A house fire can be overwhelming but knowing what to do next can make recovery easier. This guide provides essential steps to secure your home, contact the right resources, and begin the recovery process safely.
A fire in your home can cause serious damage. Your home and many of the items in your home may be badly damaged by flames, heat, smoke and water.
You will find items not damaged by the fire are now ruined by smoke and soggy with water used to put out the flames. Anything you want to save, or re-use will need to be cleaned carefully. To fight the fire, firefighters may have broken windows and cut holes in the roof. This slows the fire’s growth and gets rid of dark smoke that makes it hard for firefighters to see. They may have cut holes in your walls to make sure that the fire is completely out and not hidden in the walls.
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 substances that could make you sick. The structure itself may be weakened and damaged by the fire or water used to put the fire out and could collapse. Be very careful if you go into your home.
IMPORTANT!!!
Ask the advice of the fire department, local building official, and your insurance agent and restoration specialists before starting to clean or make repairs.
Once the fire has been extinguished, we will determine if it is safe to reenter or reoccupy the structure. Every situation is different, and the decision to allow entry depends on several factors specific to each incident.
Reentry and Retrieving Personal Items
We may allow you to reenter the property briefly to retrieve essential personal items. This will be done either by fire personnel escorting you into a known safe area or by fire personnel retrieving the items for you.
Items typically considered essential include:
- Keys for unaffected vehicles
- Cell phones
- Prescribed medications
- Wallets or purses containing identification
Please note that electronics, clothing, furniture, and other personal belongings will not be allowed to be removed while the fire department has control of the structure.
Turning the Property Back to the Owner
Once the fire department concludes operations, control of the property is returned to the property owner.
- If the property owner is not present, city personnel will secure the property to prevent unauthorized entry.
- If the property is deemed unsafe, it will be placarded and secured.
- After the fire department has cleared the scene, the property and its contents become the responsibility of the property owner.
The fire department does not have the authority to grant access to the building once our operations have ended. Tenants must contact the property owner/owner’s representative for access.
- Date of the fire
- Time of the fire
- Location of the fire
- Fire Incident Report Number
- Fire Investigator Name
- Insurance Company Name
- Insurance Company/Agent phone Number
- Insurance Policy Number
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.
Fire Report:
To request a fire report, please contact:
City of Syracuse – Corporation Counsel 315-448-8400 or foil@syr.gov
Code Enforcement:
The structure may be subject to certain periodic property maintenance inspections if it is a rental property and/or it may be subject to inspection or building permits for repair work before re-occupancy is permitted. Code Enforcement performs inspections for one- and two-family rental units and larger apartment buildings with 3+ dwelling units. For questions about re-occupying a fire damaged structure, please contact:
City of Syracuse- Division of Code Enforcement 315-448-8695
Utilities:
These will most likely be shut off or disconnected as a safety precaution and to prevent further damage to the structure and its contents.
For questions involving the restoration of your building’s utilities, please contact:
National Grid - Customer Service - 800-642-4272
Electrical:
If your electric service is cut, the first step for owners is to hire a City of Syracuse Master Licensed Electrician. That contractor would then call the Central Permit Office and/or Code Enforcement to obtain a permit and schedule a meter set to re-energize a service following a turn-off from a fire event.
City of Syracuse - Central Permit Office 315-448-8600
Water:
You may be able to turn the water back on but be cautious, the fire may have caused damage to the plumbing. For questions involving your water restoration, please contact:
City of Syracuse – 315-448-2489 or cityline@syr.gov
Disposing of Fire Debris:
Before placing fire debris in the garbage, fire-damaged materials may require special handling due to safety and environmental concerns. Some items, like hazardous materials or large debris, may need separate disposal to protect workers and the community.
For questions regarding how to dispose of fire debris, please contact:
City of Syracuse – 315-448-2489 or cityline@syr.gov
Others you may want to contact:
- Family members
- Child(ren) school or daycare, especially if the child will be absent from school
- Employers or employees who may be expecting you at work.
- Post office to re-route your mail if you must move out for any length of time
- Newspapers to cancel or to re-route your subscription.
Contact your insurance agent
Contact your insurance company right away and ask what to do about the immediate needs of the dwelling. There are companies that specialize in cleaning and restoring your personal items. Your insurance company may be able to make recommendations for
some reliable restoration businesses. Make sure you know if you or your insurance company will pay for the cleaning. When you contact the company, be sure to ask for a cost estimate in writing.
