When the Smoke Clears After the Aspen Acres Wildfire

After the Aspen Acres Wildfire, you may be looking at the damage, smelling smoke, and not knowing what to do first. You have to keep your family safe, find a place to stay, and figure out how to work with your insurance company.

This guide gives you simple steps for the first 24 hours, first week, and first month after wildfire damage. It explains your main options at each stage and when it makes sense to get extra help with your insurance claim. Disaster Adjusting is a public adjusting firm based in this region. We help homeowners and business owners understand their coverage and handle wildfire insurance claims.

First 24 Hours: Safety, Shelter, and Essential Calls

The Problem Now:

You need to know if it is safe to go back, where to stay, and when to call insurance.

Step 1: Put Safety First Before Entering

Do not enter your property until local authorities say it is safe. Even if the structure looks okay from the street, hazards can be hidden.

Watch for:

• Sagging roofs, cracked walls, or leaning chimneys  
• Downed power lines or damaged electrical equipment  
• The smell of gas or hissing sounds from lines or meters  
• Hot spots, smoldering debris, and ash that may contain toxins  

If you have any doubts, contact the fire department or your utility company before going in. Ask about shutting off gas, electricity, and water. Do not try to turn anything back on until they clear it.

Step 2: Arrange Shelter and Gather Essentials

Keep priorities simple:

• Confirm everyone, including pets, is accounted for and safe  
• Arrange temporary housing through friends, family, hotels, or local resources like the Red Cross or FEMA  
• If it is safe, gather essential documents, medications, and valuables, or make a list of items you will need to replace later  

Start a basic wildfire loss journal on your phone or in a notebook. Record dates, who you speak with, what they said, and any wildfire-related expenses you pay out of pocket. This journal becomes evidence later.

Step 3: Decide When to Call Insurance

When to Take Action:

Call your insurance company as soon as your family is safe and you can clearly describe what happened.

Have this information ready:

• Policy number  
• Property address  
• Date and general time of the wildfire damage  
• Short description, such as “fire, smoke, and water damage from Aspen Acres Wildfire”  

Keep the description brief. You do not need to guess at causes or totals.

Your Options at This Stage:

• Handle the first call yourself: Report the loss, answer basic questions, and wait for the company’s adjuster.  
• Get independent claim help early: Before giving detailed recorded statements or signing any forms, you can speak with a public adjuster, such as Disaster Adjusting, to understand your policy and how to describe your damage. This can help you avoid early statements that miss damage.  

First Week: Photos, Temporary Repairs, and Early Cleanup

The Problem Now:

You need to show what was damaged and prevent more damage without hurting your claim.

Step 4: Document Damage with Photos and Notes

Move carefully and stay safe. Take wide and close-up photos and video of:

• Every room, including ceilings, floors, and inside closets and cabinets  
• Exterior walls, windows, doors, decks, and rooflines from the ground  
• Garages, sheds, fences, and landscaping  
• Vehicles, outdoor equipment, and personal property  

Do not forget smoke, soot, and water damage. Look for gray or black film on surfaces, odors, yellowing, and warped or stained materials.

Save receipts for hotels, meals, clothes, pet boarding, and emergency supplies. These may fall under additional living expenses, depending on your policy.

Step 5: Make Only Temporary Repairs

When to Take Action:

Start temporary repairs as soon as it is safe and you have photos of the damage.

Temporary repairs can include:

• Tarping damaged areas of the roof  
• Boarding up broken windows or doors  
• Shutting off water if pipes or fixtures are broken  
• Removing obvious hazards that could cause injury  

Do not start major reconstruction or throw out damaged items unless they pose an immediate health risk and you have clear photos and video.

Your Options for Repairs:

• Do basic temporary repairs yourself if you can safely do so.  
• Hire local contractors for temporary work only, and keep invoices and photos.  
• Speak with a public adjuster for guidance on what to repair now and what to leave for the adjuster to see, so your proof of loss stays strong.  

Step 6: Limited, Careful Cleanup

You may want to clean right away, but over-cleaning can remove evidence.

Reasonable early cleanup includes:

• Clearing walkways to reduce trip hazards  
• Moving fragile items to safer spots without discarding them  
• Opening windows briefly for ventilation if air quality outside is safe  

Avoid deep cleaning that erases soot patterns, stains, or debris that shows the extent of smoke and heat.

