Key facts: San Diego Fire Damage
Smoke from a fire you never saw
Wildfire smoke can enter a home through vents and gaps, leaving ash and odor even with no flames nearby. Change HVAC filters and avoid dry-sweeping ash.
Canyon-edge homes
Vents, eaves and wooden fences carry embers. Rebuilding is a chance to harden these details.
Fire history in San Diego County
FEMA lists 28 fire-related federal declarations covering San Diego County, most recently Wildfires in 2020.
Across all incident types, San Diego County has 51 federal declarations on record, and any of them may open aid for San Diego residents that insurance does not cover.
Protecting a fire-damaged San Diego home
San Diego averages 13 inches of precipitation a year, with June the driest month and January and March the wettest. Fire-damaged homes opened up by firefighting are exposed to that weather, so board-up and roof tarping matter quickly.
Fire services in San Diego
Questions
San Diego fire damage questions
Is wildfire ash safe to sweep?
Avoid stirring it up. Wear protection, and ask about proper cleanup.
Is smoke-only damage a real claim?
It can be. Document it and ask your insurer.