Not insured
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: 800-733-2767
- Salvation Army: 315-479-1332
- Religious organizations
- Public agencies, such as the public health department
- State or municipal emergency services office
Restoration Services
These companies provide a range of services that may include some or all the following:
- Securing the site against further damage
- Estimating structural damage
- Repairing structural damage
- Estimating the cost to repair items of personal property
- Securing appropriate cleaning or repair subcontractors
You will encounter different viewpoints on the value of your property in adjusting your fire loss or in claiming casualty loss on your federal income tax. Knowing the following terms will help you understand the process used to determine the value of your fire loss.
Your personal valuation
Your personal loss of goods through fire may be difficult to measure. These personal items have sentimental value to you, however, it is objective measures of value that you, the insurer, and the Internal Revenue Service will use as a common ground for discussion.
Cost when purchased
This is an important element in establishing an item’s final value. Receipts will help verify the cost or purchase price.
Fair market value before the fire
This concept is also expressed as ACTUAL CASH VALUE. This is what you could have received for the item if you had sold it the day before the fire. The price would reflect its cost at purchase minus the wear it had sustained since purchase. Depreciation is the term used to express the amount of value an item loses over a period of time.
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 only half burned or less (if half or more is still intact), you can take it to your regional Federal Reserve Bank to get it replaced. You can ask your local bank for the one nearest you, or you can mail the burned or torn money by “registered mail, return receipt requested” to:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
MCD/OFM, Room 344A
14th and C Streets SW
Washington, DC 20228
You can find more information about replacing damaged money at:
www.moneyfactory.gov/submitaclaim
If your U.S. Savings Bonds have been destroyed or mutilated, you must obtain the Department of Treasury Form FS 1048- Claim for Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed United States Savings Bonds at:
www.TreasuryDirect.gov/forms/sav1048.pdf
Documents are very important to your well-being and can be
damaged or destroyed because of a fire or other disaster. The
following list of documents could help speed up the process of
recovering from a disaster.
- Drivers’ license
- Auto registration
- Titles and deeds
- Insurance policies
- Military discharge papers
- Passports
- Birth, death and marriage certificates
- Divorce papers
- Social Security or Medicare cards
- Stocks and bonds
- Wills
- Medical records
- Warranties
- Income tax records
- Citizenship papers
HEALTH CAUTIONS
Here are some recommendations for cleaning should you decide to do your own post-fire cleanup.
Much of what you will be handling will be covered in soot. Soot and many of the other materials you’ll be exposed to after the fire can be filled with toxic substances.
- Wear gloves and an N95 face mask.
- Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants or you can purchase Tyvek suits that are relatively inexpensive.
- Shower immediately after leaving the site or if ash makes contact with your skin.
- Wet debris down to minimize breathing dust particles
NEVER ATTEMPT TO SALVAGE BELONGINGS THAT COULD PUT YOUR HEALTH AT RISK. WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!
- Ventilate the area either with fans or keep windows and doors open.
- Think about changing your shoes before stepping into your car. You don’t want to track all that you walked through into your car and potentially into your house or temporary home.
- Wash your hands well after you’ve touched anything in the house that has soot on it.
- Don’t eat or drink during the cleanup process.
Medicines & Cosmetics
Your medicine cabinet and makeup bag are important places to check after a fire. Inspect the products for signs of heat, soot, fire extinguisher dust or other damage. If anything is warped from exposure to high heat or charred from the flames, throw it out, no questions asked.
Machine washable clothing
Laundering is the easiest solution. To wash the smoke-damaged garments, begin by taking them outside and shaking them off to remove any loose soot particles. Leave them outside for at least 24 hours and up to several days to let them air out. After the clothes have aired out, spray them down with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. Do this a few times if the clothing smells extremely smoky. Be sure to toss the clothing in the washing machine while it’s still damp and add a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda right on the clothes. Launder the clothes normally. Before you dry them, machine wash them again with your preferred detergent. If they come out smelling like vinegar, don’t worry; this will go away naturally. If the clothes still smell smoky, wash them once again; it may take several cycles to remove the smell entirely.
Non-Washable Fabrics
For fabrics that are not machine safe, baking soda is an effective odor remover. To clean the garment, first bring it outside. Sprinkle the baking soda generously over all surfaces. Allow the baking soda to work for at least a day and then vacuum or shake it off. You may have to repeat this process a few times before it takes full effect. Fresh air will help remove the smoke odor, so leave the item outside for as long as possible.
Cooking utensils
Your pots, pans, flatware, etc., should be washed with soapy water, rinsed, and then polished with a fine-powdered cleaner. You can polish copper and brass with a special polish, or try salt sprinkled on a piece of lemon or a cloth saturated with vinegar.
