House fire guide
What to do after a house fire: the first 72 hours and your insurance claim
A plain English game plan for the days after a fire, from safety and temporary housing to the contents list your insurance company will ask for.
I've watched friends go through a house fire, and the hardest part isn't always the fire itself. It's the week after, when you're exhausted, living out of a hotel, and someone hands you a form asking you to list everything you owned.
If that's where you are right now, I'm sorry. Here's what to do, in order, so nothing important slips through the cracks.
1. Stay safe first
- Don't go back in until the fire department says it's safe. Fires can smolder in walls and roofs and floors can be weaker than they look.
- Leave the utilities alone. Let the utility company or an electrician turn power, gas and water back on.
- Toss food, drinks and medicine that were exposed to heat, smoke or soot.
- Grab the essentials if you're allowed in: ID, medications, glasses, phone chargers, and any important papers.
2. Call your insurance company or agent
Report the loss as soon as you can. Have your policy number if you can find it, and if you can't, your agent can look it up. Ask these questions on the first call:
- What's my claim number, and who's my adjuster?
- Does my policy cover additional living expenses, and how much?
- Can I get an advance for immediate needs like clothes and toiletries?
- What do you need from me for the contents part of the claim, and by when?
Write down every name, date and what was said. A simple note on your phone works. You'll be glad you did.
3. Secure the house
Most policies expect you to protect the property from more damage once it's safe to do so. That usually means boarding up windows and doors and covering roof holes. Your insurer can often send a board up company, or you can hire one. Keep every receipt.
If you rent, contact your landlord. Their policy covers the building, but your renters policy covers your stuff.
4. Temporary housing and living costs
If you can't stay in the house, check your policy for additional living expenses (sometimes called loss of use). It can help pay for a hotel or rental, meals beyond what you'd normally spend, and other extra costs. The Red Cross can also help with immediate needs in the first few days.
Save receipts for everything you spend because of the fire. Hotel, food, laundry, gas, clothes, all of it.
Don't forget to let people know: your mortgage company, employer, kids' schools, post office and utilities.
5. Document everything before you clean
- Take photos and video of every room before anything gets moved or thrown out, including smoke and water damage.
- Get close on damaged items, especially anything with a brand or serial number.
- Don't throw out damaged items until your adjuster has seen them or tells you it's okay.
- Get a copy of the fire report from your local fire department.
6. Build your contents list
This is the part that wears people out. Your insurance company will usually want a list of what was damaged or destroyed, with a description, age and value for each item. If you made a home inventory before the fire, this is where it pays off. If you didn't, you can still build one:
- Go room by room, including closets, cabinets, drawers and the garage
- Scroll your camera roll and social media for photos taken inside your home
- Pull order history from Amazon, Walmart, Target and other stores
- Look through credit card and bank statements for bigger purchases
- Ask family and friends for photos taken at your place
- Look up what each item costs to replace today
Our room by room home inventory checklist works as a memory guide here too, and I wrote a full guide on proving what you owned without receipts.
Doing the list the fast way
I built AfterProof because this list is brutal to make by hand, especially after a fire. You snap photos of what's left or of similar items, the AI identifies them and finds what they'd cost to replace today, and you get a PDF to send your adjuster. If you're rebuilding hundreds of items, the web app lets you do it from a computer.
Mistakes to avoid
- Throwing things out too early. Wait until your adjuster has documented the damage.
- Signing a repair contract right away. Check licenses and reviews, and talk to your adjuster first.
- Forgetting smoke damage. Clothes, furniture and electronics in rooms the fire never touched can still be damaged by smoke and soot.
- Losing receipts. Keep every receipt for living expenses, board up and anything you replace.
Quick answers
Who do I call first after a house fire?
Once everyone is safe, call your insurance company or agent to report the loss and get a claim number. If you rent, also call your landlord.
Does homeowners insurance pay for a hotel after a fire?
Many policies include additional living expenses, also called loss of use, which can help cover a hotel or rental while your home is repaired. Check your policy or ask your agent for your limit.
Should I throw away damaged items after a fire?
Not until your adjuster has seen them or tells you it's okay. Photograph everything first.
What if I don't have receipts for my belongings?
You can still claim them. Photos, bank and card statements, order history and detailed descriptions all help. Ask your adjuster what they need.
Does smoke damage count even if the fire didn't reach a room?
Smoke and soot damage is often part of a fire claim. Document it room by room and ask your adjuster how it's handled under your policy.
This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Every policy is different, so check yours or ask your agent.
Sources: North Carolina Department of Insurance, United Policyholders.
