What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a House Fire
A house fire is one of the most traumatic experiences a family can endure. In the overwhelming aftermath, it can be difficult to know where to start. The actions you take in the first 24 hours, however, are critical : they affect your safety, your insurance claim outcome, and the extent of secondary damage to your property. This guide from WrightWay Emergency Services walks you through each step.
Step 1: Ensure Everyone Is Safe
Before anything else, account for every family member and pet. Do not re-enter the home until the fire department has declared it safe. Even after flames are extinguished, structural collapse, toxic fumes from burned synthetics, and residual hot spots pose serious dangers. If anyone has inhaled smoke or sustained burns, seek medical attention immediately : some smoke inhalation symptoms do not appear for hours.
Step 2: Call a Professional Restoration Company
Fire damage worsens rapidly after the flames are out. Soot is acidic and begins permanently etching metal, stone, and glass within 24 to 72 hours. Smoke odor penetrates deeper into porous materials with each passing day. Water from fire suppression begins promoting mold growth within 24 to 48 hours in Florida’s humid climate.
Contact a professional fire damage restoration company immediately. A restoration company like WrightWay Emergency Services begins professional documentation, emergency board-up and tarping, and mitigation from the moment they arrive : fulfilling your policy’s duty to mitigate and building the evidence your insurance claim needs. Our FSRT-certified team handles fire, smoke, and water damage simultaneously under our CBC1253650 contractor’s license.
Step 3: Document Everything
Thorough documentation is essential for your insurance claim. Your restoration company will handle professional documentation, but you should also:
- Photograph and video every room, including undamaged areas for reference
- Document damaged contents with descriptions, approximate age, and estimated value
- Save receipts for all expenses : hotel stays, meals, clothing, medications
- Keep a written log of every conversation with your insurance company, including names, dates, and what was discussed
Step 4: Contact Your Insurance Company
With your restoration company already documenting damage and beginning mitigation, notify your homeowner’s insurance carrier. Your restoration company’s professional documentation : photos, moisture readings, and Xactimate estimates : gives your claim a strong foundation. When you call, have the following information ready:
- Your policy number
- Date, time, and cause of the fire (if known)
- Contact information where you can be reached
- A brief description of the damage
Ask about your Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage, which pays for temporary housing, meals, and other necessary expenses while your home is being restored. Most Florida homeowner’s policies include ALE coverage.
Step 5: Arrange Temporary Housing
If your home is uninhabitable, your insurance company’s ALE coverage will help pay for temporary housing. In our experience with SW Florida fire losses, most homeowners are out of their homes for four to twelve weeks depending on the severity. Keep in mind that you are entitled to maintain a comparable standard of living, and you should keep receipts for all related expenses : hotel bills, restaurant meals above what you would normally spend on food, laundry services, storage fees, and additional transportation costs. Florida law entitles you to reasonable living expenses, so do not accept a settlement that forces you into substandard temporary accommodations.
Understanding the Three Types of Fire Damage
Most homeowners do not realize that a house fire typically causes three distinct types of damage, each requiring different restoration techniques:
- Fire and heat damage: Direct flame contact and radiant heat that char, melt, or structurally compromise materials
- Smoke and soot damage: Residue deposited on surfaces throughout the home : often in areas far from the fire itself. Smoke travels through HVAC systems, open doorways, and wall cavities, contaminating rooms that appear undamaged at first glance.
- Water damage: Fire suppression hoses deliver hundreds of gallons per minute. A fire department response in Sarasota or Lee County often introduces more water damage than the fire itself caused. This water must be extracted and the structure dried to prevent mold growth.
What NOT to Do
- Do not re-enter the home until the fire department clears it
- Do not attempt to clean soot or smoke damage yourself : improper cleaning with the wrong products can cause permanent staining that even professionals cannot reverse
- Do not throw away damaged items before documenting them for insurance
- Do not turn on the HVAC system, which can spread soot and smoke throughout unaffected areas and contaminate the entire duct system
- Do not sign any contracts with restoration companies that demand full payment upfront
- Do not allow the property to sit unsecured : an open, fire-damaged home attracts trespassers, vandals, and animals
WrightWay Emergency Services provides 24/7 emergency fire damage response across Sarasota, Manatee, Lee, Charlotte, and Collier counties. We handle board-up, water extraction, smoke and soot cleaning, odor removal, and complete reconstruction : all managed under one roof so you have a single point of contact throughout the entire process. Call (941) 379-8669 any time, day or night.