Electrical Appliances
Don’t use appliances that have been exposed to water or steam until you have a service technician check them. This is especially true of electrical appliances. In addition, steam can remove the lubricant from some moving parts. If the fire department turned off your gas or power during the fire – do not try to turn it back on yourself. CONTACT THE UTILITY COMPANY!!!
Locks and Hinges
Locks (especially iron locks) should be taken apart and wiped with oil. If locks cannot be removed, squirt machine oil through a bolt opening or keyhole, and work the knob to distribute the oil. Hinges also should be thoroughly cleaned and oiled.
Food
Wash your canned goods in detergent and water. Do the same for food in jars. If labels come off, be sure you mark the contents on the can or jar with a grease pencil. Do not use canned goods if the cans have bulged or rusted, or you’re just unsure. It’s not worth the health risk. To remove odor from your refrigerator or freezer, wash the inside with a solution of baking soda and water, or use one cup of vinegar or household ammonia to one gallon of water. Baking soda in an open container or a piece of charcoal also can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer to absorb odor. If the inside of the refrigerator smells smoky or soot has visibly penetrated the fridge you should throw out the food. Do not refreeze frozen food that has thawed.
Rugs and carpets
Rugs and carpets should be allowed to dry thoroughly. Throw rugs can be cleaned by beating, sweeping, or vacuuming, and then shampooing. Rugs should be dried as quickly as possible. Lay them flat and expose them to warm, circulated, dry air. A fan turned on the rug will speed drying. For information on cleaning and preserving carpets, call your carpet dealer or installer or a qualified carpet cleaning professional.
Leather and books
Wipe leather goods with a damp cloth, then a dry cloth. Stuff purses and shoes with newspaper to retain the shape. Leave suitcases open. Leather goods should be dried away from heat and sun. When leather goods are dry, clean with saddle soap. Rinse leather and suede jackets in cold water and dry away from heat and sun. Wet books must be taken care of as soon as possible. The best method to save wet books is to freeze them in a vacuum freezer. This special freezer will remove the moisture without damaging the pages. If there is a delay in location such a freezer, place them in a normal freezer until a vacuum freezer can be located.
Walls, floors and furniture
To remove soot and smoke from walls, floors, and furniture use a mild soap or detergent. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning and be sure to rinse your walls and furniture with clear warm water and dry thoroughly after washing them with any solution. Wash a small area at one time, working from the floor up. Then rinse the wall with clean water immediately. Ceilings should be washed last.
Do not repaint until the walls and ceiling are completely dry. Your wallpaper also can be repaired. Use commercial paste to re-paste a loose edge or section. Contact your wallpaper dealer or installer for information on wallpaper cleaners. Washable wallpaper can be cleansed like any ordinary wall but take care not to soak the paper. Work from bottom to top to prevent streaking.
Wood furniture
- Do not dry your furniture in the sun. The wood will warp and twist out of shape
- Clear off mud, dirt and sheetrock debris
- Remove drawers. Let them dry thoroughly so there will be no sticking when you replace them.
- Scrub wood furniture or fixtures with a stiff brush and a cleaning solution
- Wet wood can decay and mold, so dry well. Open doors and windows for good ventilation. Turn on your furnace or air conditioner, if necessary.
- If mold forms, wipe the wood with a cloth soaked in a mixture of borax dissolved in hot water.
- To remove white spots or film, rub the wood surface with a cloth soaked in a solution of ½ cup household ammonia and ½ cup water. Then wipe the surface dry and polish with wax or other wood preservatives.
If you have pets, try to find and comfort them. A scared animal may react by biting or scratching. Handle animals carefully and calmly. Pets can become upset and react in unusual ways, such as spraying urine, defecating on floors or scratching/biting furnishings. Since pets will need regular care and attention to help them calm down, try to leave pets with a family member, friend, veterinarian or boarding facility while you are cleaning up your home. Animals are naturally curious and could be injured if they are brought back to an unsafe home.
Use toys, a blanket or favorite human’s clean clothing to comfort them. Make sure your pets are fed their usual diet and have plenty of water. Visit your pets regularly, speak calmly and take some time out to play with them. Doing so can also help you in your recovery, as well.
If your pet is injured or perishes during a fire, you can search online for local animal hospitals or pet services for immediate assistance. Many veterinary clinics offer emergency care and support in these situations. You can also contact the SPCA for additional resources and help.
Don’t just repair your home, build in fire-resistant features to help
protect against future damage.
- Install hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms with battery back-up on every level of the home, outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom. Wire alarms together so that if one sounds, they all sound. Select building materials, furnishings, and plants that resist fire.
- Consider installing a home sprinkler system.