Do not re-enter the house until firefighters declare it safe, even if the fire looks out and you want to collect belongings. Floors can be weakened, ceilings can fall, and smoke can linger in rooms that appear untouched. If anyone was exposed to heavy smoke, seek medical attention promptly, and keep a note of symptoms and treatment for your own records.
The first hours are about people, not property. Confirm that everyone, including pets, is accounted for, and arrange a safe place to stay for the night if the home is not habitable. Pack a small bag if you can do so safely: identification, medication, phone chargers, a change of clothes, and anything you need for children or pets. If you cannot re-enter, do not ask a neighbour or family member to go in for you. A short stay with family, friends, or in temporary accommodation is a sensible first step, and our guide to additional living expenses after a fire explains how to track those costs from day one.
Once people are safe, contact your insurer to report the fire and ask what documentation they would like you to keep. You do not need to make decisions about repairs in the first day, and you should not agree to major work while you are still in shock. Take the name of each person you speak to, the date and time, and a short note of what was discussed. Keep those notes in one folder, physical or digital, along with photographs and receipts. Early paperwork is often messy, so a single folder saves a great deal of later searching.
Documentation can begin from outside the property. Photograph the exterior, broken windows, roof damage, and any board-up work, and note the time and weather. When entry is allowed, photograph each room from the doorway before moving anything, then take detail shots of damaged items, walls, ceilings, and appliances. Do not throw anything away in the first day unless it is a clear health hazard such as spoiled food, because an item discarded before it is photographed and listed is much harder to account for later. A fuller method is set out in our guide to documenting fire damage with photos, and a contents list template is covered in our contents claim inventory checklist.
Securing the property is usually the next priority. Broken windows, open doors, and holes in the roof leave the home exposed to weather, animals, and unauthorised entry, and water from firefighting can keep causing damage if the roof is open. Emergency board-up and tarping help explains how openings are typically secured and what to check before anyone leaves the property overnight. Do not climb onto a damaged roof yourself, and do not attempt to board up a structurally unsafe opening without advice. If utilities have been shut off, leave them off until they have been checked, and do not restore gas or electricity yourself.
Be cautious about who you let into the home in the first day. Well-meaning help can accidentally move, clean, or discard items before they are documented. If independent providers visit, ask what they plan to do, keep a note of their names, and keep copies of anything you sign. You are not obliged to sign a long-term agreement on the spot, and taking a day to read paperwork is reasonable. If someone pressures you to sign immediately, that pressure itself is a reason to pause.
Practical steps for the first 24 hours, in order, look like this: confirm safety and medical care; arrange shelter; notify your insurer and keep notes; photograph from safe positions; secure openings; protect undamaged rooms by closing doors and keeping the heating and cooling system off if soot may have spread; and keep every receipt for food, lodging, clothing, and transport. Do not start deep cleaning, do not run appliances that show damage, and do not let children play in soot-covered rooms. If you need to retrieve medication or essential documents, ask firefighters or an inspecting professional whether a brief, supervised entry is possible, and accept their answer if they say no.
Costs in the first day are usually limited to securing the property, temporary shelter, and essential replacements, and these vary widely by household size and local rates. Keep receipts for all of them, labelled with the date, since even small costs add up and a clear record is easier to review later. Treat any cost figure you hear in the first day as a rough estimate only, never as a final quote.
Above all, give yourself permission to move slowly. Safety, shelter, and a clear record are the three jobs of the first 24 hours, and everything else can wait until the home is secure and you have had a night to rest.
For an overview of this referral service, visit the home page and see Fire Damage Restoration Help and Smoke Damage Cleanup Help for related guidance.
If you need help securing the property or understanding the next steps, we connect callers with independent providers who can assess the home and discuss the options. Call (817) 285-5098 to be connected.