Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has declared that this fire is bigger and far worse than the East Amarillo Complex fire that occurred in 2006 and caused great devastation.
How Have the Smokehouse Creek Wildfires Affected Texas Residents?
The Smokehouse Creek fire is only one of three active fires burning in northern Texas, but it is the largest of the three, which have collectively burned 1.2 million acres across north Texas. One town, Canadian, which is northeast of Amarillo, was completely surrounded by fire.
Texas residents were left to escape with little to no time to collect any of their belongings. When homeowners returned to their houses, they were left to find only ashes and rubble. Texas’s fire preparedness level has been raised to a three, which means Texas may require outside help.
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, this is the largest fire to ever occur in Texas history. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a declaration of emergency for over 60 counties in the Texas panhandle and has issued additional assistance to be given.
What Areas of Texas Have Been Impacted by Smokehouse Creek Wildfires?
The Smokehouse Creek fire has now burned an area of land larger in size than the state of Rhode Island and has forced the Pantex nuclear weapons plant to take emergency safety precautions.
Two people have been killed so far, and thousands of cattle have died as a result of these infernos.
On February 27, 2024 North Texans felt a small reprieve when a cold front blew in, however, strong wind gusts less than two days later created perfect fire weather.
As of early March 2024, The National Weather Service (NWS) has predicted more conditions will develop that are perfect for the spread of wildfires.
Borger
Borger, Texas, is one of the 60 counties under a disaster declaration and is in need of assistance. Borger has had many of its structures burned to the ground, including homes and businesses.
Many of the residents have been displaced and lots of the surrounding farms and ranches have lost a large portion of their cattle and crops.
Canadian
The town of Canadian was one of the hardest hit towns in the Texas panhandle. The wildfire surrounded the entire town in a wall of fire, burning many of the homes and structures in town. Powerlines in and around Canadian have been destroyed, leaving residents without electricity.
Many of the neighborhoods and businesses were completely engulfed by the fire. There is also a water boil notice in place; however, many of the residents of Canadian are unable to use their water anyway, making water bottles a necessity.
Fritch
The small town of Fritch was another one of the hardest-hit towns in the Texas panhandle. The governor has stated that at least 50 homes have been completely destroyed, but thankfully, the fire did not go through the heart of the town.
Fritch is also experiencing power outages due to the burned and downed power lines in the area. It is estimated that at least 100 miles of powerline will need to be completely rebuilt.
Hemphill County
Hemphill County is, sadly, where one of the two deaths occurred. A woman named Cindy Owens was driving through the fire in her truck when she suddenly stopped and got out.
Flames immediately overcame her, and a passing motorist was able to take her to a burn unit, where she died two days later.
Hutchinson County
In Hutchinson County, at least 1,000 head of cattle have died due to the first, and thousands more are expected to pass away. Hutchinson County was surrounded by fires on all sides, with very few ways for the animals to get out safely, though fences have been cut to allow them to run. Ranchers are being encouraged to document their losses for future insurance claims.
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
The Lake Meredith National Recreation Area was one of the many places that had to be evacuated due to the threat posed by multiple wildfires in the area. Strong winds are starting to pick back up, causing emergency responders to be on alert to act quickly.
A spokesperson has assured that the Alibates Flint Quarries Visitor Center and historic McBride Ranch House are still intact and protected by emergency responders.
Stinnett
The small town of Stinnett, Texas, was where the second death occurred. A grandmother and former substitute, 83-year-old Joyce Blankenship, was found dead in her home by her grandson.
Stinnett also has lost electricity as power lines have been destroyed, affecting residents’ ability to access safe water. Many homes and local businesses have suffered damage and complete loss to their structures.
Legal Options for Smokehouse Creek Fire Damage Victims
The Smokehouse Creek Fire has left a massive amount of damage behind for the victims of the fire to clean up. If your business or personal property was damaged in this fire or one of the other nearby wildfires, you may be wondering what your legal options might be.
Home Insurance Claims
For those who have suffered damage or complete loss of their home or other personal property, the process of filing a home insurance claim will need to be started. In order to file a home insurance claim, you will need to provide proof of damage.
Methods of providing proof include:
- Photos of any damage to the structures
- Videos, such as doing a walk-through and speaking about the damage
- Providing an invoice from a third party estimating the total cost of repair or replacement
Once you have gathered the necessary evidence, you will need to fill out your insurance claim form and send it back to your insurance agent as soon as possible. Your insurance provider will most likely send an insurance adjuster to look at the damage in person.
Homeowners and property owners need to be aware that during wildfires, insurance companies will often find ways to get out of paying for your damage.
Damage that should be covered but often is not includes:
- Damage caused by actual flames
- Damage caused by smoke
- Damage caused by corrosive substances left behind by the fire
Agricultural Insurance Claims
North Texas is a major center of agriculture and farming for the state of Texas, and these wildfires have damaged farms, ranches, cattle, and crops. While the threat of fire and natural disaster is always present, it can be overwhelming to handle when a wildfire does occur.
Farm owners who have received damage to their property, crops, agriculture equipment, barns, warehouses, herds, and other related damage will need to file an agriculture insurance claim.
