The claim and the sale can run side by side
Most owners of a burned house are juggling an insurance claim: the dwelling, the contents, and living expenses while they're out of the house. Selling doesn't erase a claim for a loss you already had. What changes is how some of the money is paid, so ask your adjuster in writing what happens to each part of the claim if you sell, and keep every letter.
California has its own rules for total losses in declared disasters, including when you can collect replacement cost without rebuilding on the same lot. The Department of Insurance's disaster pages explain them, and the nonprofit United Policyholders publishes plain-language guides for people in the middle of a fire claim.
Red tags, yellow tags and access
After a fire, a building inspector may post a placard on the house. A red tag means the structure is unsafe to enter. A yellow tag means limited entry. Neither one stops a sale. A buyer can look at a red-tagged house from outside, review photos and the inspector's notes, and walk it later with permission once it's safe. Don't go inside a structure that's been tagged unsafe to show it to anyone.
After the large wildfires of recent years, counties and the state have run debris removal programs. If your house burned in a declared disaster, ask your county about debris removal before you hire anyone, because it affects both the cost and the timeline.
Smoke and water damage count too
A fire that stayed in one room still leaves soot in the ductwork, smoke odor in the walls, and water damage from the hoses. Wiring near the fire may need to be replaced, and wet framing can grow mold within days. Buyers who know houses will look for all of it, and a cash buyer prices it in instead of asking you to remediate first.
What you still have to disclose
Selling as-is doesn't remove California's disclosure duty. The fire, the repairs that were or weren't done, and the insurance claim belong on the Transfer Disclosure Statement (Civil Code 1102 and the sections after it). The natural hazard disclosure will also show whether the property sits in a fire hazard severity zone. CAL FIRE publishes those maps.
How a buyer prices a burned house
The offer starts from what the property would be worth repaired or rebuilt, then subtracts demolition or repair, permits, the time it takes and the cost of reselling. When the structure is mostly gone, much of the value is the lot, plus whatever foundation and utilities can be reused. Ask to see those lines. If one looks off, ask how it was estimated.
If you'd rather rebuild
Some owners rebuild and sell later, or stay. If you go that way, check every contractor's license with the Contractors State License Board, because fire areas attract unlicensed operators. For federally declared disasters, FEMA may offer assistance that has nothing to do with selling. A cash sale is one option, not the only one.