What to Do Immediately After a House Fire: A Step-by-Step Guide

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A house fire is one of the most devastating events a homeowner can experience. While the emotional toll can be overwhelming, what you do in the first 24–48 hours is critical to protecting your health, safety, and property. This step-by-step guide—based on the IICRC S700 Standard—will help you take the right actions after a fire.

Step 1: Ensure Safety First

Before you do anything else, make sure the fire is completely extinguished and the property is declared safe to enter by the fire department or emergency personnel. Structural integrity, electrical hazards, and lingering smoke can pose serious risks.

Tip: Do not enter the home until you’ve received official clearance. Inhalation of smoke particles, soot, and toxic residues can be harmful.

Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Provider

Start the claims process as soon as possible. Your insurance company will need a detailed account of the damage and may recommend approved fire restoration vendors.

Helpful Hint: Take photographs or videos of all damage (if safe to do so) before any cleanup begins. This documentation is crucial for your claim.

Step 3: Call a Certified Fire Damage Restoration Company

Look for a company certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). The S700 Standard outlines professional procedures for fire and smoke damage restoration—ensuring that health, safety, and restoration goals are all addressed appropriately.

Restoration professionals will:

Assess structural damage
Identify affected materials (porous vs. non-porous)
Evaluate smoke residue types (wet, dry, protein)
Create a detailed remediation plan

Step 4: Secure the Property

To prevent additional damage or unauthorized access, restoration teams may board up windows, tarp roofs, or install temporary fencing.

Why It Matters: Exposure to the elements or theft can worsen your loss and affect insurance claims.

Step 5: Address Water and Smoke Damage

Firefighting efforts often result in water damage that can quickly lead to mold growth. Professional crews will extract water, dry materials, and begin soot and smoke odor removal according to IICRC S700 Section 12, which outlines restoration procedures for building materials and contents.

S700 Tip: Different smoke residues require different cleaning techniques. For example, protein fires (like kitchen fires) leave hard-to-see residues that must be treated with specialty cleaning agents.

Step 6: Inventory and Pack-Out Salvageable Items

Many items may be cleaned, deodorized, and restored off-site. Restoration contractors will help you determine what can be saved vs. what should be discarded, following S700 recommendations for content restoration.

Categories include:

Hard goods (metal, glass)
Some Soft goods (clothing, upholstery)
Electronics and appliances

Step 7: Plan for Reconstruction and Repairs

Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need full reconstruction services. A certified mitigation company can coordinate with contractors, insurance adjusters, and inspectors to help streamline this phase.

Final Thoughts

A house fire is traumatic, but with professional help guided by the IICRC S700 Standard, recovery is possible. The right steps—taken early—can reduce costs, speed up the restoration timeline, and help you regain peace of mind.

Need Help Now?

Mountain Men Disaster Mitigation is IICRC-certified and available 24/7 for emergency fire damage response. Call us today for a free consultation