What to Do After a House Fire: The First 72 Hours

The hours right after a house fire are disorienting, and a few fire-specific decisions have to happen quickly: whether it's safe to go back inside, what to do about smoke-damaged food and medicine, and who to call first. This guide covers exactly that: the fire-specific first steps, based on Red Cross and U.S. Fire Administration guidance. For the broader recovery process (FEMA assistance, insurance claim details, and full cleanup) see our Disaster Recovery Guide and Post-Disaster Cleanup Kit.

The First Few Hours

Once everyone is safely out and accounted for, the first calls matter more than they might seem to in the moment. Contact the American Red Cross: their local disaster action teams are set up specifically to help displaced households with immediate needs like food, clothing, medication, and emergency lodging, often the same day. Call your insurance company as one of your very first calls, before you make any repairs or discard anything: they can advise on next steps and typically arrange emergency board-up or tarping services to secure the property.

Re-Entry and Structural Safety

• Wait for the fire department to clear the structure before entering, even if the damage looks limited to one room
• Get a copy of the official fire report: you'll need it for insurance and, in some cases, for FEMA assistance
• Move carefully once inside: floors and stairs weakened by fire or water (from firefighting) may not hold weight even if they look fine
• Photograph everything before touching or moving anything, for insurance documentation
• Watch for lingering hot spots: fires can reignite hours after appearing fully out, particularly inside walls or attic spaces

Smoke-Damaged Food and Medicine

This is a fire-specific hazard that's easy to overlook: food and medicine can be contaminated by smoke, soot, and firefighting chemicals even in rooms the fire itself never reached, and heat from a nearby fire can also compromise medication effectiveness and food safety well beyond the visibly damaged area.

• Discard any food not in a sealed can or jar if it was exposed to heat, smoke, or firefighting water, including anything in the refrigerator or freezer if the power was off for an extended period
• Discard medications exposed to heat or smoke, even if the packaging looks intact: heat can degrade effectiveness and smoke residue is a contamination risk. Contact your pharmacy for emergency replacements
• Wash canned goods that were exposed to smoke or firefighting residue in hot soapy water and sanitize the exterior before use, but only if the can itself is undamaged
• Do not use cosmetics, medicine, or food that was near enough to the fire to be exposed to high heat, even without visible damage

First 72 Hours Checklist

• Confirm everyone is safe and account for pets
• Contact the American Red Cross for immediate needs (food, clothing, medication, lodging)
• Call your insurance company; ask about emergency board-up/tarping services
• Get a copy of the official fire department report
• Do not re-enter until the fire department clears the structure
• Photograph all damage before touching or moving anything
• Discard smoke/heat-exposed food and medication (see above); replace prescriptions through your pharmacy
• Contact your bank/lender if mortgage documents or financial records were destroyed
• Start a list of destroyed belongings for your insurance claim as you remember items, even after the initial inventory
• Arrange safe, secure temporary storage for salvageable belongings
• See our Disaster Recovery Guide for filing the insurance claim and FEMA assistance in detail, and our Post-Disaster Cleanup Kit for smoke and soot cleanup equipment

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