Insure Against Fire

Fire is a great equalizer. It respects nothing and consumes whatever stands in the way. Race, wealth, privilege vanish equally in a dreadful combination of heat, oxygen, and fuel. Priceless treasures and worthless waste is all consumed. Fires also prove that sifting through the ashes of a life suddenly changed and charred is a poor time to try to gauge what exactly was lost.

Given the advantages in safety, construction and firefighting, such a devastating blaze is unlikely to return. But with 2 million fires reported annually in the United States, catastrophe remains as close as a dry day, a stiff breeze and an errant spark. Several fire and insurance experts offer the following tips on preparing for, and recovering from, the fire you hope will never come:

A picture is worth a thousand bucks. Once a fire incinerates the contents of your home, it's a little late to be taking pictures. Do it while everything is still in one piece. Folks along the coast do this when hurricanes approach, knowing full well everything may be gone when they return. You don't get that kind of warning with a fire. It's best to do it while you can.

Videotape and photograph everything you would want replaced should a fire hit. Big things, small things, things beyond value such as family pets, even seemingly insignificant things such as childhood souvenirs. If it can be replaced, you've got a much better chance if you can prove it was lost.

Know the Enemy

1. Huge fires like the ones that capture the public's fascination but small blazes account for most of the fires reported in the United States.
2. According to the United States Fire Association and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, about 4,000 people have died each year in fires during the past decade. The number dropped to 3,200 in 2004, still far more than all other natural disasters combined.

3. Nearly 80 percent of deaths came from smoke inhalation rather than heat.

Are You Covered?

Since you're house is insured hopefully, its good news for you that if it is damaged or destroyed by fire. The bad news is you may not be as covered as you should be. Before you find out the hard way, the National Association of Insurance Adjusters offers five questions to ask before a fire hits.

1. Is it enough if your insurance was purchased 20 years ago when your home was worth $65,000 and will it cover the cost of rebuilding what is a $125,000 home now?
2. Is it the same if you have upgraded your home? Insurers suggest you renovate your policy every time you renovate your home.
3. Does the insurance cover only the structure and not the items inside?
4. How about landscaping? If your home was spared, but the yard got roasted, many policies will cover at least part of the loss.

So make sure that you are properly insured so whenever the unexpected occurs. You'll have a fool-proof plan.