Guide: fire damage
After a house fire. What to do, in order.
Wait for the fire department to tell you the house is safe to enter. Then call your insurer, document everything before throwing anything away, and call a fire damage restoration company to board up, remove soot and smoke odor, and dry out the water used to put the fire out.
Connects you to an independent restoration company. Home Service Lab does not perform the work and does not set the price.
The first days
- Only go back in when the fire department says so. Ready.gov says to check with the fire department that the house is safe to enter, and not to reconnect utilities yourself.
- Call your insurer. Ask what they need from you, and whether the policy covers temporary housing.
- Inventory before you throw anything out. Ready.gov says not to throw away damaged goods until you have made an inventory, and to keep receipts for money you spend because of the fire.
- Secure the house. Broken windows and holes in the roof need boarding or tarping to stop weather and theft. Restoration companies do this.
- Book the cleanup. Soot, smoke odor and water from firefighting all need treating, and they keep doing damage while they sit.
Do not turn the power, gas or water back on yourself. The utility or a licensed professional does that once the system has been checked.
Why smoke damage needs a specialist.
Soot is acidic and oily, and it spreads well beyond the room that burned, into closets, ductwork and soft furnishings. Wiping it with water usually smears it. A restoration company cleans it with the right methods, deodorizes the house and deals with the water used to fight the fire, which can lead to mold if it is left.
Before you call
Have these ready before you call.
The company on the other end will want to book someone to come out and look at the damage. These are the things that make that first call quick.
- Your address and ZIP code.The call is routed by ZIP, and the company needs the address to book an inspection.
- What happened, and roughly when.Where the water or smoke came from and how long it has been there decide what kind of job it is.
- Whether the source is stopped.If water is still coming in, say so first. That changes what they send and how soon.
- Your insurer and policy number, if you have them.Not required to book, but it saves a second call once the claim is open.
- When someone can be at the house.Nothing gets measured or quoted until a person has seen it, so have a time in mind.
Questions
Common questions
Who do I call after a house fire?
Your insurer first, then a fire damage restoration company for board-up, soot and smoke cleanup and drying. If you need somewhere to stay, a local disaster relief service such as the Red Cross can help.
Can I clean smoke damage myself?
Light smoke residue on hard surfaces, sometimes. Soot on walls and ceilings, smoke odor in fabrics and anything in the ductwork is restoration work, and doing it wrong can set the stain or the smell.
Being straight with you
We connect the call. We do not do the work.
This site is a free service to assist homeowners in connecting with local service contractors. All contractors are independent and this site does not warrant or guarantee any work performed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to verify that the hired contractor furnishes the necessary license and insurance required for the work being performed. All persons depicted in a photo or video are actors or models and not contractors listed on this site.
Local pages
Fire damage in your city.
Still smells like smoke?
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