California Wildfire Preparedness: The Complete Home Inventory Guide

California wildfires have destroyed over 25,000 structures in recent years. Behind every statistic is a family who lost everything—and many discovered too late that they couldn’t prove what they owned.

If you live in California, you’re not just preparing for the possibility of fire. You’re preparing for the certainty that documentation will determine your financial recovery.

This guide covers California-specific requirements, what to document, and how to ensure your records survive any disaster.

Why California Homeowners Face Unique Challenges

The Insurance Crisis

California’s insurance market is in turmoil:

• Major insurers have stopped writing new policies in high-risk areas
• Premiums have increased 40-100% in many regions
• Policy non-renewals are at historic highs
• FAIR Plan (the insurer of last resort) enrollment has tripled

What this means for you: Documentation is more critical than ever. With insurers scrutinizing claims closely, thorough proof of ownership can mean the difference between full recovery and devastating underpayment.

California-Specific Insurance Rules

California has strong consumer protections, but you must be prepared to use them:

Full Contents Coverage Without Itemization In January 2025, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara urged insurers to provide full contents coverage (up to policy limits) without requiring item-by-item inventory for total loss claims. While this helps survivors, having documentation still:

• Speeds up your claim significantly
• Helps if your claim is disputed
• Ensures you don’t forget items
• Supports additional living expense claims

Your Right to Replacement Cost California law (Insurance Code Section 2051) requires insurers to pay replacement cost (not depreciated value) if you have replacement cost coverage. Documentation helps prove what the replacement actually costs.

Claim Deadlines After a declared disaster, California extends claim filing deadlines. But having documentation ready means faster recovery—you won’t spend months reconstructing what you owned.

What to Document: California Edition

Standard Home Inventory

Every room, every closet:

• Photograph walls from multiple angles
• Capture inside cabinets and drawers
• Don’t forget the garage, attic, basement
• Include outdoor structures (sheds, pergolas)

High-value items with detail:

• Serial numbers on electronics
• Appraisals for jewelry, art, collectibles
• Receipts for major purchases
• Close-up photos of brand labels

California-Specific Considerations

Defensible Space Documentation

California requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures. Document your compliance:

• Photographs showing vegetation clearance
• Receipts for fire-resistant landscaping
• Records of tree trimming and brush clearing
• Ember-resistant vent installations
• Fire-resistant roofing materials

Why this matters: Some policies require defensible space compliance. Documentation proves you maintained your property properly and can counter any insurer claims of negligence.

Home Hardening Improvements

If you’ve made fire-resistant upgrades, document them:

• Fire-resistant roofing (Class A rated)
• Dual-pane or tempered glass windows
• Enclosed eaves and soffits
• Ember-resistant vents
• Non-combustible decking
• Fire-resistant siding

These improvements may qualify for insurance discounts and prove the home’s pre-fire value.

Outdoor Living Spaces

California homes often have significant outdoor investments:

• Patio furniture and umbrellas
• BBQ grills and outdoor kitchens
• Hot tubs and pool equipment
• Landscaping and irrigation systems
• Outdoor lighting
• Fire pits and heaters

These are often forgotten during claims but add up quickly.

The Cloud Backup Imperative

Here’s the brutal truth: physical documentation burns.

• Paper receipts in a fireproof safe? Often destroyed in intense wildfires
• Hard drive in your home? Melted
• Photos on your phone? Lost if you evacuate without it

Cloud backup is not optional—it’s essential.

What “Cloud Backup” Actually Means

Your documentation should be:

1. Stored on remote servers (not just your phone or computer)
2. Accessible from any device (you might evacuate with nothing)
3. Automatically synced (manual backups get forgotten)
4. Secure and encrypted (your inventory is sensitive)

Recommended Approach

Use a dedicated home inventory app like Dib that:

• Automatically backs up every photo and document
• Lets you access your inventory from any device
• Creates insurance-ready reports instantly
• Stores data in secure, geographically distributed servers

Even if your home, phone, car, and everything you own is destroyed, you can log in from any device and have complete documentation.

Creating Your Wildfire Inventory

Phase 1: Quick Protection (1-2 Hours)

Start with what matters most:

Inside your home:

• Video walkthrough of every room (narrate as you go)
• Photos of all electronics with serial numbers
• Photos of appliances with model numbers
• Quick shots of furniture and decor

Upload immediately to cloud storage or your inventory app.

