DIY blogs, home-improvement sites, and generic emergency checklists are filled with advice to immediately open the windows, switch on fans, and start scrubbing away smoke and soot after a house fire.
Unfortunately, this automatic DIY advice can create some major issues by spreading soot through the HVAC system, pushing residue deeper into materials, exposing you to contaminants, and weakening your insurance claim.
That is, if you act before the property is cleared, photographed, and assessed.
Based on guidance from Ready.gov, the American Red Cross, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, this article covers 6 steps that should actually take priority after a house fire.
Keep reading to learn what to do first and why the order matters:
- Wait Until the Property Is Cleared for Entry
Seriously, don’t go back inside to start with fire damage restoration simply because the flames are out.
In fact, it’s of utmost importance that you wait until the fire department or another authorized official confirms that the property is safe to enter.
The thing about fire is that it can easily weaken floors, ceilings, stairs, electrical systems, and gas lines, while hidden embers may still be burning.
Smoke, soot, and contaminated water can also create health risks, so you need to make sure everyone, including pets, is accounted for, and you need to seek medical attention for burns, breathing difficulties, dizziness, or other symptoms as soon as possible.
Nothing inside the home is more important than preventing another injury after the immediate emergency appears to be over.
- Find Safe Temporary Housing
Only once everyone is safe, work out where the household will stay and what you need for the next few days.
That may include medication, clothing, food, pet supplies, transportation, chargers, and access to important phone numbers.
Also, if you need help with emergency lodging and essentials, relatives, friends, local disaster-relief organizations, or the American Red Cross may be able to provide you with some.
A secure temporary base makes every later decision, from insurance calls to contractor meetings, easier to handle.
- Contact Your Insurance Company
Contact your homeowners or renters insurance company as soon as reasonably possible.
Ask things like:
- how to start the claim
- when an adjuster can inspect the property
- whether temporary housing is covered
- which emergency expenses require approval
Also ask what you should do before moving or discarding damaged belongings.
Reporting deadlines and policy requirements can vary, so early contact helps prevent avoidable claim problems. It also clarifies what the insurer may pay for, including board-up work, storage, lodging, cleanup, and restoration.
Expert tip: Avoid signing broad work authorizations before you understand who will pay and what work has been approved.
- Document the Damage Before Cleanup
Before cleanup begins, it’s best that you photograph and video every affected room, structural area, and damaged possession you can safely access.
In fact, create a room-by-room inventory and note brands, models, approximate ages, and replacement costs where possible.
On top of that, keep damaged items unless the insurer or authorities say they must be discarded. Photograph anything that cannot safely remain.
Lastly, save hotel, food, clothing, transportation, storage, and emergency-repair receipts. This documentation helps establish what was damaged, what you spent because of the fire, and why repairs or replacements are necessary.
(Because once soot is removed or belongings are discarded, that evidence may be difficult to recreate.)
- Secure the Property Against Further Damage
After documenting the damage and speaking with the insurer, take reasonable temporary steps to prevent further loss.
Depending on the property, that may mean:
- boarding up broken windows
- covering roof openings
- securing doors
- fencing unsafe areas
- arranging water removal, etc.
These measures protect the home from weather, theft, trespassing, mold, and additional deterioration. They should not, however, become permanent repairs or uncontrolled demolition before the damage has been assessed.
Expert tip: Never reconnect electricity, gas, water, appliances, or heating systems yourself. Use qualified professionals, request written estimates, and save every receipt connected with emergency stabilization.
- Arrange Professional Fire Damage Mitigation
Last but not least, once the property is cleared, documented, and coordinated with the insurer, arrange a professional assessment of the fire, smoke, soot, and firefighting-water damage.
Restoration specialists can determine which materials and belongings may be cleaned, which require removal, and how to prevent secondary damage such as corrosion, persistent odors, or mold growth.
And remember: Prompt mitigation matters, but the method matters too. Turning on the HVAC system, using an ordinary vacuum, or scrubbing soot with household cleaners can spread contamination or permanently damage surfaces.
Professional restoration should begin quickly, but only after safety, claim documentation, and emergency stabilization have been addressed.
