Wildfire Claim Appraisal for Wyoming Cabins and Ranches

Wildfire in Wyoming

Large fires have become a regular part of Wyoming summers. The 2020 Mullen Fire burned well over 150,000 acres in the Medicine Bow National Forest and destroyed dozens of cabins and structures near the Colorado line. Grass fires on the eastern plains move fast in high wind, and beetle-killed timber across the southern and western mountains adds fuel near subdivisions and recreation cabins.

Three kinds of wildfire claims

• Total losses. The question is the real cost to rebuild — often far from town, with limited contractor availability, long material hauls and new code or defensible-space requirements.
• Partial burns and ember damage. Decks, siding, vents, roofs and outbuildings scorched or melted while the main structure survived.
• Smoke and ash. Homes that never burned but sat in heavy smoke for days: HVAC systems, insulation, soft goods and finishes that need cleaning or replacement.

What we document

We photograph and measure every structure, including the barns, sheds, fencing, well houses and corrals that are easy to miss. For smoke claims, we coordinate with industrial hygienists or restoration contractors when testing is needed so the panel has objective evidence, not opinion.

Policy limits and extended coverage

Wildfire total losses often reveal that dwelling limits were set years ago. An appraisal panel values the loss, but what is paid is capped by your limits and any extended replacement cost endorsement. We will show you the gap between the two so you understand where you stand.

Questions about wildfire, ember & smoke appraisal

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