Phase 2: Detailed Documentation (4-6 Hours)

Over the next few days, add detail:

Room by room:

• Open every drawer and closet, photograph contents
• Capture inside kitchen cabinets
• Document garage and storage areas
• Photograph attic contents
• Document outdoor equipment and furniture

Receipts and records:

• Scan recent purchase receipts
• Upload warranty documents
• Add purchase dates and prices where known
• Note serial numbers for electronics

Phase 3: Ongoing Maintenance

After any major purchase:

• Add to inventory immediately
• Upload receipt
• Register warranty

Annually (before fire season):

• Walk through and update inventory
• Verify cloud backup is working
• Review insurance coverage
• Update defensible space documentation

Evacuation-Ready Documentation

When evacuation orders come, you may have minutes to leave. Be prepared:

The “Grab and Go” List

Create a checklist of what to take:

Critical documents (physical copies):

• IDs and passports
• Insurance policy declarations page
• Prescription medications list
• Financial account information

Digital access (know your logins):

• Home inventory app credentials
• Insurance company portal
• Bank and financial accounts
• Cloud storage (photos, documents)

Pro tip: Use a password manager so you can access everything from any device.

What to Do When Evacuation Is Imminent

If you have 15-30 minutes:

1. Take fresh video of each room (this updates timestamps)
2. Photograph any new items not yet documented
3. Verify cloud sync is complete
4. Take irreplaceable items (photos, heirlooms)
5. Document your departure (timestamp helps establish condition)

After a Wildfire: Using Your Documentation

If the worst happens, your preparation pays off:

Immediate Steps

1. Confirm your safety and notify insurer
2. Access your inventory from any device
3. Begin your claim with complete documentation
4. Request advance payment (California insurers must provide this for necessities)

Working with Your Insurer

Your documentation enables:

• Faster claim processing — No weeks spent trying to remember what you owned
• Higher payouts — Proof of specific items and values
• Fewer disputes — Clear evidence prevents insurer pushback
• Full replacement cost — Documentation proves actual replacement prices

If You Face Claim Issues

California resources for disputed claims:

• California Department of Insurance — File complaints, get help
• Consumer hotline: 1-800-927-4357
• FAIR Plan Information: If you’re on the California FAIR Plan
• Public adjusters — Professionals who negotiate on your behalf

Regional Considerations

High-Risk Areas

If you’re in a high fire hazard severity zone:

• Document more frequently (quarterly updates)
• Maintain proof of defensible space
• Keep fire-resistant upgrade records
• Consider additional coverage (many policies have fire-specific limitations)

Insurance Shopping

When comparing policies, document:

• Current coverage limits
• Deductible amounts
• Specific fire exclusions or limitations
• Defensible space requirements
• Discount eligibility

Your home inventory helps agents provide accurate quotes and identify coverage gaps.

California Wildfire Resources

Official resources:

• CAL FIRE — Fire preparation and defensible space
• CA Dept of Insurance — Claims help and consumer protection
• Ready for Wildfire — Preparation checklists

Emergency alerts:

• Sign up for local emergency notifications
• Download the FEMA app
• Monitor CAL FIRE incident maps

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my homeowner’s insurance cover wildfires?

Most standard policies cover fire damage, but check for:

• Specific wildfire exclusions (rare but increasing)
• Coverage limits for total loss
• Additional living expense coverage
• Outbuilding and landscaping coverage

What if I’m in a FAIR Plan?

FAIR Plan provides basic coverage but may have lower limits. Document everything carefully and consider supplemental coverage.

How often should I update my inventory?

At minimum: annually before fire season (April-May). Better: after any major purchase and with quarterly quick reviews.

Will my insurer require itemized inventory?

For total losses, California is pushing for full coverage without itemization. But having documentation still speeds claims, prevents disputes, and ensures you don’t forget items.

What about renters in California?

Renters insurance covers your belongings, not the structure. The same documentation principles apply—and renters often underestimate what they own.

Start Protecting Yourself Today

Every California homeowner should have cloud-backed documentation. The process is simple:

Today (30 minutes):

1. Download Dib
2. Walk through your home taking video
3. Photograph your 10 most valuable items
4. Verify cloud sync is enabled

This week (2-3 hours):

1. Complete room-by-room photography
2. Add serial numbers for electronics
3. Upload key receipts and warranties
4. Document outdoor areas and improvements

Before fire season:

1. Update inventory with new purchases
2. Document defensible space compliance
3. Review insurance coverage
4. Test that you can access inventory from another device

California wildfires are not a matter of “if” but “when” for many communities. The homeowners who recover fully are those who prepared. Don’t let documentation be the reason you can’t rebuild your life.

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Related: What Happens Without a Home Inventory? | Emergency Preparedness Checklist