A wildfire home inventory is a room-by-room record of what you own, made before fire season: photos or video of every room, garage, shed and yard, plus brand, model and serial numbers and receipts, kept somewhere off site. This checklist covers that before part only. Already dealing with a loss? Start with what to do after a house fire.
If officials tell you to evacuate, go right away; a partial inventory made safely beats a complete one that puts you at risk.
Why does a home inventory matter for a wildfire claim?
After a wildfire, your insurer will usually ask for a proof of loss that describes each damaged item, roughly when you bought it and what it costs to replace. The Insurance Information Institute says this is where a completed home inventory comes in handy. Without one, you are rebuilding a list of a whole house from memory.
The Insurance Information Institute's wildfire guide also calls it good practice to keep an up-to-date home inventory and to keep copies of important papers off site. A list made now turns the proof of loss form into copying instead of guessing.
California's 2026 contents rule
Since January 2026, after a declared emergency and a total loss, California requires insurers to pay 60 percent of your contents limit, capped at $350,000, without a detailed inventory. Policyholders also get at least 100 days to provide proof of loss. Source: the California Department of Insurance's release on SB 495 and its list of new laws effective January 1.
Read it carefully. The 60 percent is not your whole limit, and it stops at $350,000, so claiming the rest still means showing what you owned. Your inventory documents that part. This is California only; other states differ, so ask your insurer.
What should a wildfire home inventory include?
Every room, plus the places people forget: the garage, shed, patio, attic and closets. For each item, note what it is, the brand, model and serial number if it has one, when you bought it and the price. Photograph or film each room, then take close-ups of valuables and keep receipts and appraisals with the list.
The California Department of Insurance home inventory guide says not to forget extra closets, pantries, basements and attics, and to record serial numbers for electronics. For every room in the house, use our full home inventory checklist. Prefer filming? Here is how to make a home inventory video. Add model and serial numbers either way.
| Area | Often missed | What to capture | Example (example data) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage | Power tools, bikes, freezer, ladders | Wide shot, then close-ups of model plates | Table saw, model TS-10, bought 2023, $480 |
| Shed and outbuildings | Mower, generator, garden tools | Contents with the door open | Riding mower, serial on the deck plate |
| Patio and yard | Outdoor furniture, grill, planters | One wide photo from each side of the house | Teak dining set with 6 chairs |
| Attic, basement, closets | Holiday decor, luggage, stored clothes | Open each bin and photograph the contents | Bin 4: two wool coats, ski jackets |
| Kitchen | Small appliances, cookware, pantry | Open every cabinet and drawer | Stand mixer, model KM-5, $399 |
| Valuables | Jewelry, art, collections, instruments | Close-ups plus receipts or appraisals | Guitar, serial 22-0417, appraisal PDF |
Before fire season
- Walk every room, then the garage, shed, attic and yard.
- Write brand, model and serial for electronics, appliances and tools.
- Add receipts and appraisals for valuable items.
- Note your contents limit from the policy, and check how much contents coverage you need.
- Keep a copy in two places away from the house.
- Put a reminder in your phone's calendar to review it three to four times a year.
Your copy, ready to fill in:
| Area | Often missed | What to capture | Your items |
|---|---|---|---|
What should I do if an evacuation warning comes and I have no inventory?
Leave the moment officials tell you to. Ready.gov says to evacuate immediately when authorities order it, and no inventory is worth the delay. If you are only under a warning and it is safe, United Policyholders suggests photos or video of each room and the outside of the house, opening closets and drawers if time allows.
In CAL FIRE's Ready, Set, Go! program, Get Set is your Wildfire Action Plan. Make the plan first; the inventory is a side job. If it is safe, here is our order, every step optional:
- The outside of the house, from each side.
- A wide shot of each room.
- Open closets and drawers and capture what is inside.
- Close-ups of valuables.
Then go. Ready.gov also suggests reviewing important documents, including insurance policies. For the bag itself, use our grab-and-go list.
Where should I keep my home inventory so it survives a fire?
Somewhere the fire cannot reach. The California Department of Insurance recommends an updated copy in at least two places, such as a fire resistant box, a locked cabinet at work, a relative's home or a safe deposit box. Nevada's Division of Insurance also suggests storing it online, so you can open it from any phone or computer.
The NAIC homeowners guide agrees: store it at another location and review it every year. The Nevada Division of Insurance suggests keeping receipts and appraisals with it.
The part people miss: an inventory that only lives on a phone or laptop in the house can be lost with the house. Keep one copy somewhere else. The same goes for water; see our flood damage inventory guide.
Keeping your inventory current in Vorby
Vorby is an AI home inventory app for iPhone and the web: you photograph your things and get a searchable catalog organized by room, with receipts, warranties, labels and household sharing. It does not file claims or talk to your insurer. It gets your house onto a list you can open from anywhere, before you need it.
- Garage and closets. Photograph a whole shelf at once and Vorby creates one entry per item it detects, with brand and model when visible.
- Shed and patio. Add them as rooms, like Garage.
- Receipts and appraisals. Attach photos and PDFs to the item they belong to.
- Your contents limit. Vorby estimates value from a photo and totals it by room and house. It is a starting point, not an appraisal; compare the total with your limit.
- A copy away from the house. iPhone and web share one account, so you can open your inventory from any browser, even if your phone stays behind. Export your list to CSV or Excel for your second place.
- The rest of the household. Household members can add, edit and search. A revocable read-only link to a room or label can go to anyone, an adjuster included.
Vorby has a free plan, and paid plans come with a 14-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an itemized inventory for a wildfire claim in California?
Not for the first contents payment after a total loss. Since January 2026, California requires insurers to pay 60 percent of your contents limit, capped at $350,000, without a detailed inventory after a declared emergency. That is not your full limit, so an inventory still documents the rest. You get at least 100 days for proof of loss.
Does homeowners insurance cover wildfire and smoke damage?
Standard homeowners and renters policies cover fire, including wildfires, according to the Insurance Information Institute. That includes rebuilding or repairing the home, smoke damage and outbuildings like a garage or shed. If the home is unlivable, the policy reimburses additional living expenses such as a hotel and meals. Check your own policy for limits and exclusions.
Is a video walkthrough enough for a home inventory?
It is a strong start. The California Department of Insurance suggests filming every drawer while you describe each item, then emailing the video to someone off site. A video alone does not capture serial numbers, prices or purchase dates, so add those for anything valuable and keep the receipts with your list.
How often should I update my home inventory?
The California Department of Insurance suggests reviewing it three to four times a year, for example at the start of each season, and adding big purchases right away. The NAIC says to review and update it every year. If you live where wildfires happen, do a quick pass before fire season starts.
Do it before the wind picks up
Walk your house with Vorby this weekend, garage and shed included, so the list is done before fire season and you can open it from anywhere.
