# After a house fire: what to do in the first days > Don’t go back in until the fire department says it’s safe. Get emergency help from the Red Cross or 211. Call your insurer for a claim number and ask about additional living expenses like a hotel and meals; keep every receipt. Get the fire report, make a room-by-room list with photos of damaged items, and don’t throw things away until the adjuster says it’s OK. Don’t sign contracts in a rush. - URL: https://explained.page/after-a-house-fire - Language: en - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - Watch the 1-minute animated guide: https://explained.page/watch?start=after-a-house-fire ## Step by step 1. **After a house fire, take it one step at a time.** Everyone safe comes first. Here’s what to do in the first days, in order. 2. **Don’t go back in until it’s declared safe.** The fire department will tell you when you can enter. Smoke, weak floors and hidden fire are real dangers. 3. **Get emergency help for tonight.** The Red Cross and local agencies can help with a place to stay, food and basics. Call 211 or the Red Cross. 4. **Call your insurance and ask about living expenses.** Get a claim number. Many policies pay “additional living expenses,” like a hotel and meals, while your home is repaired. Keep every receipt. 5. **Get the fire report.** Ask the fire department for a copy. Your insurer will want it. 6. **Make a room-by-room list of what was damaged.** Photograph everything. Don’t throw damaged things away until the adjuster has seen them or says it’s OK. 7. **Don’t sign anything in a rush.** Contractors and adjusters may show up fast. Public adjusters can help but take a share of your claim. Read every contract and check licenses. 8. **Look it up the right way.** Search with your town or state in the words. Pick the official site: it usually ends in .gov. Skip ads and sites that charge for free forms. ## Checklist - Don’t go in until it’s declared safe - Get emergency help (Red Cross, 211) - Call insurance; ask about living expenses - Get the fire report - List and photograph damaged items - Don’t sign anything in a rush ## Safety first Don’t go back inside until the fire department says it’s safe. Utilities may need to be checked before they’re turned back on. ## Emergency help The Red Cross and local agencies can help with a place to stay, food, clothing and medicine. Call 211 or contact the Red Cross. ## Insurance Call your insurer for a claim number. Many policies pay **additional living expenses** (hotel, meals, extra costs) while your home is repaired. Keep every receipt. Ask whether they’ll pay to board up and secure the home. ## Paperwork - Get a copy of the fire report. - Make a room-by-room list of damaged items with photos, ages and values. - Don’t throw damaged items away until the adjuster has seen them or says it’s OK. - Replace important documents like IDs, Social Security cards and bank cards. ## Be careful who you hire Contractors and public adjusters may show up quickly. Public adjusters can help with complex claims but take a percentage. Read every contract, check licenses, and don’t sign under pressure. ## Smoke damage Smoke and soot cleanup is a specialty; ask your insurer about approved cleaning. ## Common questions ### How long do I have to file a fire insurance claim? Report it as soon as possible. Policies set deadlines for notice and proof of loss; ask your insurer for them in writing. Source page: https://explained.page/after-a-house-fire/questions/how-long-do-i-have-to-file-a-fire-insurance-claim ### What is a public adjuster? A licensed professional you hire to handle your claim with your insurer. They charge a percentage of the payout, so weigh whether you need one. Source page: https://explained.page/after-a-house-fire/questions/what-is-a-public-adjuster ### Where can I stay after a house fire? The Red Cross and local agencies can help with emergency housing. Your insurance may pay additional living expenses while repairs happen. Source page: https://explained.page/after-a-house-fire/questions/where-can-i-stay-after-a-house-fire ### What are additional living expenses? Extra costs of living elsewhere after a covered loss, like a hotel, rent, meals and laundry, beyond your normal costs. Keep receipts. Source page: https://explained.page/after-a-house-fire/questions/what-are-additional-living-expenses ### How do I get a copy of the fire report? Contact the fire department that responded. Many have a request form; there may be a small fee. Source page: https://explained.page/after-a-house-fire/questions/how-do-i-get-a-copy-of-the-fire-report ### Should I throw away smoke-damaged things? Not until your adjuster has seen them or approved it. Photograph and list everything first. Source page: https://explained.page/after-a-house-fire/questions/should-i-throw-away-smoke-damaged-things ### Do I need a public adjuster after a fire? Not always. They can help with big or complex claims but take a percentage of the payout. Compare and read contracts carefully. Source page: https://explained.page/after-a-house-fire/questions/do-i-need-a-public-adjuster-after-a-fire ### How do I replace documents lost in a fire? Contact the agencies that issued them: the DMV for licenses, Social Security for cards, your bank for cards, and the vital records office for birth certificates. Source page: https://explained.page/after-a-house-fire/questions/how-do-i-replace-documents-lost-in-a-fire ## Official sources - [American Red Cross: home fire recovery](https://www.redcross.org/) - [U.S. Fire Administration: after the fire](https://www.usfa.fema.gov/) - [NAIC: your state insurance department](https://content.naic.org/) To find your local office, search for: - "Red Cross [your city] disaster help" - "[your state] public adjuster license lookup" --- General information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ by state. From explained.page (www.explained.page). Life’s stuff, explained simply.