What To Do After A Home Fire
When your home has been damaged by fire, the path forward can feel uncertain. Knowing what to do after a fire—and acting in a clear, step-by-step way—protects your family, preserves what’s salvageable, and speeds your recovery. This guide from Jenkins Restorations explains what to do after a home fire, including safety checks, documentation, insurance coordination, and professional house fire cleanup. Our goal is to help you stabilize the situation, clean fire damage correctly, and return to a safe, healthy home.
Since 1975, Jenkins Restorations has helped homeowners and businesses recover from smoke fire damage and water damage across the United States. We work alongside insurance companies to streamline claims and deliver expert restoration with compassion and care. If your property was damaged by fire or burn in the house has left rooms uninhabitable, we’re here with calm, professional guidance and 24/7 emergency response.
Immediate Actions to Take
Start by ensuring everyone is safe and accounted for. Seek medical attention for any injuries or symptoms of smoke inhalation. Do not re-enter the property until fire officials say it’s safe. Even a small burn in the house can create structural hazards, unsafe wiring, and lingering smoke that affects indoor air quality.
If emergency responders haven’t been on site, contact your local fire department. Request a copy of the fire report, it will be useful when coordinating with your insurer and planning restoration. Once authorities allow entry, secure the property to prevent weather damage or theft. Board up broken windows and doors, tarp roof openings, and turn off utilities if advised. Avoid running the HVAC system; it can spread soot and smoke throughout the home.
- Use protective gear—gloves, masks, and sturdy footwear—if you must go inside.
- Rely on battery-powered lighting until a licensed electrician verifies the system is safe.
- Keep children and pets away from affected areas to reduce exposure to contaminants.
Jenkins Restorations offers rapid emergency board-up, site stabilization, and moisture control to protect what remains. If you’re unsure what to do after a fire, our team provides calm, expert direction from the first call.
Assessing Damage and Documenting Loss
After a property has been damaged by fire, a careful assessment helps you understand the true scope of smoke fire damage, soot contamination, and water impacts from firefighting. Examine structural components, electrical and plumbing systems, walls, ceilings, floors, cabinets, furniture, and personal belongings. Remember that soot can be corrosive and moisture can lead to mold within 24–48 hours.
Document everything. Capture wide-angle photos and videos of each room, then take close-ups of damaged items and structural issues. Note serial numbers, model details, and any available receipts. Create a detailed inventory organized by room and category, listing item descriptions, approximate purchase dates, pre-loss condition, and current comparable pricing if receipts aren’t available. This is an essential part of what to do after a home fire and will support your insurance claim.
- Set aside critical documents and valuables (IDs, financial records, legal papers, heirlooms) for secure handling.
- Flag electronics, appliances, and upholstered furniture for professional evaluation before use.
- Note odors and discoloration—smoke and soot can infiltrate insulation, cavities, and HVAC systems even if surfaces look clean.
Jenkins Restorations can help you prioritize items for cleaning up fire damage, identify what’s salvageable in a smoke damaged home, and determine the right techniques to clean up smoke damage without causing further harm.
Contacting Your Insurance Company
Notify your homeowners or renters insurance provider promptly to open a claim. Ask about coverage for dwelling repairs, personal property, additional living expenses (ALE), debris removal, and code upgrades. Clarify your deductible and the documentation they require. Understanding what to do after a fire includes staying organized and communicating clearly with your adjuster.
Keep a central file—digital and physical—with the fire report, photos and videos, your inventory, and receipts for urgent expenses such as lodging, clothing, meals, and supplies. Log all communications: dates, contact names, and conversation summaries. When the adjuster visits, point out all affected areas and share your documentation. If possible, have a trusted restoration professional present; our team often helps identify hidden issues such as smoke infiltration in wall cavities, trapped moisture behind finishes, and structural weaknesses.
- Confirm ALE reimbursement limits and which receipts qualify.
- Ask whether your policy covers code-required upgrades during rebuilding.
- Request timelines for adjuster visits, estimates, and claim decisions.
With decades of experience working alongside insurers, Jenkins Restorations helps streamline claims and ensure that the full scope of smoke fire damage and cleaning up fire damage is properly documented and addressed.
Professional Restoration and Recovery
Effective house fire cleanup requires specialized methods and safety protocols. Jenkins Restorations’ IICRC-certified teams provide emergency board-up, water extraction, structural drying, soot and smoke removal, deodorization, contents cleaning, and repairs. We coordinate closely with your insurance carrier and deliver clear estimates, schedules, and progress updates.
