After the Fire
FA-46 | January 2019

A fire will change your life in many ways.
Knowing where to begin and who can help
you is important. The U.S. Fire Administration
hopes you find this information useful as you
return to normal.

What to expect
A fire in your home can cause serious damage. Your home andmany of the things in your home may be badly damaged byflames, heat, smoke and water.
You will find things not damaged by the fire may still beruined by smoke and may be soggy with water used to put
out the fire. Anything you want to save or reuse will need tobe carefully cleaned.
To fight the fire, firefighters
may have broken windows
and cut holes in the roof. Thisslows the fire’s growth andgets rid of dark smoke thatmakes it hard for firefighters
to see. They may have cut
holes in your walls to makesure that the fire is completely
out and not hidden in thewalls.
It is important to understandthe risk to your safety andhealth even after the fire isout. The soot and dirty waterleft behind may contain things
that could make you sick. Bevery careful if you go into yourhome and if you touch any
fire-damaged items.

If your home had a home
fire sprinkler system, youwill f ind lit tle damage
from flames, heat, smoke
and water. If you plan torebuild, now is the timeto think about installing
sprinklers. Learn more
about fire sprinklers at
the Home Fire Sprinkler
Coalition’s website: www.
homefiresprinkler.org.

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What do I do now?
 | Contact your insurance agent
Contact your insurance company right away and ask them what
to do first. There are companies that specialize in cleaning andrestoring your personal items. Ask your insurance company
for recommendations of companies you can trust. Make sure
you know if you or your insurance company will pay for thecleaning. When you contact the company, be sure to ask for a
cost estimate in writing.
If you do not have insurance, your family and community
might help you get back on your feet. Organizations that might
help include:
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American Red Cross (ARC).
Salvation Army.
Religious organizations.
Public agencies, such as the public health department.
Community groups.
State or municipal emergency services office.
Nonprofit crisis-counseling centers.

 | Take care of yourself and family
Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the ARC or theSalvation Army. They will help you find food, clothing, medicine
and a place to stay. You have a big job ahead of you. Get plentyof rest, and ask for help. Do not try to do it all alone.

 | Help your pets
If you have pets, find and comfort them. Scared animals often
react by biting or scratching. Handle them carefully. Try to leave
pets with a family member, friend or veterinarian if you arevisiting or cleaning your damaged home. Keeping your pets outof the house until the cleanup is complete will keep them safe.

 | Security and safety
Do not enter your damaged home or apartment unless the fire
department says it is safe.
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The fire department will make sure the utility services (water,electricity and gas) are safe to use. If they are not safe,
firefighters will have your utilities turned off or disconnected
before they leave. Do not try to turn them back on by yourself.
Contact your police department to let them know you will beaway from your home. In some cases, you may need to board
up windows and doors so no one can get in.

 | Finances
Get in touch with your landlord or mortgage lender.
Contact your credit card company to report credit cards thatwere lost in the fire.
Save all of your receipts for any money you spend. The receipts
may be needed later by the insurance company, and you willneed them to prove losses claimed on your tax return.

4The first days of recovery
 | The value of your home and personal belongings
Talk with your insurance company about how to learn the valueof your home and property.

 | Replacing valuable documents and records
You may want to replace many of the following documents ifthey were destroyed or lost in the fire:
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Driver’s license.
Auto registration.
Titles and deeds.
Insurance policies.
Military discharge papers.
Passports.
Birth, death andmarriage certificates.
Divorce papers.

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Social security orMedicare cards.
Credit cards.
Stocks and bonds.
Wills.
Medical records.
Warranties.
Income tax records.
Citizenship papers.

 | Replacing money
Handle burnt money as little as possible. Try to place each billor part of a bill in plastic wrap to help preserve it. If money is
only partly burnt — if half or more is still OK — you can take it
to your regional Federal Reserve Bank to get it replaced. Ask
your bank for the one nearest you.
You can also send the burnt money to the Treasury.
For personal delivery and nonpostal couriers, e.g. FedEx/UPS,
send to:Bureau of Engraving and Printing
MCD/OFM, Room 344A
14th and C Streets SW
Washington, DC 20228
Personal deliveries of mutilated currency to the Bureau ofEngraving and Printing are accepted between the hours of
8-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding
holidays and other closings.
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For USPS Delivery, make sure it is mailed “registered mail, return
receipt requested” and send to:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
MCD/OFM, Room 344A
P.O. Box 37048
Washington, DC 20013
You can find more information about replacing damaged moneyat www.moneyfactory.gov/submitaclaim.
To replace U.S. savings bonds that have been destroyed or
mutilated, go to www.TreasuryDirect.gov/forms/sav1048.pdf
and download the FS Form 1048 – Claim for Lost, Stolen, or
Destroyed United States Savings Bonds.
Additional requirementsĵĵ

If the bond(s) is mutilated, carefully pack the pieces andsubmit them with the FS Form 1048.

ĵĵIf any registrant is deceased, provide a certified copy of thedeath certificate.

Send to:Treasury Retail Securities SiteP.O. Box 214
Minneapolis, MN 55480-02146

Checklist for next steps after a fire©© Contact your local disaster relief service, such as theAmerican Red Cross. They will help you find food, clothing,
medicine and a place to stay.
©© If you have insurance, contact your insurance company.
ÝÝ Ask what you should do to keep your home safe until
it is repaired.
ÝÝ Ask who you should talk to about cleaning up yourhome.
©© If you are not insured, try contacting community groups
for aid and assistance.
©© Check with the fire department to make sure that yourhome is safe to enter. Be very careful when you go inside.
Floors and walls may not be as safe as they look.
©© Contact your landlord or mortgage company to report thefire.
©© Try to find valuable documents and records.
©© If you leave your home, call the local police department to
let them know the site will be vacant.
©© Begin saving receipts for any money that you spend related
to the fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by theinsurance company and to prove any losses claimed onyour income tax.
©© Check with an accountant or the IRS about special benefits
for people recovering from fire loss.

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Important information
Date of fire:______________________________

Time of fire:______________________________

Location of fire:______________________________Name of fire department:

Address of fire department:

Fire department
nonemergency number:______________________________

Fire incident report number:______________________________

Fire marshal or fire investigator: ______________________________
Insurance company:______________________________

Insurance company
telephone number:______________________________

Insurance policy number:______________________________

Vehicle identification number (VIN) for cars, trucks andmotorcycles destroyed:

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U.S. Fire Administration
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
www.usfa.fema.gov