Guide to Finding House Fire Records

House fire records are public records that contain all the important details about a fire incident.

These records can help verify the history of a particular place.

You can obtain a fire incident report when you contact any fire department in your city. You can request it through an online form, when you visit in person, or through the mail.

It may take around 10 business days before you receive the record. Note that you'll have to follow the instructions on the form and pay the requisite fee.

To find out more about how to obtain house fire records, keep reading below.

A fire incident report is a public record that explains the fire history of a certain house and the land it's on. It explains details like the cause and damages a fire has caused.

Role of Fire Incident Reports in Property Transactions

Property that sustained fire damage might be compromised even if you can't find signs that say otherwise. So, when someone wants to buy property, it's ideal to contact a professional inspector.

A fire incident report can help shorten inspection time since it already contains all the fire damage.

Thanks to that, you can also find out how those damages were repaired — such as if the previous owners got the house professionally cleaned and renovated.

Fire Incident Reports for Insurance Purposes

One of the tips for house fire claims includes documenting property damage and loss. As such, a fire incident report can ensure you get what you're owed by insurance companies.

After all, these public records are authoritative accounts of the fire.

For example, even if you have coverage for cigarette-started house fire, you may not be reimbursed if the record says the fire was intentionally set.

Fire Incident Reports for Legal Purposes

Incident reports capture crucial information when they're still fresh, making them reliable documents in court. They also support other physical evidence and stories from witnesses.

Fire incident reports are public records, so anyone can request to access them. Here's how to obtain them.

Contacting the Local Fire Department

Fire incident reports are created by the fire department anytime anyone is dispatched to any address in and out of the city to assist with situations like fires or rescues.

How you'll request a report may differ per city, but the process is generally straightforward. Many departments let you file a request online, but you can also request by sending a form through mail or in person.

Even if you request the form through mail or in person, you can typically download and print the form on their web page.

Information Required for Request

The request form will typically require the following information:

• Your name and address
• Incident date
• The specific address where the fire occurred
• Incident number (if available)

Remember to sign and date the form.

Possible Fees and Processing Time

The fee and processing times may vary per city, but processing requests may take up to around 10 business days.

The fee may range from $1 up to $35.

Online Resources for Fire Incident Reports

The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) is a voluntary reporting standard that collects incident data — from fires to natural disasters.

Meanwhile, the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) is an organization of the most senior fire officials in the US.

They help record undetermined and missing data on the causes of fires in the NFIRS's archives.

Thanks to them, there are now archives with digitized resources on the fire history of various places.

How to Find General House Fire Records Online (Including Free Options)

While official fire incident reports from fire departments are a primary source, your search for information about a house fire isn't limited to them. Various online avenues can help you uncover records or mentions of past fires at a property, often for free. These methods can supplement official reports or provide clues when direct reports are difficult to obtain. Remember that information found through these general searches should be verified whenever possible, especially for legal or transactional purposes.

Expanding your online search for house fire records involves thinking like an investigator. Beyond specific portals for incident reports, consider broader search strategies. This includes using major search engines with targeted keywords, exploring digital archives of local news publications, and checking publicly accessible property databases. Each of these resources can hold valuable pieces of the puzzle, helping you determine if a property has a history of fire. The key is to be persistent and methodical in your search, cross-referencing information from multiple sources if possible.

Many of these broader search methods offer free access to information, at least at a preliminary level. For instance, searching news archives or using advanced search operators on Google costs nothing but your time. Some government-run property databases also provide basic information without a fee. While some specialized property history services are subscription-based, they often provide a certain amount of free data or trial access. Being aware of these free avenues can significantly aid your research without incurring immediate costs.

Utilizing Search Engines and News Archives

Search engines like Google or DuckDuckGo are powerful tools if used correctly. Try combining the property address with terms like "fire," "house fire," "structure fire," or "fire department response." Enclosing the address in quotation marks (e.g., "123 Main Street" fire) can yield more specific results. Don't forget to check the "News" tab in search results, as local media outlets often report on significant fire incidents. Many local newspapers and television stations also maintain online archives that you can search directly, sometimes dating back several years. These archives can provide dates, details about the severity of the fire, and sometimes even follow-up stories on rebuilding or investigations.

