The flames are burning right now. They have consumed over 116,000 hectares in the Gironde, Landes, and Var since summer began. For the homeowners evacuated from the Arcachon basin, the immediate terror of escape is giving way to a colder, more calculating fear. They are about to discover that standard home insurance policies often leave massive financial holes.
Most people assume their assurance habitation covers fire. Technically, it does. But when the smoke clears, the payout frequently fails to cover the actual loss. The gap between what you paid for in premiums and what you receive in indemnity is where the real risk lives.
Forest fires are not “natural disasters” in the eyes of insurers
Here is the angle most people miss until it is too late. A forest fire is not considered a natural catastrophe (catastrophe naturelle ) under French law.
Even if triggered by drought, heatwaves, or lightning, the insurer classifies it as a classic insurable risk. It falls under the standard fire guarantee of your multi-risk home insurance contract. No cat-nat decree is issued. This distinction matters.
When a disaster is declared, a legal franchise of 380 euros applies. For a forest fire, that legal protection does not exist. Instead, your contractual franchise takes over.
This deductible can be zero. It can also be steep. You need to check your specific policy.
“The lack of a ‘cat-nat’ status means you lose the statutory protections. The burden shifts entirely to the specific clauses of your private contract.”
There is another trap: lack of maintenance. If you failed to clear brush (débroussaillage ) around your property—a legal requirement in high-risk zones—the insurer may reduce or completely deny your claim.
And it is not just flames. Smoke and soot are not always covered. These byproducts can render a home uninhabitable even if the structure itself survives. If your policy does not explicitly include smoke damage, you are on your own.
Finally, there is the issue of underinsurance. Without the “value for new” (valeur à neuf ) guarantee, the payout will be reduced for depreciation. You will not get enough to rebuild exactly what you lost.
Your garden and pool likely fall outside coverage
The most common shock after a fire is realizing that what you lost outside was never really protected.
The fire guarantee covers walls, roofs, and interior furniture. It rarely covers external assets with the same generosity. In many contracts, these items have low caps or are excluded entirely.
Check your policy for the “external improvements” (aménagements extérieurs ) clause. If it is not there, or if the cap is low, you are exposed.
Specific items often left in the dust include:
- Trees, hedges, and plants : Rarely indemnified. A mature oak tree or a manicured hedge can disappear without a euro being paid out.
- Wooden fences and gates : Highly vulnerable to flames.
- Detached structures : Garden sheds, detached garages, and pool houses often have specific, low limits.
- Outdoor furniture : BBQs, patio sets, and pool equipment.
- Pools : Coverage is often limited to specific types of damage, not total loss from heat.
Owners of second homes in forested zones are particularly vulnerable. A wooded plot or private pine grove maintained for years can vanish in hours. The cost to restore the land is rarely covered.
Franchises, caps, and the rehousing gap
The variance between insurers is wide. The fire franchise can range from 100 euros with some mutual insurers to nearly 474 euros with online providers.
Coverage caps on valuable items, appliances, and computer equipment also vary drastically.
In response to the current crisis, the government and insurers have announced some derogatory measures. The deadline for declaring claims has been extended until the end of August 2026. Evacuees ordered by authorities to leave will have their rehousing costs covered for up to three weeks, provided they have receipts.
But here is the catch. If you are still displaced after three weeks, the extension depends strictly on your contract.
Before you sign or renew, verify these five points:
- Fire Franchise : Is it 100 euros? 400 euros? Zero?
- Value for New Guarantee : Essential for rebuilding at current costs, not depreciated ones.
- External Assets : What is the specific cap for gardens and outbuildings?
- Rehousing : What is the maximum duration and daily limit?
- Smoke/Soot : Is it included or excluded?
The real question of coverage
With the rise of mega-fires, re-reading your contract is no longer a bureaucratic chore. It is a financial necessity.
A simple call to your insurer to clarify exclusions, adjust caps, or add the “value for new” guarantee can change everything. The cost of the premium adjustment is likely less than the cost of rebuilding from scratch without aid.
But beyond the mechanics, there is a harder truth. The real issue may not be whether you are insured. It is whether you are truly covered.
