What to Do After a House Fire: Safety, Cleanup and Smoke Damage

After a house fire, stay out of your home until the fire department says it is safe, and then call your insurance company to ask what to do first. Before you clean or throw anything away, photograph the damage, make an inventory and start saving every receipt.

This guide draws on the U.S. Fire Administration's free booklet, After the Fire ↗, and American Red Cross guidance.

Is it safe to go back into my house after a fire?

Not until officials say so. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) ↗ says: do not enter your damaged home or apartment unless the fire department says it is safe. Even then, it warns that floors and walls "may not be as safe as they look."

When you are cleared to go in, the American Red Cross ↗ recommends:

• Check the outside first. Look for loose power lines, damaged gas lines, foundation cracks and missing support beams. Ask a building inspector or contractor to check the structure.
• Leave right away if you smell gas or hear hissing. Call the fire department once you are safely away.
• Stay off sagging floors and away from sagging ceilings, which may be holding water and can fall.
• Use a flashlight, never candles or any open flame.
• Don't cross colored tape or ignore an inspector's sign on the home until you know what it means.

Utilities: don't turn them back on yourself

The fire department will check whether water, electricity and gas are safe. If they are not, firefighters will have them turned off or disconnected, and USFA says not to try to turn them back on yourself (USFA ↗; Ready.gov ↗). If you see sparks or frayed wires or smell hot insulation, the Red Cross says to turn off power at the main breaker, but never stand in water to do it. Call an electrician instead (Red Cross ↗).

First 24 hours: people, pets and a place to stay

• Get medical help first. Call 911 for injuries (Red Cross North Texas ↗).
• Find a place to stay. Local disaster relief groups like the Red Cross can help with food, clothing, medicine and housing (USFA ↗). The Red Cross line is 1-800-RED-CROSS.
• Have pets checked by a vet. Smoke can affect their lungs, and burns can hide under fur (Red Cross North Texas ↗).
• Tell your landlord or mortgage lender about the fire (Ready.gov ↗).

Securing the property and board-up

Firefighters may break windows and cut holes in the roof or walls to fight the fire and make sure it is out (USFA ↗). That leaves your home open to weather and theft.

• Tell the police the home will be empty. USFA notes you may need to board up windows and doors so no one can get in.
• Ask your insurer for help. The Red Cross says your insurance company should be able to help you secure the property (Red Cross North Texas ↗).
• Make only temporary repairs, like covering holes or bracing walls, and save all receipts (Red Cross ↗).

Contacting your insurance company

Call your insurer right away and ask what to do first (USFA ↗). Useful questions:

• What should I do to keep the home safe until it is repaired?
• Who should I talk to about cleanup?
• Will you or I pay the cleaning company directly?
• Am I covered for hotel and other extra living costs?

On that last point, the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) ↗ says homeowners and renters policies can reimburse additional living expenses (ALE), such as a hotel and restaurant meals, when a fire makes your home unlivable. Limits vary by policy. Triple-I also says a standard homeowners policy covers fire damage, including smoke damage to the home.

If your insurer pushes back or underpays, our sister site explains fire and smoke damage claims ↗.

Document everything before cleanup

• Photograph and video every room and damaged item before anything is moved (Red Cross ↗).
• Don't throw away damaged goods until you have made an inventory (Ready.gov ↗). Triple-I says to keep damaged items, if safe, until the insurer has assessed them, and expect a "proof of loss" listing each item, its rough purchase date and its cost (Triple-I ↗).
• Save every receipt for money you spend because of the fire. USFA says you may need them for your insurer and to claim losses on your tax return (USFA ↗).
• Write down the fire department's name, the incident report number and your policy number. USFA's guide includes a form for this.

For more detail, see how to document damage for an insurance claim ↗.

Smoke and soot: health cautions

USFA warns that the soot and dirty water left behind "may contain things that could make you sick," so be very careful touching fire-damaged items (USFA ↗). The California Department of Public Health ↗ says ash from burned structures contains toxic chemicals. It can irritate skin, eyes and lungs, and is especially hazardous for older adults, children, pregnant women and people with heart or lung disease, including asthma.

