After a House Fire: First Steps, and How to Hire a Fire and Smoke Cleanup Company

After the Fire: Your Immediate Safety

Your safety is the most important thing. Never go back into your damaged home or apartment until the fire department says it is safe. Even then, be very careful inside, as floors and walls might not be as strong as they look.

The fire department will check that your utilities—water, electricity, and gas—are safe to use. If they are not safe, firefighters will have them turned off or disconnected before they leave. Do not try to turn them back on by yourself.

Always check for structural damage before going into your home. This helps you avoid being trapped if a building collapses. Never risk your safety to save belongings.

Be aware of hazards in fire-damaged areas. These can include tiny particles, exposed asbestos, building materials with lead like glass and lead paint, and chemical residues. If water was used to put out the fire, mold could also become a problem. Soot and dirty water may contain things that can make you sick. Be very careful if you go inside or touch anything damaged by the fire.

To protect yourself, wear specific gear. This includes disposable nitrile or latex gloves, safety goggles, protective clothing (a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, sturdy shoes or boots), and an N95 mask or face covering.

After the fire department leaves, you may need to secure your home. This could mean boarding up windows and doors so no one can get in. You should also contact your police department to let them know you will be away from your home.

Immediate Safety Checklist:

• Do not enter your home until the fire department says it is safe.
• Do not try to turn utilities back on yourself.
• Check for structural damage before moving around inside.
• Never put your safety at risk for belongings.
• Wear disposable gloves, safety goggles, protective clothing, and an N95 mask or face covering when in damaged areas.
• Secure your home by boarding up openings if needed.
• Notify your police department if you will be away from your home.

Protecting Your Insurance Claim and Property

Contact your insurance agent as soon as you can to file a claim. Ask them what you should do first. This includes how to keep your home safe until it is repaired and who you should talk to about cleaning up.

Take photographs of all damaged items for your insurance company. This is a very important step. Then, make a detailed list of all your damaged property and items. Do not throw away any damaged goods until you have completed this inventory. Your insurance company may need to see them.

Start saving every receipt for any money you spend because of the fire loss. Your insurance company may need these later. Also, remember to tell your mortgage company about the fire.

After a fire, it’s generally not a good idea to save food. Food can be harmed by the heat of the fire, smoke fumes, and chemicals used to fight the fire. Food in cans or jars might look fine but could be unsafe if it was near the heat. Throw away any food in packaging that lets air through, like cardboard or plastic wrap. Also, get rid of any raw foods stored outside the refrigerator, such as potatoes or fruit, that might have been contaminated by fumes. Food in refrigerators and freezers can also be contaminated by fumes because the seals are not airtight. Discard any food that was exposed to smoke fumes. Firefighting chemicals cannot be washed off food, so any food exposed to them should be thrown away.

Check all medicines for possible damage. High temperatures from a fire can make medicines less effective or destroy them. Consider replacing medicines that might have been exposed to too much heat. If a medicine is critical for a life-threatening condition and you cannot get a replacement right away, you can use it if it looks unchanged. However, you should replace it as soon as possible.

Insurance and Property Checklist:

• Call your insurance agent right away to file a claim and ask for next steps.
• Take photographs of all damaged items.
• Make an inventory of damaged property before throwing anything away.
• Save all receipts for fire-related expenses.
• Notify your mortgage company about the fire.
• Discard most food items due to contamination risks.
• Consider replacing medicines exposed to heat.

Understanding Fire and Smoke Damage

A house fire can cause damage in many ways. Your home and many of your belongings can be badly damaged by flames, heat, smoke, and water. Things that the fire did not touch directly can still be ruined by smoke and soaked by the water used to put the fire out. Anything you want to save or reuse will need to be carefully cleaned.

Firefighters sometimes have to break windows and cut holes in the roof and walls to fight the fire. This is part of their job to put out the fire and keep it from spreading.

Hiring a Fire and Smoke Cleanup Company

Smoke and water damage can be extensive, even in areas not directly burned. Companies specialize in cleaning and restoring items after a fire. Your insurance company can often recommend companies they trust.

Before any cleaning or restoration work begins, ask your insurance company whether you or they will pay for the cleaning. Always ask the cleaning company for a cost estimate in writing.

When hiring any contractor, including a fire and smoke cleanup company, it is important to check their credentials. Ask for a copy of their identification, which should show the contractor’s name and the business name. Also, ask for their business license and check its expiration date. You should also ask for proof of workers’ compensation insurance and proof of liability insurance. This proof should include the insurance company’s name, phone number, and policy number. You can call the insurance company to confirm the coverage.

Some contractors are licensed, meaning they have passed exams and met other requirements to show they are skilled. Others are registered, which means they have simply given their contact information to a government agency. It’s a good idea to ask for references from past customers and check them.

Get an estimate from more than one company if possible. Make sure all the estimates include the same services so you can compare them fairly. Reputable contractors usually do not ask for a large payment upfront.

Before work starts, get a written contract. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises that this contract should be clear and concise. It should cover who is doing the work, what work will be done, where it will be done, when it will be done, and the total cost of the project.

Hiring Checklist:

• Ask your insurance company who will pay for cleaning and restoration.
• Get a written cost estimate from any cleanup company.
• Ask your insurance company for recommendations of trusted companies.
• Ask for and verify the contractor’s identification, business license, and insurance (workers’ compensation and liability).
• Ask for references and check them.
• Get multiple estimates, ensuring they cover the same services.
• Get a clear, written contract that details the work, timeline, and cost.
• Be cautious if a contractor asks for a large upfront payment.

When this advice may not fit

This advice may not fit your situation if your home has severe structural damage that makes it unsafe to enter even after the fire department’s initial assessment. If you suspect extensive lead or asbestos contamination, or other hazardous materials that require specialized removal beyond what personal protective gear can handle, you should not attempt to manage these issues yourself.

If you are unable to safely secure your home from further damage or unauthorized entry, or if you do not have insurance to cover the costs of cleanup and repair, you may need different help. In these cases, contact your insurance company for specific guidance, or reach out to local disaster relief services if you need temporary housing or other immediate support. A qualified professional should always handle structural repairs, lead, or asbestos removal.