In order to file this claim, farmers and ranchers will also need to provide documentation of the damage. After gathering photos, videos, and estimates of the damaged or destroyed property, you will need to file the appropriate paperwork with your insurance company.
Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuit
Unfortunately, there are many instances of insurance companies being unwilling to give the required compensation to those who have been affected by wildfires.
Natural disasters often cause a great influx of insurance claims that many insurance companies find impossible to keep up with. In order to save money, insurance companies will often refuse to pay the full amount they are required to, or they simply deny the claim to avoid paying at all.
If your insurance company is not communicating with you or trying to severely underpay your claim or outright deny your claim, you need a fire damage claims attorney.
A fire damage attorney will file a bad faith lawsuit against your insurance company, forcing them to cooperate. Your fire damage attorney understands how frustrating this process can be and will fight to make sure your claim is treated properly.
Federal Disaster Assistance
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has requested and been approved for a grant of assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA approved a Fire Emergency Management Grant for the Smokehouse Creek and Windy Deuce fires.
This grant means that Texas is eligible for a 75% reimbursement for damages by the federal government. This will help repair and rebuild the damaged and destroyed infrastructures that were affected by these wildfires.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also requested that residents affected by these wildfires fill out a damage survey at iSTAT Damage Surveys (texas.gov). This survey will help to ensure Texas receives the compensation they need to rebuild.
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Types Of Damage Caused By Texas Wildfires
Large portions of the Texas panhandle are now dealing with the aftermath of the largest fire in Texas state history. There are many types of damage that come with these types of massive wildfires, including the following:
Smoke Damage
While many people consider the fire the most damaging, smoke is also a major problem for those trying to recover their homes after a fire. Smoke can creep into very small spaces in the home, and left untreated, it can cause many issues to a home.
These issues can include:
- Corrosion
- Structural weakness
- Discoloration
- Odor
- Health problems
Home and Property Damage
Another major blow to homeowners and business owners in the Texas panhandle is the damage to their houses and businesses. Many of the structures in the area were either partially or completely destroyed by fire or smoke.
Many people lost everything in their homes, from the furniture to their clothes and important documents. Businesses lost most, if not all, of their inventories and their equipment, plus all of their paperwork as well.
Landscaping, including trees, bushes, flower gardens, and more, is generally completely destroyed in these situations, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
If the home or the business was not completely destroyed, property owners now have to prepare to fix damage to their buildings, including:
- Roof damage
- Broken and damaged windows
- Smoke damage
- Water damage from sprinklers or fire hoses
Crop and Agricultural Equipment Damage
The industry of North Texas has been tremendously impacted by the 687 Reamer fire, the Grape Vine Creek fire, the Magenta fire, and the Windy Deuce fire. The largest wildfire is the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which has affected millions of acres of land.
Many of the area’s ranches, in an effort to save their livestock, cut their fences down so that their herds could run from the fire. There were also many ranchers who have lost a large percentage of their livestock to fire and smoke.
Crops that were not outright burned will be affected by a harmful composite of minerals and metals. This will affect the crop’s ability to absorb sunshine and can then cause the plant to become compromised or die later on.
Damage to buildings, barns, stored grains, seeds, crops, and expensive farm equipment will financially devastate many business owners, farmers, and ranchers in North Texas when they can return to their properties.
Environmental Damage
These wildfires are completely devastating not only to the residents of the small towns north of Amarillo but also to the surrounding environment. Wildfires produce many toxic and hazardous air pollutants and release a large amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The fires also burn away much of the vegetation that the natural ecosystem needs in order to survive. Many of the area’s wild animals are displaced in the aftermath, causing friction between residents and wildlife.
Harm to Physical Health
Wildfires are very dangerous to the physical health of the people living in the area or close to the wildfires. Fire can severely injure or kill someone if they receive burns on a large portion of their body. Burns are susceptible to infection and can also be extremely painful due to nerves.
Smoke from the fire can lead to a variety of different injuries, from minor irritations to the eyes and respiratory tracts to more serious injuries.
These serious injuries can include reduced lung function, bronchitis, and can aggravate asthma and heart failure, and cause premature death.
Steps To Take After Texas Wildfire Damage
If you or someone you love has been affected by the Texas Smokehouse Creek Fire or one of the other fires ravaging the panhandle of Texas, you may not know where to begin.
The following are the most basic steps that need to be taken after the evacuation orders are lifted.
1. Document The Damage
The first step you need to take is to begin thoroughly documenting the damage to your home, farm, business, and property. This documentation will be important information for your insurance claim and for your attorney, should you decide to hire one.
Take photos and videos of the damage to your property, making sure to capture as much of the damage as possible. Everything needs to be included, from a damaged roof to the ashes of a former building.
2. Find Safe Shelter
It is important that you find a place for you and your family to safely stay until you can make permanent plans. There are many organizations that are offering shelters, safe air, and supplies to those whom the wildfires have displaced.
3. File a Temporary Advance Claim
These fires forced homeowners to leave quickly with only the clothes on their backs, often without time to grab any necessities. If this happens, you can file a temporary advance claim, which will give you an advance on your pending insurance claim.
