What to do in the hours and days after the firefighters leave - safety, shelter, the claim, and the mistakes that cost people most.
If the fire is not fully out or anyone is hurt, call 911 (or your local emergency number) now. This guide starts after the fire department has done its work.
Fire-weakened floors and stairs collapse without warning, and smoldering spots reignite. The fire department will tell you when - and where - entry is safe. Even then, go in with boots, gloves and a mask: soot is acidic and irritating, and wet ash is slippery and full of chemicals. If you smell gas or see sparking wires, get out and call the utility.
Family, pets, medications, documents. If you have nowhere to stay, the American Red Cross runs a 24/7 disaster line (1-800-RED-CROSS) and helps with emergency lodging, food and clothing - free, no insurance needed. Their disaster relief page explains what they offer after a home fire.
Report the fire and get a claim number. Ask two things specifically: what your policy's "loss of use" or additional living expense (ALE) coverage includes - hotel, meals, laundry, mileage - and whether they can advance money against it. Keep every receipt from this moment on; ALE typically reimburses the extra cost of living elsewhere, not your normal budget.
Once the fire department clears the scene, the house is your responsibility: board up broken windows and doors, tarp the roof if it's open, and make sure utilities are off (the fire department usually shuts gas and power - confirm it). Most policies expect you to prevent further damage, and board-up/tarping costs are commonly part of the claim. The fire department can often point you to the incident report you'll need too.
Every fire department files one. It records where and how they believe the fire started, and your insurer will ask for it. Request a copy from the department's records office - usually free or a few dollars.
Photograph every room, every burned item, every smoke-stained wall, before cleanup begins. Then start the inventory: room by room, list what was damaged or destroyed with approximate age and cost. It feels endless - do it in 30-minute sessions. Throw nothing away until the adjuster has seen it or released it in writing. Our documentation checklist transfers directly to fire losses.
Don't run the HVAC (it spreads soot through the ducts), don't wipe walls (you'll smear soot into the paint), don't eat or keep food that was in the house, and don't turn on electronics that were in smoke. Soot removal is chemistry, not elbow grease - wrong cleaning sets the stains permanently.
Fire damage attracts the same pressure as storm damage: restoration salespeople and public adjusters sometimes appear within hours. Some are legitimate and helpful. Before signing with anyone, verify their license, check reviews that predate your fire, and never sign documents you haven't read - especially anything assigning your insurance benefits. Public adjusters work for you for a percentage of the settlement; if you hire one, get the fee in writing and verify their state license. Our 9 red flags guide was written for storm chasers, and every one of them applies after a fire.
More recovery resources: Ready.gov's home fire page and the U.S. Fire Administration's guidance for after the fire.