What to do after a house fire: get medical help for anyone hurt, stay out until the fire department says it's safe, and find a safe place to stay. Then call your insurance company, secure the property, throw away food and medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot, and start replacing lost documents.
The American Red Cross lists four steps to take right away:
Call 911 and give first aid where needed. Cool and cover burns.
Let friends and family know you're safe.
Get seriously injured or burned people and animals to medical or veterinary care immediately.
Stay out of the home until local fire authorities say it's safe to go back in.
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) adds that the fire department will check whether your water, electricity and gas are safe. If they aren't, firefighters will have them turned off before they leave. Don't turn them back on yourself.
When you are allowed back in, the Red Cross says to check the outside first for loose power lines, damaged gas lines, foundation cracks or missing support beams, and to ask a building inspector or contractor to check the structure if you're unsure. Don't cross colored tape or ignore an inspector's sign. If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave right away and call the fire department once you're safe. Leave children with a relative or friend for that first visit.
Pets: USFA says scared animals may bite or scratch, so handle them gently. Try to leave them with family, a friend or a veterinarian while you clean.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
USFA suggests contacting a local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army. They can help you find food, clothing, medicine and a place to stay.
If you have insurance, the Red Cross notes that your agent may provide immediate help with living expenses until you can go home. If you don't have insurance, USFA lists groups that may help:
American Red Cross and the Salvation Army
Religious organizations and community groups
Public agencies, such as your public health department
Your state or local emergency services office
Nonprofit crisis-counseling centers
USFA says to contact your insurance company right away and ask what to do first. A few questions worth asking, based on USFA and Red Cross advice:
What should I do to keep my home safe until it's repaired?
Who should I talk to about cleaning up? Can you recommend restoration companies I can trust?
Will you pay for cleaning, or will I? (Get any estimate in writing.)
Can you help with living expenses while we're out of the house?
Two habits protect you later. First, don't throw out damaged items until an inventory has been taken, and photograph the damage (Red Cross). Second, save every receipt for money you spend because of the fire. USFA says the insurance company may need them, and you'll need them to prove losses claimed on your tax return. USFA also suggests checking with an accountant or the IRS about special benefits for people recovering from fire loss. Your policy and your insurer decide what is covered, so ask them directly about anything you're unsure of.
Call your landlord or mortgage lender to report the fire (USFA).
Tell the local police that the home will be empty. In some cases you may need to board up windows and doors (USFA).
Make temporary repairs, such as covering holes and bracing walls, and keep the receipts (Red Cross).
If you see sparks or frayed wires or smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main panel if you can do it without standing in water. Don't reset tripped breakers; call an electrician (Red Cross).
If water pipes are damaged, turn off the main valve and call a plumber (Red Cross).
Use a flashlight, not candles or any open flame (Red Cross).
The Red Cross says to throw away food, drinks and medicine that were exposed to heat, smoke or soot. Frozen food can be used only if it still has ice crystals on it. If not, throw it out.
For medicines, the FDA says high temperatures from a fire can reduce or destroy how well they work, and suggests replacing medicines that may have been exposed to excessive heat. Medicine that is wet or looks changed should not be used. Call your pharmacist or doctor about replacements as soon as you can, especially for anything you take every day. They can tell you what to do if a replacement isn't available right away.
USFA lists papers you may need to replace if they were lost: driver's license, auto registration, titles and deeds, insurance policies, military discharge papers, passports, birth, death and marriage certificates, divorce papers, Social Security or Medicare cards, credit cards, stocks and bonds, wills, medical records, warranties, income tax records and citizenship papers.
Start with the office or company that issued each one. Report credit cards lost in the fire to the card company (USFA). For damaged cash, USFA says to handle it as little as possible and wrap each bill or piece in plastic wrap. Partly burned money with at least half still intact can be taken to a regional Federal Reserve Bank, or sent to the U.S. Treasury. USFA's guide also explains how to claim destroyed U.S. savings bonds.
Example fire recovery notes (based on USFA's worksheet, not an official form):
Date, time and location of the fire
Fire department name and non-emergency number
Fire incident report number
Fire marshal or investigator
Insurance company, phone number and policy number
Vehicle identification numbers (VINs) for any vehicles destroyed
Each document to replace, who issued it, the date you asked, and its status
Once things settle, this important documents checklist can help you rebuild a safer set of copies.
USFA reminds families that recovery is a big job. Get plenty of rest, ask for help, and don't try to do it all alone. The Red Cross also suggests watching how you and your loved ones are handling stress, and keeping a close eye on anyone who needs extra help, including young children, older adults and people with disabilities. When you're ready to plan ahead again, start with a home fire escape plan for your new or repaired home.
Only when the fire department or local fire authorities say it is safe. Floors and walls may not be as safe as they look.
The Red Cross says to throw away any food, drinks and medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot. Frozen food is usable only if it still has ice crystals.
No. Don't discard damaged goods until an inventory has been taken, and photograph the damage for your insurance claim.
Try the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, religious and community groups, your public health department, and your state or local emergency services office.
Family Ready: Emergency Plan can't file a claim or replace documents for you. It's a free iPhone app, with an optional Family Ready Plus subscription, whose household plan has sections for contacts, documents, money, insurance and home, so you can keep track of who to call and what you hold before something happens. You can also save an encrypted backup file that needs a separate recovery code to open.
Get Family Ready free on the App Store