary in every case. The California Department of Insurance licenses public adjusters; verify credentials before engaging one.
Can I stay on the property temporarily while waiting for cleanup?
Usually not during active debris work, and not if the county has restricted access while hazardous materials are present. Some county programs allow property owners to place an RV on the parcel after Phase 1 is complete, subject to rules about utility connections and duration. Check with your county for current rules.
What if my insurance company is disputing the amount of my loss?
Start with the dispute process outlined in your policy, which often includes a right to demand an appraisal. If that doesn't resolve it, the California Department of Insurance can assist with complaints against insurers. Keep records of every communication with your insurer including dates, names, and what was said.
How do I handle a mortgage on a total loss property?
You still owe your mortgage even if the structure is destroyed. Most lenders require that insurance proceeds be used to repair or replace the structure, or they may release funds to pay off the loan in some circumstances. Contact your mortgage servicer early. They'll be named on your insurance claim check and must endorse it; understanding that process before the check arrives is worth the call.
How long does the entire process take from fire to moving back in?
Total time from fire containment to completed rebuild for a private residence after a major California wildfire is typically two to four years. Debris removal and lot clearance takes three to six months on the private contractor path. Permit review and design approval adds several more months. Construction takes a year or more depending on contractor availability. The 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County is the most recent large-scale comparison point, and rebuild timelines in Paradise stretched well past two years for most properties.
The Bottom Line
The week after a wildfire is not the time to make slow decisions. Document immediately, call your insurer right away, and find out your county's opt-out deadline before you decide on a cleanup path. Those three steps don't lock you into anything, but skipping them narrows your options.
If you're working through this in Tehama, Butte, or Shasta County and want to understand what the private cleanup path involves, request a free estimate. We'll walk the property with you and tell you what we're looking at before we put a number to it.