To protect yourself, CDPH advises:

• Wear a tight-fitting NIOSH-approved N95 respirator, gloves, long sleeves, long pants and goggles around ash.
• Don't dry sweep or use a leaf blower. Use a damp cloth, a wet mop and a HEPA-filter vacuum.
• Wash ash off skin as soon as you can, and keep children and pets away from it.

The EPA ↗ notes that NIOSH-approved respirators do not come in sizes for young children. That is one more reason to keep kids out of a fire-damaged home during cleanup.

What can be saved after a house fire?

Some things can be cleaned. Others should go.

Usually throw away:

• Food, drinks and medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot (Red Cross ↗). Canned food can look fine but be unsafe if heat reached it, and firefighting chemicals "cannot be washed off the food" (Colorado State University Extension ↗). Frozen food can be kept only if it still has ice crystals.
• Drywall and insulation soaked by fire hoses. The Red Cross says to consult a professional, because these generally can't be dried out and keep their strength and mold resistance (Red Cross cleanup tips ↗).

Often cleanable:

• Clothing and bedding. The Red Cross says smoke odor and soot can sometimes be washed out. Test first and follow care labels.
• Walls, furniture and hard floors. Wash with mild soap or detergent while wearing rubber gloves, rinse and dry fully. Don't repaint until surfaces are completely dry (Red Cross cleanup tips ↗).
• Pots, pans and flatware. Wash with soapy water, rinse and polish.

Utah State University Extension recommends having heating and air-conditioning units and ductwork professionally cleaned after a fire (USU Extension ↗).

Contents pack-out: what it means

USFA notes that some companies specialize in cleaning and restoring personal items, and suggests asking your insurer which companies it recommends (USFA ↗). This is often called a "pack-out." Your belongings are inventoried, boxed, taken off site to be cleaned and deodorized, and stored until the home is repaired.

Before you agree to a pack-out, ask who is paying (you or the insurer) and get a written cost estimate, as USFA recommends. Also ask for the inventory list and where items will be stored.

How to choose a fire restoration company

After a fire, you may get calls or knocks on the door from contractors. Take a breath and check them first.

• Check for training. The IICRC offers a Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Technician (FSRT) certification covering scoping, cleaning, deodorization and documentation of smoke-damaged buildings and contents (IICRC ↗). You can verify a certified firm on the IICRC Global Locator (IICRC ↗).
• Check licensing where it applies. Rules vary by state. See our Texas, Florida and New York pages and our guide on whether a restoration company needs a license.
• Get estimates from more than one company and a written contract with no blank spaces (FTC ↗).
• Watch for red flags. The FTC says to walk away if a contractor wants cash up front, and never to sign your insurance check over to a contractor.

Read more in how to choose a restoration company and restoration contractor scams. You can also browse companies in your area.

When you're ready, Get matched with restoration companies near you.

Frequently asked questions

How soon can I go back into my house after a fire?

Only when the fire department says it is safe (USFA ↗). Even then, check for structural damage, gas smells and sagging floors or ceilings before you walk through.

Is smoke damage covered by homeowners insurance?

A standard homeowners policy covers fire damage, and Triple-I says that includes fixing smoke damage to the home (Triple-I ↗). Read your own policy for limits and exclusions.

Is soot dangerous to touch or breathe?

It can be. USFA says soot and dirty water may contain things that could make you sick. California's health department recommends an N95 respirator, gloves and covered skin when you're around ash (CDPH ↗).

Can I keep food that was in the house during the fire?

The Red Cross says to throw away food, drinks and medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot. Frozen food can be used only if it still has ice crystals (Red Cross ↗).

Should I throw out damaged items right away?

No. Make an inventory and take photos first (Ready.gov ↗), and keep items until your insurer has seen them if it is safe to do so (Triple-I ↗).

Who pays for hotel costs after a house fire?

Many homeowners and renters policies include additional living expenses (ALE) coverage, which can pay for a hotel and meals while your home is unlivable, up to policy limits (Triple-I ↗). Keep all receipts.