08/12/2026
Things to consider if you lose your home to a fire.
This is general information only and not legal, insurance, tax, or financial advice. Coverage, eligibility, and procedures depend on your specific policy and circumstances. Contact your insurance company, the Kittitas County Assessor’s Office, and appropriate professionals for guidance specific to your situation.
Contact your insurance company immediately and open a claim.
Ask about Additional Living Expenses (ALE) / Loss of Use coverage if your home is unlivable. This is typically a separate coverage (often 20–30% of your dwelling limit) that can help with temporary housing, extra food costs, pet boarding, laundry, storage, and similar expenses.
Keep every receipt. Save every receipt, hotels, clothing, toiletries, pet expenses, fuel, meals, storage, etc. Many of these may be reimbursable under ALE. Make a detailed room-by-room list of everything you lost.
*** Consider photographing before a fire or burglary all rooms and valuable items. Store in fireproof storage, safety deposit box or other secure locations ***
Don’t forget the smaller items, they add up. Photos, videos, bank/credit card statements, and old receipts can help reconstruct the inventory.
Important for Kittitas County property owners:
Contact the Kittitas County Assessor’s Office and file a Destroyed Property Claim (Taxpayer’s Claim for Reduction of Assessments Resulting from Destroyed Real or Personal Property).
If your home was destroyed or significantly damaged, you may qualify for a reduction in the assessed value of the structure and a pro-rated property tax adjustment for the year. The land is still taxable, but the destroyed home’s value can be reduced.
Currently in Kittitas County file within 3 years of the date of destruction.
Phone: (509) 962-7501
Address: 205 W 5th Ave, Suite 101, Ellensburg
Email: [email protected]
(The form is available on the Assessor’s website.)
Notify your mortgage company, utility providers, banks, and the post office of your temporary address. Consider getting a P.O. Box if needed.
Begin replacing important documents: driver’s license, birth certificates, Social Security cards, passports, vehicle titles, etc.
Document everything, take photos/videos of the damage if it’s safe and allowed, get the fire department incident report, and keep copies of all paperwork, receipts, estimates, and emails. This is especially important if the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage (board-up, tarp, etc.) if it is safe to do so and keep those receipts.
Most importantly . . . .
You do not have to remember or do everything today. Take it one step at a time.
Accept help when it’s offered. There are people and organizations who want to support you through this.
If you run into insurance issues, you can also contact the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner for assistance.
