What is Fire Damage?

8/3/2018 (Permalink)

Definition - What does Fire Damage mean?

Fire damage refers to the physical damage to a property as a result of burning. This damage may either be directly caused by the flames or could occur due to smoke and other corrosive substances emitted by the fire.

In terms of insurance, fire damage is one of the types of coverage offered in property insurance.

Insuranceopedia explains Fire Damage

The six types of fire damage are as follows:

• Class A: fire that involves flammable solids, such as paper, cloth, wood, and plastics.
• Class B: fire that involves flammable liquids or solids that can turn into liquids.
• Class C: fire that involves flammable gasses, such as propane, hydrogen, natural gas, and butane.
• Class D: fire that involves combustible metals, including sodium, magnesium, and potassium.
• Class E: fire that involves factors in Class A and B as well as electrical elements.
• Class F: relatively hotter and more destructive fire that involves cooking oils and fats.

Furthermore, many insurance companies divide fire damage into two categories: primary and secondary. The former refers to damage caused by the flames, while the latter refers to damage caused by smoke or other substances from the fire.