Disaster Services Emergency Services for Fire Damage

Have you been displaced due to fire damage to your home? The City of San Francisco has resources that can help you get back on your feet. 

If your home has been damaged by fire:

The American Red Cross provides immediate assistance for food, clothing, or housing, such as overnight shelter and temporary hoteling for you and your family. If you or someone you know has recently experienced a disaster, call (866) 272-2237.

The San Francisco Human Services Agency’s Temporary Assistance for Displaced Persons offers a short-term housing subsidy program for eligible households that experience long-term displacement due to a fire. 

San Francisco residents eligible for this Program include tenants of: 

  • Non-rent-controlled units with a one-time payment to cover the move-in cost to a new unit. The program makes the payment directly to the landlord of the new unit.
  • Rent-controlled units with a monthly rent subsidy. The subsidy pays the difference between the rent at the tenant’s permanent residence and a comparable unit leased at the current market rate. The subsidy can last for up to two years, or until the permanent address is ready to reoccupy if sooner. Rent-controlled tenants have the right to return after repairs are completed.

To qualify for the Program, you must have:

  • Been displaced by a fire in San Francisco within the past three months
  • A source of income that does not exceed 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
  • $60,000 or less in liquid assets that can easily be converted to cash without a significant loss in value. These do not include retirement and college savings accounts, cars, and other property.
  • Already exhausted any benefit from renters' or homeowner’s insurance

Other rental  and move-in assistance programs: 

The timeline of different fire incidents will vary depending on the severity of the situation. Tenants will be notified about the condition of their unit regarding the habitability and access to possessions. Department of Building Inspection (DBI) will work with property owners and landlords to provide building access for tenants.

Contact DBI at (628) 652-3450 or email DBI.inspectionservices@sfgov.org. 

You have the right to return with the same terms of your rental agreement that existed before you left. 

  • You have 30 days after the incident to notify the landlord of your intent to return.
  • After repairs and the landlord's offer to reoccupy your previous unit, you have 30 days to accept or reject the offer to reoccupy.
  • You have 30 days to notify the landlord of your acceptance or rejection of the offer to reoccupy.
  • If you accept the offer, you must reoccupy your rental within 45 days of receiving your landlord's offer.
  • It is advisable to put all notices in writing. 

If your household experienced food loss due to a fire and you are already receiving CalFresh, SFHSA can help you apply for emergency food replacement. Contact CalFresh within 10 days of the incident. Call (415) 558-4700 or email food@sfgov.org. 

If you need to get a fire report to make an insurance claim, view instructions on the San Francisco Fire Department's Fire Reports webpage. 

If you need to get a fire report to make an insurance claim, here are a few steps to get you started. A fire report provides details about the time and date of the fire, the location of the fire, the cause of the fire, the damage caused by the fire, and any injuries or fatalities that resulted from the fire. 

The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) can provide a copy of a fire report.

  • Instructions on how to request a fire report: sf-fire.org/services/fire-reports
  • To determine the availability of a fire report, please call the SFFD Bureau of Fire Investigation at (415) 920-2933 or visit sf-fire.org/contact-us/fire-investigation
  • A fire report may not be completed for weeks or months, depending on the severity of the fire. After
    filing the report, you will be placed in the queue and will receive the information once it is ready.

The following organizations can help you understand tenant's rights and get assistance:

For more resources, view the complete List of Tenant's Rights Organizations.

For a pet emergency during a fire incident, call Animal Control Officers for help at (415) 554-9400.

Resources are available to businesses after a major fire, including a Fire Disaster Relief grant of up to $10,000. Learn about fire resources. 

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