Our restoration process typically follows a proven sequence:
- Emergency stabilization and site security
- Water removal and structural drying to prevent mold and secondary damage
- Soot and smoke cleanup using techniques designed to clean fire damage without setting stains
- Deodorization to neutralize persistent odors in building materials and contents
- Contents cleaning and pack-out for off-site treatment or storage
- Structural repairs, including framing, drywall, flooring, electrical, plumbing, and finish work
We test materials, monitor moisture, and evaluate indoor air quality throughout the project. Different surfaces—stone, metal, plastics, textiles—require specific cleaning agents and methods. Attempting to clean up smoke damage with household products can set residues and cause permanent harm. If you’re unsure what to do after a home fire, rely on professionals who know how to clean fire damage safely and thoroughly in a smoke damaged home.
If your home isn’t habitable, plan for temporary housing. Many policies include ALE coverage for reasonable costs related to accommodations, meals, and essential supplies. Save receipts and track all expenses. Forward mail, update deliveries, and notify utility providers. Our team can advise on retrieving important documents and handling sensitive items.
Before you return, confirm repairs are complete, utilities are safe, and indoor air quality meets recommended standards. Conduct a final walkthrough with your contractor and adjuster to verify workmanship, review permits and warranties, and collect all reports and invoices. As you settle back in, consider preventive upgrades: interconnected smoke alarms, fire-rated doors, surge protection, and, where appropriate, sprinkler systems.
Helpful Checklists and Tips
| Task | Why It Matters | What To Include |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Confirmation | Protects health and avoids re-injury | Medical checks, official re-entry clearance, utility shutdowns |
| Property Security | Prevents weather and vandalism damage | Board-up, roof tarps, perimeter checks, temporary locks |
| Damage Documentation | Supports insurance and guides repairs | Room-by-room photos/videos, serial numbers, receipts |
| Inventory Creation | Speeds claim settlement | Item descriptions, purchase dates, values, sources |
| Insurance Coordination | Clarifies coverage and process | Fire report, expenses, adjuster walkthrough, claim timeline |
| Professional Restoration | Ensures safe, thorough cleanup | Drying, soot removal, deodorization, repairs, air quality testing |
| Temporary Housing | Maintains stability during repairs | ALE coverage, receipts, mail forwarding, utility notifications |
| Return-to-Home Checklist | Verifies readiness and safety | Final walkthrough, permits, warranties, air quality clearance |
- Prioritize drying. Address standing water and damp materials quickly to reduce mold risk.
- Protect indoor air. Use professional-grade filtration and avoid DIY methods that can aerosolize soot.
- Handle electronics carefully. Smoke residues and moisture can cause corrosion; have devices inspected before use.
- Preserve evidence. Keep samples or photos that demonstrate pre-loss conditions and finishes.
- Track all costs. Save receipts for lodging, meals, transportation, supplies, and pet boarding.
These steps are central to what to do after a fire and will help you organize a safer, more efficient recovery. If your home was damaged by fire and you’re evaluating house fire cleanup options, Jenkins Restorations provides the calm authority you need to make confident decisions.
Why Homeowners Choose Jenkins Restorations
At Jenkins Restorations, we do more than clean up smoke damage—we restore homes and lives with a servant’s heart. Our teams respond quickly, often within an hour, and bring expert consulting and professional estimating to every project. With rigorous quality checks at each phase, we deliver craftsmanship that meets the highest standards, from the initial assessment to the final walkthrough.
- Trusted experience working hand-in-hand with top insurance carriers
- 24/7 emergency response and nationwide coverage
- IICRC-certified specialists trained to clean fire damage and manage smoke fire damage safely
- Compassionate, professional service that reduces stress and keeps you informed
- Clear communication, detailed documentation, and a seamless claims experience
If you’re navigating what to do after a home fire or determining what to do after a fire in a smoke damaged home, Jenkins Restorations stands ready to help. From cleaning up fire damage to comprehensive reconstruction, we provide steady guidance, superior service, and results you can trust.
Moving Forward With Confidence
Recovery after a burn in the house is a process. Prioritize safety, document thoroughly, coordinate with your insurer, and partner with qualified professionals for house fire cleanup. Jenkins Restorations brings decades of experience, calm leadership, and proven methods to clean up smoke damage, address smoke fire damage in hard-to-reach areas, and restore what’s been damaged by fire.
When you’re ready to take the next step, our team will be there—24/7—to stabilize your property, clean fire damage properly, and guide you through insurance and repairs. If you’re unsure what to do after a home fire or what to do after a fire has left you displaced, contact Jenkins Restorations. We’ll help you move forward with confidence and return to a healthier, safer home.
