What to Do After a House Fire: The First 48 Hours

After a house fire, do these things in order: stay out until the fire department clears the building, call your insurance company, secure the property against weather and break-ins, document everything, and start soot and water cleanup within 48 hours. Waiting longer lets soot stain surfaces for good and gives mold time to grow in the water left behind by firefighting.

If you need help right now, call (855) 229-9998. We answer 24/7 across Long Island, NYC, Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

Step 1: Wait for the all clear

Do not go back inside until the fire department tells you it is safe. Fires can rekindle hours later, floors and ceilings can be weakened, and the air holds smoke and fumes. Ask the fire officer whether the utilities (gas, electric, water) have been shut off or need to be checked by the utility company before they are turned back on. If the gas was shut off, do not turn it back on yourself.

Ask the fire department for a copy of the fire report, or how to request one. Your insurance company will want it.

If you have nowhere to stay tonight, the American Red Cross helps families after home fires with emergency lodging, food and basic needs. Call them or ask the fire department to connect you.

Step 2: Call your insurance company

Call the claims line as soon as you can, even before you know the full damage. Ask:

• What your policy covers for fire, smoke and water damage
• Whether you have loss of use (additional living expenses) coverage, and the limit
• Whether they need to see the damage before cleanup starts, or whether you can start emergency work now
• How to keep receipts for hotel, meals and other costs

Most policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage. That means board-up, tarping and getting water out are usually expected, not optional. Keep every receipt.

Step 3: Secure the house

A home with broken windows, a burned roof or a forced-open door is exposed to rain, cold and theft. Emergency board-up covers windows and doors with plywood, and roof tarping keeps rain out of the open sections. On Long Island and in Westchester, a November storm a few days after a fire can turn a partial loss into a much bigger one.

Step 4: Document everything before anything is thrown out

Before you or anyone else moves things:

• Take wide photos and video of every room, then close ups of damaged items
• Photograph serial numbers on appliances and electronics
• Make a list of damaged belongings, room by room
• Keep damaged items until the adjuster says you can discard them, unless they are a health hazard (spoiled or heat-exposed food, for example)

Throw out food, medicine and cosmetics that were exposed to heat, smoke or firefighting water. Canned goods that bulged or were near high heat should go too.

Step 5: Start soot, smoke and water cleanup

Fire damage is really three kinds of damage at once:

Soot. Soot is acidic and oily. Within hours it starts to discolor plastics, grout and painted surfaces, and within days it can etch glass and corrode metal. Do not wipe it with water or regular cleaners. That smears it into the surface. Professionals remove it with dry chemical sponges and HEPA vacuums first, then clean with the right solution for each surface.

Smoke odor. Smoke gets into drywall, insulation, carpet, clothing and the HVAC system. Do not run your heating or air conditioning until the ducts are checked, or it will spread soot and odor through the whole house. Odor removal usually involves cleaning all surfaces, removing materials that cannot be saved, and treatments like thermal fogging or hydroxyl generators.

Water. Firefighters often use hundreds or thousands of gallons of water. That water soaks into floors, walls and the floors below, and mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours. Water extraction and drying need to start right away, the same as after a burst pipe. Our guide to water extraction and removal explains how that works.

What professional fire damage restoration includes

A full fire restoration job usually includes:

• Emergency board-up and roof tarping
• Water extraction and structural drying, with moisture readings
• Removal of burned and unsalvageable materials
• Soot cleaning of walls, ceilings and contents
• Odor removal and air scrubbing
• Contents cleaning or pack-out for items that can be saved
• Photos, readings and an itemized scope for your insurance claim

Our fire and smoke damage restoration service covers each of these steps. If the water from firefighting reached a finished basement, see our flood damage cleanup service for how we dry lower levels.

Common mistakes after a fire

• Going back in before the fire department clears it
• Wiping soot with a wet cloth or household cleaner
• Running the furnace or central air before the ducts are cleaned
• Throwing out damaged items before the adjuster sees them
• Leaving firefighting water to dry on its own, which leads to mold
• Signing a contract with whoever shows up first without reading it

Fire season on Long Island and in NYC

House fires go up in the colder months, when heating systems, space heaters, fireplaces and holiday cooking are all in use. Have your furnace or boiler serviced before winter, keep space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. New York State requires working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in homes, so check that yours work and replace batteries or units as needed.

We answer 24/7

Aqua-Pro Restoration has handled fire, smoke and water damage on Long Island and in NYC since 2004, from our base in Melville. We board up, get the water out, clean soot and smoke, and document every step for your insurance company. Call (855) 229-9998, day or night.

How soon after a fire should cleanup start?

As soon as the fire department says the building is safe to enter. Soot is acidic, and it starts to stain and etch surfaces like grout, metal fixtures, glass and countertops within hours. Water left by firefighting can start growing mold in 24 to 48 hours. Starting cleanup and drying in the first day or two saves more of the house and more of your belongings.

Does homeowners insurance pay for fire damage cleanup?

Standard homeowners policies in New York usually cover fire damage, including smoke and soot cleanup, water damage from putting the fire out, board-up and repairs, minus your deductible. Most policies also include loss of use coverage, which helps pay for a hotel or rental while you cannot live at home. Read your policy and ask your adjuster what applies to your claim.

Can I clean smoke damage myself?

Small amounts of light soot on hard surfaces can sometimes be handled at home, but wiping soot with a wet rag or regular cleaner usually smears it deeper and makes stains permanent. Smoke odor also gets into drywall, insulation and ductwork, where household cleaning cannot reach. For anything beyond a small, contained fire, professional cleaning with dry soot sponges, HEPA vacuums and odor treatment works better and keeps your insurance claim documented.