After a House Fire: What to Do First, According to the U.S. Fire Administration

A fire damages more than what the flames reached.

The U.S. Fire Administration says things the fire did not damage may still be ruined by smoke and may be soggy with the water used to put it out, and that anything you want to save or reuse will need to be carefully cleaned. Firefighters may have broken windows and cut holes in the roof and walls to make sure the fire was completely out (U.S. Fire Administration).

It also warns that the soot and dirty water left behind may contain things that could make you sick, so be very careful if you go into the home or touch fire-damaged items (U.S. Fire Administration).

• Wait for the fire department. Do not enter a damaged home or apartment unless the fire department says it is safe (U.S. Fire Administration).
• Utilities. The fire department makes sure water, electricity and gas are safe to use. If they are not, firefighters have them turned off or disconnected, and you should not turn them back on yourself (U.S. Fire Administration).
• Floors and walls. Be very careful inside, because floors and walls may not be as safe as they look (U.S. Fire Administration).
• Your own safety first. FEMA advises checking for structural damage before re-entering, and never trying to salvage belongings at the expense of your own safety (FEMA).
• Hazards. FEMA lists particulates, exposed asbestos, lead-containing building materials and chemical residues among the risks in fire-damaged areas, and advises gloves, goggles, long sleeves and pants, sturdy shoes and an N95 mask or face covering (FEMA).

• Your insurance company. Contact it right away and ask what to do first, including what to do to keep the home safe until it is repaired and who to talk to about cleaning up (U.S. Fire Administration).
• A disaster relief service. The American Red Cross or the Salvation Army can help you find food, clothing, medicine and a place to stay (U.S. Fire Administration).
• Your landlord or mortgage lender, and your credit card company if cards were lost in the fire (U.S. Fire Administration).
• Your police department, to say the home will be empty. You may need to board up windows and doors so no one can get in (U.S. Fire Administration).
• If you are not insured, the U.S. Fire Administration lists community groups, religious organizations, public agencies and your state or municipal emergency services office as places that might help (U.S. Fire Administration).

The U.S. Fire Administration also says pets may react to fear by biting or scratching, and that keeping them out of the house until the cleanup is complete keeps them safe (U.S. Fire Administration).

The U.S. Fire Administration says to save all receipts for money you spend, because the insurance company may need them and you will need them to prove losses claimed on a tax return. FEMA advises photographing damaged items for insurance purposes (U.S. Fire Administration; FEMA).

The U.S. Fire Administration lists documents you may want to replace if they were lost, among them a driver’s license, auto registration, titles and deeds, insurance policies, passports, birth, death and marriage certificates, Social Security and Medicare cards, wills, medical records, warranties and income tax records. Ask your insurance company how to learn the value of your home and belongings (U.S. Fire Administration).

The U.S. Fire Administration says some companies specialize in cleaning and restoring personal items. It advises asking your insurance company for recommendations, making sure you know whether you or your insurance company will pay for the cleaning, and asking for a cost estimate in writing (U.S. Fire Administration).

H&H Environmental has operated since 2005 and provides fire and smoke services: smoke cleanup, water damage cleanup from fire losses, fire damage services, soot cleanup, contents cleaning, and contents storage. See fire and smoke services. Water from putting out a fire is a water problem too; see water damage restoration. This guide does not describe how any of that work is done.

We work directly with your insurance carrier and provide documentation and direct billing for covered losses. Whether a loss is covered depends on your policy and the cause of the damage.

For belongings, see soot on your belongings. For smoke and health, see what the NYS Department of Health says. If mold is a concern after the water, see mold services: on a New York mold project, H&H performs either the mold assessment or the mold remediation — never both on the same project.

H&H is based in Saugerties, in Ulster County, and focuses on eight New York counties. Call and tell us where the property is and what happened, and we will confirm availability.