This advance will be deducted from your total claim, so be sure to use it sparingly. This advance can be used to purchase clothes, food, toiletries, and medicine that may be needed for everyday survival.
4. Take Inventory Of All Losses In The Wildfire
In order to get the compensation you will need to repair or replace all of the damaged or destroyed property, you will need to create a detailed list of everything you have lost.
This will be used to determine the exact amount of your settlement, so be sure to include everything, no matter how small.
5. Submit Your Homeowners Insurance or Agricultural Insurance Claim
Once you have gathered all of the documentation of your damage, it is time to file your homeowners insurance and agricultural insurance claim if it applies to your situation. You will need to contact your insurance agent to begin the claims process.
An insurance agent will need your name, phone number, and insurance policy information. They will likely send an insurance adjuster to your property and inspect the damage in person. When the adjuster is done, they will then give their summary to your insurance company.
6. Review Your Insurance Coverage
It is important for insurance policyholders to familiarize themselves with the insurance coverage provided by their insurance company. Wildfire damage is extensive and can snowball into other types of damage, such as water and roof damage.
When you understand your insurance policy, you will better understand what you are likely to receive compensation for and how your insurance company is likely to act in your case.
7. Hire a Fire Damage Claims Attorney
In the event that your insurance company fails to follow through with their promised financial coverage, you need to hire a fire damage claims attorney to assist you in your claims case. Insurance companies should not be allowed to act in bad faith when a wildfire happens.
When a natural disaster occurs, insurance companies can become overwhelmed with the amount of claims being filed. In order to save money, they often try to underpay, dismiss, or outright deny good claims so that they do not have to fulfill them.
The attorneys of Florin|Roebig know how overwhelming and upsetting it can be to deal with a natural disaster’s aftermath, and they are ready to assist you through this process.
What To Do If Your Fire Damage Claim Is Denied
If your fire damage claim is denied, it can be a very frustrating setback in rebuilding after a wildfire. Policyholders expect their insurance policy to be upheld when the worst happens, but insurance companies will do what they can to save money.
The first thing you should do is read over the denial letter carefully and ensure you understand what it is saying. Claims can be denied if your account is not up to date with payments or if your damage has not met the deductible amount.
You need to go back and gather all of your evidence of damage -photos, videos, repair estimates, invoices for emergency repairs- and prepare to resubmit them to your insurance provider.
Then, contact your insurance agent and request a reevaluation of your claim case.
Be prepared to provide any new evidence to refute the insurance company’s reason for denying your claim. If your insurance company still refuses to pay your claim in full or refuses to pay your claim at all, your insurance company may be acting in bad faith.
If you believe your insurance company is acting in bad faith, you will need to contact a law firm that is not afraid to go head-to-head with a large insurance company. The attorneys of Florin|Roebig have been successfully representing clients for nearly 40 years.
When Should You Hire A Texas Fire Damage Lawyer?
If you or a loved one have had their business or home damaged or completely destroyed by the Texas Smokehouse Creek fire, you will need to begin the claims process immediately.
While it is possible to handle your insurance company independently, hiring a fire damage lawyer to assist you and your claim from the beginning makes a big difference.
It is important for policyholders to be aware that insurance companies may not be doing everything they can to assist your claim. When a major disaster occurs, insurance companies are known to severely underpay or completely dismiss good claims in order to save money.
Your attorney will ensure your insurance company does not give you the runaround and will ensure it follows through with the agreed-upon coverage. If you are ready to hire a fire damage attorney, contact the law offices of Florin|Roebig today for a free consultation.
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Find A High-Quality Texas Fire Damage Attorney
The destruction caused by the Texas Smokehouse Creek fire and the other raging wildfires is devastating both emotionally and financially. For many of the people in the panhandle, their livelihood depends on getting back on their feet as soon as possible, which means filing a claim.
If you want to make sure your claim has a better chance of being accepted and paid in full the first time, you need a high-quality Texas fire damage attorney.
Florin|Roebig has been assisting clients with their claims for nearly four decades, with their average trial verdict being $1 million.
This is an exhausting time for those who have experienced these wildfires, and the lawyers of Florin|Roebig want to make sure you get what you need to rebuild and get back to your life. For a free case evaluation, call us today.
Texas Wildfire Damage FAQs
How do I claim damage due to a fire in Texas?
In order to claim damage caused by a fire, you will need to gather photos, videos, and estimates of the total cost of damage to your home, business, or property. Contact your insurance agent to begin the claims process, or hire a fire damage attorney to assist you in filing the claim.
How does insurance pay out in a fire?
In the case of a fire, smoke damage, or an explosion, most property policies in Texas will require an insurance company to pay the full amount under the policy for each destroyed item covered by the policy.
How is a fire insurance claim calculated?
An insurance adjuster will be sent to evaluate the damage in person, and they will generate an estimate of the value of the insured property. Any deductibles will be included after the total amount has been calculated.
What is considered fire damage?
Fire damage is anything on a property that has been damaged due to burning, including the actual fire or smoke and other corrosive substances left by the fire.