First Month: Adjusters, Contractors, and Settlement Numbers

The Problem Now:

You must work with the insurance adjuster, choose contractors, and review repair estimates.

Step 7: Prepare for the Insurance Adjuster Visit

When you meet the insurance adjuster, your preparation matters. Use your:

• Photos and videos  
• Written list of damaged or destroyed items  
• Wildfire loss journal and receipts  

Walk the adjuster through the property. Point out smoke and odor issues, and show areas that worry you, like warped flooring or stained ceilings.

Your Options for the Inspection:

• Meet the adjuster on your own and use your photos and notes to explain what happened.  
• Have an independent public adjuster present, such as Disaster Adjusting, to help point out damage, answer technical questions, and compare what the insurer notes with what you see.  

Step 8: Choose Contractors Carefully

After a wildfire, some contractors may push for quick signatures.

Protect yourself by:

• Asking for proof of licensing and insurance  
• Getting local references and checking recent work  
• Insisting on a written scope of work with materials, methods, and timelines  
• Laying out payment terms that do not require most of the money upfront  

Be cautious when a contractor offers to “handle your claim” or speak to the insurer for you. Their goal may be to secure the job, not to make sure your damage is fully covered.

Your Options with Contractors:

• Use a contractor your insurer suggests, while still reviewing their scope and pricing yourself.  
• Choose your own local contractor with strong references and written terms.  
• Ask a public adjuster to review contractor estimates for missing items or underpriced work.  

Step 9: Review Settlement Numbers

When estimates start coming in, compare your contractor’s estimate with the insurance estimate.

Warning signs of a low settlement include:

• Missing line items for smoke and odor cleanup  
• No allowance for cleaning or replacing contents  
• Low labor rates or materials that would not match pre-loss quality  

When to Take Action:

If the first offer does not seem to cover the real cost of repairs, ask for clarification in writing and consider a second opinion.

Your Options If the Offer Seems Low:

• Ask the insurer to explain and revise their estimate based on your photos and contractor bids.  
• Get help from a public adjuster, like Disaster Adjusting, to review documents, re-inspect damage, write or revise estimates, and negotiate with the insurance company.  

Protecting Health, Home, and Your Claim After Smoke and Ash

The Problem Now:

Smoke, ash, and water may cause hidden damage or health issues that show up later.

Watch for:

• Smoke and soot inside HVAC ducts, attics, insulation, and behind walls  
• Water damage from firefighting efforts that leads to warping, staining, or mold  
• Lingering odors or a sharp smell when the heat or AC runs  

If you or family members experience headaches, breathing issues, or irritation that gets worse inside the home, you may need more testing.

Your Options for Health and Air Quality Concerns:

• Ask your insurer about further inspections, such as air quality checks or moisture readings.  
• Hire qualified inspectors or remediation companies and share their reports with your insurer.  
• Work with a public adjuster if these issues are not being taken seriously in your claim.  

Document ongoing issues by:

• Keeping a log of symptoms and when they occur  
• Photographing new stains, warping, or visible mold  
• Saving any reports from inspectors or remediation companies  

These records can support your claim if the insurer initially underestimated the impact of smoke or ash.

Staying Organized and Knowing When to Get Help

Keep your claim organized with a simple system:

• A single folder or binder for letters and printed emails  
• A digital folder with photos and videos labeled by room and date  
• A list of every expense and payment  
• Copies of all estimates, checks, and any forms you sign  

When to Take Action:

Consider getting independent claim help if you:

• Feel pressured to accept a quick settlement that seems too low  
• Run into delays, repeated denials, or changing opinions from adjusters  
• Are unsure what your policy really covers or how to document certain damage  

Clear Call to Action

If you have damage from the Aspen Acres Wildfire and want a straightforward review of your insurance claim, contact Disaster Adjusting to request a claim review. We can walk your property with you, review your policy and estimates, and explain your options so you can decide how to move forward with confidence.

Get Professional Support To Strengthen Your Insurance Claim

If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed by delays, denials, or low offers, we are here to provide the focused insurance claim help you need. At Disaster Adjusting, we carefully review your policy, document your losses, and represent your interests so you are not facing the insurance company alone. Reach out to our team today through our contact page to schedule a conversation and take the next step toward a fair resolution.