After a House Fire: What to Do in the First 72 Hours

A house fire does not end when the flames are out. Smoke residue keeps etching surfaces, water from the fire hoses soaks into walls and floors, and an open roof or broken windows let the weather in. What happens in the next 72 hours decides how much of the structure and your belongings can be cleaned rather than replaced.

This is the order that protects your family, your claim and your property.

Wait for the all-clear before going back in

Do not re-enter until the fire department says the building is safe. Fires can rekindle, floors and ceilings can be weakened, and the power, gas and water may have been shut off for a reason. If utilities were turned off, have a qualified professional restore them rather than turning them back on yourself.

When you are allowed in, wear sturdy shoes, gloves and an N95 respirator. Soot is fine particulate and can carry residue from burned plastics and building materials.

Call your insurance company and start documenting

Report the loss to your insurer as soon as you can, and ask about additional living expenses if you cannot stay in the home. Photograph and video every room before anything is moved or cleaned — damaged contents, smoke staining on walls and ceilings, water on floors — and keep receipts for anything you buy because of the fire.

Ask the fire department for the incident number or a copy of the fire report. Your insurer will ask for it.

Secure the property

Broken windows, doors forced open by firefighters and holes cut in the roof leave the house open to rain and intruders. Most homeowners policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and emergency board-up and roof tarping are exactly that. The cost is usually handled as part of the claim.

Deal with the water, not just the smoke

Firefighting uses a lot of water, and it soaks drywall, insulation, subflooring and the contents of lower floors. Left alone, that water can start growing mold within days, on top of the smoke damage. Water extraction and structural drying should start as soon as the building is released, following the same process as any other water loss.

What not to do with soot

Do not wipe soot off walls, ceilings, upholstery or carpet. Household cleaners and even a damp cloth smear soot deeper into porous surfaces and can set the stain permanently. Dry-cleaning sponges and HEPA vacuums remove loose residue first; wet cleaning comes after, with chemistry matched to the type of smoke.

Do not run the heating and cooling system until it has been inspected, because it will pull soot through the ductwork and into rooms the fire never reached. Do not use appliances or electronics that were exposed to heat, smoke or water until they have been checked.

Throw out food, medicine and cosmetics that were exposed to heat, smoke or firefighting water, including refrigerated food if the power was off.

Smoke odor goes deeper than the surface

Smoke odor penetrates drywall, insulation, framing and fabrics. Cleaning the visible residue is only part of the job. Lingering odor is removed with sealing, thermal fogging, hydroxyl generators or ozone treatment, depending on what burned and where the odor has settled. Air fresheners and masking sprays do not remove it.

Contents: pack-out and cleaning

Furniture, clothing, documents, photographs and electronics can often be saved with professional cleaning, but they need to come out of the damaged environment to stop further harm. A contents pack-out inventories and photographs each item, moves salvageable belongings to a controlled space for cleaning, and documents non-salvageable items for your contents claim.

When to call a restoration company

Call as soon as the fire department releases the property. A restoration company can board up and tarp the building, start water extraction and drying, begin soot and odor removal and pack out contents, and document all of it for your adjuster.

Fast Restoration handles fire and smoke damage across St. Charles County and West St. Louis County, 24 hours a day. Call (636) 681-3200.