Colorado Springs and its southern neighbors have many renters with military ties, and moves happen on a schedule set by orders rather than by convenience. This example shows how a modest fire can collide with that schedule, and how a household can keep the two from tangling.

The situation

Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.

A young military family rents one side of a 1970s duplex near the southern edge of the city. Six weeks before their PCS move, a pan of oil catches fire on the stove. One adult covers it with a lid and calls 911. The fire department finds the flames out but the range hood and upper cabinets scorched, and smoke throughout the unit. Smoke also seeped into the attached unit through the shared attic.

  1. They text the landlord within the hour with photos and a short description.
  2. They call their renters insurer, which opens a claim for smoke-damaged belongings and temporary housing.
  3. The landlord's contractor boards nothing but tapes off the kitchen and starts cleaning and repairs for the structure.
  4. The family photographs every room's contents and moves into a short-term rental under their additional living expense coverage.
  5. They tell the moving coordinator on post about the fire and ask how smoke-exposed household goods should be handled before packing.
  6. Clothing and soft goods are cleaned through the renters claim before the movers pack them.

The structure repairs are the landlord's job and continue after the family leaves. Their belongings are cleaned and packed on schedule. The family's renters claim covers cleaning and some replaced items, and their security deposit is handled according to the lease once the landlord's repairs are complete.

Questions this household asked, and you might too

  1. Landlord: will rent be paused while the unit is unlivable, and how will the deposit be handled given the fire?
  2. Landlord: is the neighbor's side being cleaned too, since smoke traveled through the shared attic?
  3. Renters insurer: does my coverage pay for cleaning rather than replacing smoke-damaged clothing?
  4. Renters insurer: does additional living expense continue if the move date arrives before repairs finish?
  5. Moving coordinator: can goods with smoke odor be packed, or should they be cleaned first?

What helped most

  • A lid on the pan, not water, and a 911 call even though the fire looked out
  • Written notice to the landlord the same day
  • Renters insurance already in place
  • Room-by-room photos before anything was moved
  • Early contact with the move coordinator so cleaning happened before packing

Common questions

Could the landlord charge the tenant for the fire?
It depends on the lease, the cause and state law. If a dispute comes up, base legal assistance or a tenant legal aid group can help explain the options.

General information for Colorado Springs, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.