# What to do after a house fire

Page: https://www.reliancerestorationllc.com/guides/after-a-house-fire/ (updated 2026-10-22)

Short answer: Don’t go back in until the fire department says it’s safe, and don’t reconnect utilities yourself. Then secure the property with a board-up and roof tarp, call your insurance company, and inventory and photograph the damage before throwing anything away. Soot and smoke odor keep spreading into materials, so cleanup should start soon.

## Before you go back in

Check with the fire department that the building is safe to enter. Fire weakens floors, stairs and roofs, and the fire department makes sure utilities are either safe to use or disconnected before they leave.

Don’t try to reconnect gas, electricity or water yourself.

## Secure the property

Securing the building is the first step on the road to recovery. Broken windows, forced doors and holes in the roof invite theft and weather, and the owner stays liable for anyone who gets hurt on the property. A board-up and roof tarp close it up the same day.

## Call your insurance company

Open a claim and ask what your policy covers, including temporary housing. Start saving receipts for anything you spend because of the fire: hotels, meals, clothes, supplies. You’ll need them for the claim.

If you need temporary housing, food or medicine right away, local disaster relief services such as the Red Cross can help.

## Document everything

Take photos and video of every room. Make an inventory of damaged property, and don’t throw damaged things away until it’s done. Notify your mortgage company too.

## What not to do

- Don’t run the heat or air conditioning; it pushes soot through the ducts into rooms the fire didn’t reach
- Don’t wipe soot off walls, upholstery or carpet; it smears and sets
- Don’t use electronics or appliances that were exposed to heat or water until they’ve been checked
- Don’t eat food or drink anything that was near the fire, smoke or water

## What fire restoration involves

Fire damage is usually three kinds of damage at once: the fire itself, the soot and smoke, and the water used to put it out. Restoration typically means securing the building, removing the water, tearing out what can’t be saved, cleaning soot from what can, deodorizing, and packing out belongings to be cleaned off site.

**Can smoke-damaged belongings be saved?** Often, yes. Clothing, furniture, electronics and keepsakes can frequently be cleaned. Pack-out moves them to a secure location for cleaning and storage, then brings them back when the home is ready.

**Who pays for a hotel after a fire?** Many homeowners and renters policies include coverage for additional living expenses while your home is unlivable. Ask your insurer what yours includes, and keep every receipt.

Sources:

- [Ready.gov: Home Fires](https://www.ready.gov/home-fires)
- [U.S. Fire Administration: Home fires](https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/)

## Contact

- Phone (24/7 emergency service): (215) 395-9978
- Email: info@reliancerestorationllc.com
- Service area: Philadelphia, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and New York; emergency work as far as Washington, DC
- License: Fully licensed and insured; Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor registration PA194333
- Credentials: IICRC certified, Certified mold remediation, OSHA compliant, HomeAdvisor approved
- Properties: residential and commercial
- Insurance: bills your insurance provider directly
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