Arizona’s wildfire history
Arizona’s largest fires are measured in hundreds of thousands of acres. The 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire burned roughly 468,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes around Show Low and Heber-Overgaard. The 2011 Wallow Fire in the White Mountains burned about 538,000 acres, the largest in state history. The 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire took the lives of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots and destroyed homes in Yarnell. More recently the Museum Fire in 2019 and the Tunnel and Pipeline fires in 2022 burned on the edges of Flagstaff, and the 2022 Contreras Fire burned on Kitt Peak southwest of Tucson.
Fire season in most of the state peaks from May into early July, before monsoon moisture arrives. Low-desert grass fires can also run toward homes in wet years that grow heavy fuels.
Three kinds of wildfire claims
- Total losses. The dispute is usually about the true cost to rebuild, including code upgrades, site work, debris removal and surge pricing in a disaster area.
- Partial losses. Burned decks, fencing, outbuildings and siding on a home that survived.
- Smoke and ash. Homes that never burned but filled with fine ash and odor. Carriers often offer light cleaning; HVAC systems, insulation and soft goods may need much more.
After the fire: debris flows and flooding
Burned slopes shed water fast. Neighborhoods below the Museum Fire scar in Flagstaff saw repeated flooding afterward. Flood from surface water is typically excluded under homeowners policies, but mudflow and water entry can raise complex coverage questions. We value the physical damage and flag coverage issues for you to take to counsel.
Landscaping and trees
Trees, shrubs and landscaping usually carry a percentage limit and per-tree caps. Mature ponderosa pines and specimen saguaros can far exceed them. We document them anyway, because the limit applies to the amount of loss, not instead of it.
Questions about wildfire, smoke & ash claim appraisal
How do I value contents after a wildfire total loss?
Start a room-by-room list from memory, photos and bank records. Some policies offer a percentage of contents without a full inventory; compare that offer against your list before accepting it.
Is ash damage covered if the fire never reached my home?
Smoke and ash from a nearby wildfire are often treated as part of a covered fire loss. How much cleaning or replacement is needed is a valuation question appraisal can answer.
Does extended replacement cost help in a wildfire?
It can. Extended or guaranteed replacement cost endorsements add a percentage above Coverage A for rebuilding. Check your declarations page.