What to do in the first day after a house fire
First, only go back in when the fire department says it’s safe. If you smell gas, see sparks or the structure looks damaged, stay out and call 911.
Once you’re cleared to enter:
- Take photos and video of every room before anything is moved or cleaned
- Call your insurance company to report the fire
- Keep receipts for anything you buy, like clothes, food or a hotel room
- Open windows if weather allows, to let fresh air in
- Don’t turn on the HVAC until it’s been checked, since it can spread soot through the house
- Don’t try to wipe soot off walls, furniture or drapes yet
Why you shouldn’t wipe soot off walls yourself
Soot is a fine, oily powder. Wiping it with a damp rag or an ordinary cleaner smears it deeper into paint, drywall and fabric and can turn a cleanable surface into one that has to be repainted or replaced. Rubbing it off upholstery or drapes grinds it into the fibers.
Different fires leave different residue. A fast, hot fire leaves dry, powdery soot. A slow, smoldering fire, like a pan left on the stove, leaves a sticky film that’s harder to remove. We test how each surface reacts before cleaning the whole room.
What’s safe to touch after a fire, and what to leave alone
You’ll want to grab a few things right away, and that’s understandable. Here’s a short guide:
- Usually fine to take: documents, medications, phones, wallets, keys and jewelry, handled by the edges and set in a clean bag or box
- Leave for now: upholstered furniture and bedding near the fire, drapes, rugs and electronics covered in soot
- Throw away: open food, anything from the fridge if the power was off for long
Wear gloves when you handle sooty items, and wash your hands afterward.
Water damage from putting the fire out
Fire hoses and sprinklers put a lot of water into a home, and it soaks into carpet, pad, drywall and subfloor fast. That water needs the same attention as any other leak, because wet materials can start growing mold within 24–48 hours.
We extract standing water, remove what can’t be saved, and dry the structure with air movers and dehumidifiers, taking moisture readings until everything is dry. Our water damage page covers that part in more detail, and mold remediation covers what happens if drying waits too long.
Can furniture, drapes and carpet be cleaned after smoke damage?
Often, yes, especially items that were in smoke but not near the flames. Whether something can be saved depends on how close it was to the fire, what it’s made of and how long soot sat on it.
- Upholstery: we check the fabric and care tag, then clean to match the fabric
- Drapes: cleaned on site while they hang, nothing comes down
- Carpet and area rugs: cleaned if the fibers aren’t burned or melted; rugs can be picked up and brought back
- Hard surfaces: walls, ceilings, cabinets and trim cleaned of soot and residue
We’ll tell you honestly when something isn’t worth cleaning, so you’re not paying to clean what should be replaced.
Getting rid of smoke smell after a fire
Smoke odor gets into everything porous: drywall, insulation, carpet pad, fabric and the ductwork. Cleaning the soot removes a large part of the smell, and deodorizing handles what’s left in the materials. Spraying air freshener only covers it for a day.
See smoke odor removal for how we track down where the smell is living and what to expect.
Working with your insurance adjuster after a fire
Fire claims are detailed, and good records help. We work with your adjuster and document everything: photos of each room before and after, moisture readings, notes on what we cleaned, and a list of what was removed and why.
What your policy covers is between you and your insurance company, so read your policy and ask your adjuster any coverage questions. Our insurance help page has more on the paperwork side.
How much does fire and smoke cleanup cost?
Every fire is different, so we don’t give a price over the phone. We walk through the home, see how far the soot and water went, and give you a written estimate before work begins.