What to Do After a House Fire: A Flagstaff Checklist

The first hour

1. Account for everyone. People and pets first. Tell firefighters right away if anyone is missing.
2. Stay out. Do not go back in until the fire department releases the building. Hidden fire, weakened floors and toxic smoke are real hazards after the flames are out.
3. Get the incident details. Ask for the fire department's incident or report number and the name of the officer in charge. Your insurer will ask.
4. Call your insurance company. Report the fire, get a claim number and ask what additional living expense coverage you have for a hotel tonight.
5. Call family or a neighbor so someone knows where you are.
6. If you need help with shelter, the American Red Cross responds to home fires and can help with immediate needs.

The first day

• Secure the house. Broken windows, forced doors and roof vent holes leave the house open to snow, rain, animals and theft. Emergency board-up and roof tarping should happen the same day.
• Protect the plumbing in winter. With the power and gas off, a Flagstaff house can freeze overnight. Ask the restoration crew to drain the water lines and water heater or set up safe temporary heat. On a well, switch off the pump breaker. See water damage after a fire.
• Leave utilities off. An electrician should check fire-damaged wiring, and the gas company should check lines and appliances, before anything is turned back on.
• Photograph and video everything, inside and out, before anything is moved or thrown away.
• Recover essentials if the fire department allows: IDs, wallets, medications, eyeglasses, phones and chargers, important documents and keepsakes.

What not to do

• Don't wipe soot. Wet rags and household cleaners smear soot into paint and fabric. See soot removal.
• Don't run the furnace or AC. It spreads soot through every duct and room.
• Don't turn on electronics that took smoke or heat. Soot is conductive and corrosive.
• Don't eat food that was near the fire, exposed to heat or smoke, or left in a refrigerator that lost power.
• Don't throw away damaged belongings before they are photographed and listed for your claim.
• Don't sign broad contracts in a hurry. Authorizing emergency board-up is fine; read anything that assigns your insurance benefits or commits you to one company for all the work.

The first week

1. Meet the adjuster. Walk the house together if you can. Point out smoke in rooms the fire never reached, in closets and in the ductwork.
2. Start cleaning early. Soot is acidic and sets into surfaces within days. Smoke damage cleanup should not wait for the rebuild.
3. Pack out belongings. A contents pack-out moves salvageable items to a cleaning facility with a photo inventory.
4. Track expenses. Keep every receipt for hotels, meals above your normal spending, clothing and emergency purchases.
5. Replace documents. Driver's licenses, Social Security cards, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies and bank cards may need replacing.
6. Notify your mortgage company, utilities, mail service, employer and children's schools.

Choosing a fire restoration company

Your insurer may recommend a company, but you choose who does the work. Before you sign:

• Check the Arizona Registrar of Contractors license for any company doing rebuild work.
• Get a certificate showing their liability coverage and workers' comp before they start.
• Ask about IICRC fire and smoke training, under the S700 standard.
• Get a written scope and price ranges in the same line-item format your insurer uses.
• Ask for a copy of the contents inventory and daily progress photos.

The fire damage restoration cost guide shows typical ranges so you can tell whether an estimate is reasonable.

Flagstaff-specific things to remember

• Winter fires need freeze protection as part of securing the house.
• Wood stove and chimney fires need a certified sweep's inspection before the stove is used again. See chimney and wood stove fire damage.
• Forest-edge homes should be checked outside for smoldering embers in gutters, under decks and in vents.
• Second homes in Munds Park, Parks or Kachina Village can be secured and inventoried before the owner arrives; a neighbor or manager can provide access.

Taking care of yourself and your family

A house fire is traumatic even when everyone gets out safely. Children may have nightmares or be afraid of the dark; adults often struggle with sleep and decisions for weeks. It helps to keep routines as normal as possible, let kids help with small, safe tasks, and accept help from neighbors, schools and faith communities. If someone breathed smoke or has a cough, headache or trouble breathing in the days after, see a doctor and mention the smoke exposure.

Pets can also be affected by smoke and stress. Have them checked by a vet if they were in the house during the fire.

Fires in rentals and second homes

Renters should contact the landlord and their own renters insurer right away; the landlord's policy covers the building, not your belongings. Owners of rentals and cabins in Munds Park, Kachina Village or Parks can have the property secured and inventoried before they arrive. A neighbor, property manager or lockbox can provide access, and the restoration crew can share photos so decisions can be made remotely.

Helpful contacts to gather

In the first days, make a list of contacts in one place: your insurer and adjuster, the restoration company, the fire department incident number, your mortgage lender, utility companies, your employer and children's schools, and the American Red Cross if you need shelter. Keep the list on your phone and on paper. When everything else is disrupted, having every number together saves hours. Share the list with one trusted relative who can make calls for you on the hardest days.