After the Fire!

Returning to Normal

FA-46/June 2016
Vital Information

Date of fire: _______________________________________

Time of fire: _______________________________________

Location of fire: _______________________________________

Vehicle identification number for 

cars, trucks, and motorcycles destroyed: _____________________

_____________________________________________________

Name of the responding fire department:

_____________________________________________________

Address of the responding fire department:

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Nonemergency telephone number 

of responding fire department: _______________________

Fire incident report number issued 

by the responding fire department: _______________________

Fire marshal or fire investigator: _______________________

Insurance company name: _______________________

Insurance company 

telephone number: _______________________

Insurance policy number: _______________________
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After the Fire! Returning to Normal

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 in your journey to return 

to normal.

What to Expect

A fire in a home can cause serious damage. The building and many 

of the things in your home may have been badly damaged by flames, 

heat, smoke and water.

You will find that things the fire did not burn up are now ruined by 

smoke and soggy with water used to put out the flames. Anything 

that you want to save or reuse will need to be carefully cleaned.

The firefighters may have cut holes in the walls of the building to look 

for any hidden flames. They may even have cut holes in the roof to let 

out the heat and smoke. Cleanup will take time and patience. 

If your home had a home fire sprinkler system, you 

will find little damage from flames, heat, smoke and 

water. If you plan to rebuild your home, now is the 

time to think about installing sprinklers. You can 

find more information at the Home Fire Sprinkler 

Coalition’s website: www.hfsc.org.
After the Fire! Returning to Normal

2

Use Caution

It is important to understand the risk to your safety and health 

even after the fire is out. The soot and dirty water left behind may 

contain things that could make you sick.

Be very careful if you go into your home and if you touch any firedamaged items. Ask the advice of the fire department, local building 

officials, your insurance agent, and restoration specialists before 

starting to clean or make repairs. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Department 

Actions

Q: Why did firefighters break windows and cut holes in the roof?

A: As a fire burns, it moves up, down and across, growing very 

fast. Breaking windows and cutting holes in the roof is called 

ventilation. This slows the fire’s growth. It helps get rid of dark 

smoke that makes it hard for firefighters to see. It helps them 

fight the fire more quickly. In the end, ventilation can help save 

lives and property.

Q: Why do firefighters cut holes in walls?

A: Firefighters may cut holes in the walls to make sure that the fire 

is completely out and not hidden in the walls.

Q: How can I get a copy of the fire report?

A: In most areas, a fire report is a public document. Ask for it at 

the fire department or the fire marshal’s office. The fire report 

will provide you with information your insurance company and 

other official offices may need.
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After the Fire! Returning to Normal

What Do I Do Now? 

Take Care of Yourself and Family

Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the American Red 

Cross or the Salvation Army. They will help you find a place to stay 

and to find food, clothing and medicine. Make sure that you have a 

safe place to live temporarily. You have a big job ahead of you. Get 

plenty of rest, and ask for help. Do not try to do it all alone.

Do not eat, drink or breathe in anything that has 

been near the flames, smoke, soot, or water used to 

put the fire out.

Help Your Pets

If you have pets, find and comfort them. Scared animals often react 

by biting or scratching. Handle them carefully, calmly and gently. 

Try to leave pets with a family member, friend or veterinarian if you 

are visiting or cleaning your damaged home. Keep your pets out of 

the house until the cleanup is complete to keep them safe.

Security and Safety 

Do not enter a damaged home or apartment unless the fire 

department says it is safe. Fires can start again, even if they appear to 

be out. Watch for damage caused by the fire. Roofs and floors may 

be damaged and could fall down.

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.
After the Fire! Returning to Normal

4

Contact your police department to let the police know that you will 

be away from your home. In some cases, you may need to board up 

openings so that no one can get in when you’re not there.

Contact Your Insurance Agent

Contact your insurance company right away. Ask what to do about 

the immediate needs of your home. This includes pumping out 

water and covering doors, windows and other openings.

Ask your insurance company what to do first. Some companies may 

ask you to make a list of everything that was damaged by the fire. 

They will ask you to describe these items in detail and say how 

much you paid for them.
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After the Fire! Returning to Normal

If you do not have insurance, your family and community might help 

you get back on your feet. Organizations that might help include:

•	 American Red Cross.

•	 Salvation Army.

•	 Religious organizations.