When searching news archives, look for variations in how the address might be reported or for mentions of nearby landmarks if the exact address isn't yielding results. Sometimes, initial reports might be vague, but follow-up articles could contain more precise information. Patience is key, as sifting through search results and archive pages can be time-consuming. However, uncovering a news report can provide substantial evidence of a past fire, often including details not found in a concise official report.

Exploring Online Property Databases and County Records

Many counties or municipalities offer online access to property records through the county assessor, recorder, or clerk's office. While these databases primarily focus on tax information, ownership history, and permits, they can sometimes contain clues about past fires. For example, records of major repair permits, demolition permits, or significant changes in assessed value following a specific date might indirectly indicate a fire. Some of these databases are free to search, while others might charge a nominal fee for accessing detailed documents.

Beyond local government sites, several commercial websites compile property data from various public sources. Some of these platforms may offer limited free search capabilities or provide basic property history reports that could mention significant events like fires, especially if they led to insurance claims or structural reassessments. While comprehensive reports usually come at a cost, the free previews can sometimes be enough to indicate if further investigation is warranted. Always be mindful of the source and potential age of the data when using these third-party services.

Checking Community Forums and Social Media (with Caution)

Local community forums, neighborhood groups on social media, or even online discussion boards can sometimes hold anecdotal information about past events, including house fires. People might recall incidents in their area and discuss them online. Searching these platforms for the address or street name along with terms like "fire" could uncover discussions or mentions. This method is less reliable and more informal than official records or news archives but can occasionally provide leads or corroborating details.

It's crucial to approach information found on social media and forums with a high degree of skepticism. Memories can be inaccurate, and details can be exaggerated or misremembered. Such information should ideally be used as a starting point to seek more concrete evidence from official sources or news reports rather than being taken as definitive proof on its own. However, in some cases, especially for older incidents where online news archives are sparse, these community sources might be one of the few available avenues for initial clues.

Ultimately, finding house fire records online, especially free ones, often requires a multi-pronged approach. By combining searches for official reports with broader online investigations through search engines, news archives, and property databases, you increase your chances of uncovering the information you need. Always prioritize verifying data from multiple reputable sources whenever possible.

Understanding the Fire Incident Report

An incident report is a public record that can be consulted by members of the public.

Here are several things you may find in these records:

• Name of the fire department that responded to the fire
• Date and time of the fire
• Location where the fire occurred
• Cause and damages caused by the fire
• Any injuries or fatalities caused by the fire

Buying a house with previous fire damage can be very dangerous. After all, it could cause problems if not renovated and cleaned properly. For example, it could collapse due to structural damage or cause health problems because of mold.

Statistics show that house fires have occurred more often than you think. It's always a good idea to have a property assessed and see if the previous owners managed to address any fire damage.

Physical Signs in the Property

Fires, along with the resulting soot and smoke, cause physical damage to a property, so you might not have to search too hard for signs.

Smoke Damage and Soot

Search for soot and smoke stains on the walls, ceiling, and floor. These are typically dark brown to black in color.

Soot is powdery or flaky and can be hard to remove due to its oiliness.

Wet smoke damage results in fine residue that doesn't stick to surfaces as much. However, the particles can enter cracks, making them harder to remove. On top of that, it also has a strong odor.

Dry smoke damage has a strong smell and is hard to remove. This produces a thin, sticky residue.

Damages to Windows and Walls

You should also check for water, pressure, and heat damage that may have changed the home's structural integrity.

Search for any signs of deformation and melting. For windows, check for breaks and cracks or signs that the glass or frames have been repaired.

You should also try to find water damage that can cause mold.

Smell of Smoke

Eradicating smoke smell after house fire can be hard work. You can do things like air out the house and clear soot and smoke, but the smell may remain.

However, a professional can get rid of the extensive smoke smell by also helping repair house fire damage. For example, they can replace drywall that was soaked by water.

If you smell smoke when you enter a house, it's possible that the previous owner didn't address the fire damage properly.

Verifying Signs of a Fire

After you search for signs of a previous fire, you can verify the signs by looking at a fire incident report.

These records can also give additional information on other types of damage the building has sustained that you might not have noticed.