First 24 hours
- Don't go back in until the fire department says it's safe.
- Call your insurance company and ask about living expenses.
- Get the home secured: board-up for windows and doors, tarp for the roof.
- Don't wipe soot, run the HVAC or eat food that was near the fire.
1. Wait for the all-clear
A fire can leave hidden hot spots, weakened floors and damaged wiring. Don't go back inside until the fire department tells you it's safe. Ask them whether the gas, power and water have been shut off, and don't turn any of them back on yourself.
If you need a place to stay tonight, the American Red Cross helps families after home fires.
2. Call your insurance company
Open the claim as soon as you can. Ask specifically about loss of use or additional living expense coverage, which many policies include for hotel stays, meals and other costs while you can't live at home. Keep every receipt from the start.
3. Secure the property
Broken windows, doors forced open by firefighters and holes in the roof leave the house open to weather and theft. Most policies expect you to protect the property from further damage. A restoration company can board up openings and tarp the roof the same day.
4. What not to touch
- Don't wipe soot. It smears and sets into surfaces. Soot is acidic and keeps etching surfaces and metals, so cleaning should start within days, done the right way.
- Don't run the heating or air conditioning. It spreads soot through the ductwork into rooms the fire never reached.
- Don't eat food or use medicine that was exposed to heat, smoke or firefighting water.
- Don't throw things out yet. Photograph damaged items first. Your insurance company needs to see them or a record of them.
5. Make an inventory
Go room by room with your phone. List what was damaged, roughly when you bought it and what it cost. Old photos, bank statements and online order histories help. It's slow work, but the contents list is often the biggest part of a fire claim.
6. Don't forget the water
Firefighting leaves a lot of water behind. Wet drywall, insulation and flooring need drying just like any other water loss, or mold becomes the next problem. Fire restoration usually means soot cleanup, odor removal, water drying and rebuild all at once.
Questions about the claim? Our guide to filing a claim step by step applies to fire claims too.
Common questions
Can I clean soot myself?
It's best not to. Wiping soot with a wet cloth or household cleaner can smear it and set stains into walls, fabric and furniture. Soot is also acidic and keeps damaging surfaces, so professional cleaning should start soon.
Does insurance pay for a hotel after a fire?
Many homeowners policies include loss of use or additional living expense coverage when the home can't be lived in. Ask your insurance company about it right away and keep every receipt.