•	 Public agencies, such as the public health department.

•	 Community groups.

•	 State or municipal emergency services office.

•	 Nonprofit crisis-counseling centers.

Finances

Get in touch with your landlord or mortgage lender ASAP. Contact 

your credit card company to report credit cards that were lost in 

the fire and request replacements. Save all of your receipts for any 

money you spend. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance 

company. You will need the receipts to prove any losses claimed on 

your tax return.

Tips on How to Handle the Damage

There are companies that are experts in cleaning and/or restoring 

your personal items.

Whether you or your insurer buys this type of service, be clear on 

who will pay for it. Be sure to ask for an estimate of cost for the 

work and agree to it in writing. You will find the names and phone 

numbers for companies that do this work in the phone book and on 

the internet.
After the Fire! Returning to Normal

6

Ask your insurance company for names of companies that you 

can trust.

These companies may provide services to:

•	 Secure your home against more damage.

•	 Estimate damage.

•	 Repair damage.

•	 Estimate the cost to repair or renew items of personal property.

•	 Store household items.

•	 Hire cleaning or repair subcontractors.

•	 Store repaired items until needed.
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After the Fire! Returning to Normal

The First Days of Recovery 

The Value of Your Home and Personal Belongings

Talk with your insurance company about how to learn the value of 

your home and property.

Replacing Valuable Documents and Records

You will want to replace many of the following documents if they 

were destroyed or lost in the fire:

•	 Driver’s license, auto registration.

•	 Bankbooks (checking, savings, etc.).

•	 Insurance policies.

•	 Military discharge papers.

•	 Passports.

•	 Birth, death and marriage certificates.

•	 Divorce papers.

•	 Social Security or Medicare cards.

•	 Credit cards.

•	 Titles to deeds.

•	 Stocks and bonds.

•	 Wills.

•	 Medical records.

•	 Warranties.

•	 Income tax records.

•	 Citizenship papers.

•	 Prepaid burial contract.

•	 Animal registration papers.

•	 Mortgage papers.
After the Fire! Returning to Normal

8

Replacing Money 

Handle burnt money as little as possible. Try to place each bill or 

part of a bill in plastic wrap to help preserve it. If money is partly 

burnt — if half or more is still OK — you can take the part that 

is left to your regional Federal Reserve Bank to get it replaced. Ask 

your bank for the one nearest you, or you can take the burnt or 

torn money to the post office and mail it by “registered mail, return 

receipt requested” to: 

Department of the Treasury 

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Office of Currency Standards

P.O. Box 37048

Washington, DC 20013

Damaged or melted coins may be taken to your regional Federal 

Reserve Bank or mailed by “registered mail, return receipt 

requested” to: 

Superintendent U.S. Mint

P.O. Box 400

Philadelphia, PA 19105

To replace U.S. savings bonds that are destroyed or mutilated, get the 

Department of Treasury Form PD F-1048 (I) from your bank or at 

www.ustreas.gov and mail to: 

Department of the Treasury

Bureau of the Public Debt

Savings Bonds Operations

P.O. Box 1328

Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328
Checklist for Next Steps After a Fire

Here are the steps to follow after a fire in your home: 

R Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the American 

Red Cross. This will help you find a place to stay and to find 

food, clothing and medicine.

R If you have insurance, contact your insurance company. Ask 

what you should do to keep your home safe until it is repaired. 

Ask who you should talk to about cleaning up your home. If you 

are not insured, try contacting community groups for aid and 

assistance.

R Check with the fire department to make sure that your home 

is safe to enter. Be very careful when you go inside. Floors and 

walls may not be as safe as they look.

R The fire department will tell you if your utilities (water, 

electricity and gas) are safe to use. If not, firefighters will have 

your utilities shut off before they leave. Do not try to turn them 

back on by yourself. This could be very dangerous.

R Contact your landlord or mortgage company about the fire.

R Try to find valuable documents and records. See the information 

in this brochure about how to get new copies if you need them.

R If you leave your home, call the local police department to let 

the police know that the site will be vacant.

R Begin saving receipts for any money that you spend related to 

fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance 

company and to prove any losses claimed on your income tax.

R Check with an accountant or the IRS about special benefits for 

people recovering from fire loss.
U.S. Fire Administration

16825 South Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

1-800-561-3356

www.usfa.fema.gov

FA-46/June 2016