The summer of 2026 is leaving a long list of forest fires in Aragon. Since the end of June, the flames have affected various areas of the Community such as Tamarite de Litera, Leciñena, Castillonroy, Peñarroya de Tastavins and Orés, as well as other smaller outbreaks. Beyond the environmental damage, many families have seen how the fire reached homes, vehicles, farms or farms, which has raised the same question among those affected: what damage does the insurance cover and from whom can the losses be claimed?
In a context in which forest fires are hitting Aragon and other parts of Spain) hard, the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has recalled what the rights of those affected are. The entity insists that forest fires are not considered an extraordinary risk, so the damage causedis not covered by the Insurance Compensation Consortium. The compensation will depend on the private insurance that each affected person has taken out and the coverage included in their policy. Here’s what you can claim and how if you’ve suffered damage from wildfires in Aragon:
WHAT DOES INSURANCE COVER AND HOW TO CLAIM DAMAGE FROM FOREST FIRES IN ARAGON
Check what coverages your insurance has
The first step is to check what is included in the policy contracted. In most cases, home insurance covers damage caused by a fire to both the home and furniture and belongings. Depending on the contract, they may also be responsible for expenses such as temporary accommodation, debris removal, furniture relocation or rebuilding the property.
In the case of vehicles, basic third-party policies do not usually cover this type of claim, so it will usually be necessary to have comprehensive insurance or extended third-party insurance.
If the damage affects crops, livestock farms or forest masses, the coverage will depend onthe agricultural insurance taken out through Agroseguro. Likewise, if the fire causes injuries or deaths, the coverage provided for in life or accident insurance will come into play.
The Insurance Consortium does not cover these fires
Unlike what happens with floods, earthquakes or other extraordinary phenomena, theInsurance Compensation Consortium does not compensate for material damage caused by forest fires, as these are not classified as an extraordinary risk.
If the fire has been intentionally caused and the person responsible is identified, he or she must compensate those affected, directly or through his or her civil liability insurance. On the other hand, when the origin of the fire is natural or a responsible party cannot be determined, the only protection will be that offered by the insurance taken out by each injured party and, where appropriate, the extraordinary aid approved by the administrations.
Report the claim in a maximum of seven days
The regulations establish that the affected party must notify the claim to their insurer within a maximum period of seven days, unless the policy itself extends that margin.
Once the report has been received, the company has 40 days to carry out the appraisal and offer provisional compensation for the minimum amount that corresponds to the known damages. The final compensation must be paid within a maximum period of three months from the date of the accident.
Take photos and gather all the evidence
The OCU recommends documenting the damage from the outset. Photographs, videos, invoices, deeds, contracts or any document that allows the extent of the losses to be accredited will facilitate both the appraisal of the expert and a possible subsequent claim.
The organization also advises keeping digital copies of the most important documentation in another location to avoid losing it if the house is affected by the fire.
If you don’t agree with compensation, you can claim
If the amount offered by the insurer does not match the damage suffered, the affected party can submit a detailed repair or reconstruction estimate to contrast the valuation made by the company, as established in article 38 of the Insurance Contract Law.
When the disagreement is due to the interpretation of the policy, the first step is to file a complaint with the insurer’s customer service. If the answer is negative or does not arrive within a month, the insured may go to the Claims Service of the Directorate General of Insurance and Pension Funds or resort directly to the courts, which is the only one with the capacity to definitively resolve the dispute.
What if I don’t have insurance or the damage isn’t covered?
Damage that falls outside the coverage of private insurance may only be compensated by means of extraordinary aid approved by the public administrations.
For this reason, the OCU has called for the creation of a one-stop shop to manage state, regional and local aid in a more agile way. In addition, it warns that, even if there is coverage, insurers do not always respond as quickly as expected and encourages those affected to claim if they detect unjustified delays or breaches of contract. The organization maintains a free hotline for the victims on 900 813 551.
