What to Do After a House Fire Before the Restoration Company Arrives

Wait for clearance, then check the basics

A structure fire can compromise flooring, framing, and electrical systems in ways that are not visible right away. Only re-enter once the fire department or a qualified inspector confirms it's safe. Once inside, avoid touching soot-covered surfaces with bare hands more than necessary; soot can be acidic and can also be a respiratory irritant if disturbed.

Don't run the air handler

If you suspect any smoke reached the HVAC system, don't turn it on. Guidance on post-smoke indoor air quality calls for cleaning ductwork, coils, blowers, and filters as part of remediation, precisely because running a contaminated system spreads particles through rooms the fire never reached.

Ventilate carefully, don't scrub yet

General guidance on cleaning after a smoke event favors ventilating with clean outdoor air over aggressive scrubbing right away, and specifically warns against dry wiping or sweeping soot, since that resuspends the smaller, more harmful particles into the air you're breathing. If you must be in a sooty area, wear at minimum an N95 or HEPA-filtered mask; an ordinary dust mask or cloth covering does not filter the smaller particles.

Who should stay out entirely

Anyone with lung or heart conditions should stay out of the cleanup area entirely, according to indoor air quality guidance on post-smoke cleanup. This isn't a judgment call to push through; smoke and soot particles are a documented respiratory hazard.

Document before anything gets moved or discarded

Photograph and video every room, including damage you don't think is significant, before any cleanup begins. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners recommends documenting losses this way and keeping receipts for anything you purchase related to the loss, including temporary repairs like boarding up a window or covering a hole in the roof, since these costs are typically reimbursable as part of a covered claim.

Call your insurer, then wait on major decisions

Notify your insurer as soon as possible with your policy number and a description of what happened. Fire and lightning claims carry the highest average payout of any homeowners claim category, per Insurance Information Institute data, which also means insurers scrutinize these claims closely; accurate, unaltered documentation matters more here than on a smaller claim.

What "restoration company" actually covers

A restoration company's initial scope after a fire is usually mitigation: securing the structure, removing smoke and soot, controlling odor, and drying any water used to fight the fire. If the home needs rebuilding, that reconstruction work in Michigan requires a Residential Builder or Maintenance and Alteration Contractor license from LARA, which is a separate scope and, often, a separate contract from the mitigation work.

Securing the property before anyone arrives

If windows or a section of roof or wall were lost, ask whether temporary board-up or tarping should happen before the first contractor visit, since exposure to weather can add water damage on top of fire and smoke damage. Temporary repairs made to prevent further loss, boarding a window, covering a roof opening, are typically reimbursable as part of a covered claim, so keep receipts for materials and any labor involved.

What to tell family members and neighbors helping out

If friends or family want to help clean up before a professional arrives, the same cautions apply to them: stay out of the HVAC system, avoid dry-sweeping soot, and don't discard anything before it's been photographed. Well-intentioned helpers who start cleaning before documentation happens are a common way that useful claim evidence gets lost.