Fire damage restoration: what to do after a house fire

The first few days

• Stay safe. Wait for the fire department’s OK before entering, and leave the utilities off until a professional says they’re safe (USFA).
• Secure the home. Board up openings to keep out weather and intruders, and let the police know the home will be empty (USFA).
• Call your landlord or lender. If you rent, call your landlord. If you have a mortgage, contact your lender (USFA).
• Make safe temporary repairs to prevent more damage, and keep the receipts (Illinois DOI).
• Save receipts. Keep every receipt for living expenses and repairs. You’ll need them for your insurance claim and possibly your taxes, so check with an accountant or the IRS about casualty losses (USFA).

The Red Cross and the Salvation Army may help with food, clothing and a place to stay (USFA). The U.S. Fire Administration has a full checklist.

Working with your insurer

• Call your agent or company, photograph the damage and make a list of damaged property (Illinois DOI).
• Ask your insurer which cleaning and restoration companies it trusts, and get a written estimate before work starts (USFA).
• Ask your insurer what your policy covers for a place to stay during repairs, and keep receipts for those costs. Every policy is different. See our home and renters insurance guide.

Public adjusters in Illinois

A public adjuster works for you, not the insurance company, and charges a fee. The Illinois Department of Insurance says the company’s adjuster and independent adjusters cost you nothing, you don’t have to hire a public adjuster, and your policy doesn’t pay the public adjuster’s fee (Illinois DOI). If you do hire one:

• Check the license. Public adjusters must be licensed by the Department of Insurance (Illinois DOI).
• Fees are negotiable and capped. For claims on a personal residence, the fee can’t exceed 10% of the claim payment under a law that took effect January 1, 2024 (Illinois DOI bulletin).
• You can cancel. You can cancel the contract within 5 business days after your insurer receives a copy of it, including by email (Illinois DOI bulletin).
• No pressure at the scene. Public adjusters can’t solicit you while a fire is still burning, or between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. (Illinois DOI). They also can’t charge more based on which contractor you choose (Illinois DOI bulletin).

Smoke, soot and food

• Throw away food that was near the fire’s heat or exposed to smoke or firefighting chemicals. Heat and toxic fumes can get into canned goods and even into your refrigerator (USDA).

Fires often leave water damage too. See our water damage restoration guide.

Avoid repair scams

• Be wary of contractors who knock on your door after a disaster. Get several written estimates, and never pay in full up front or in cash (Illinois Attorney General).
• If you sign a contract during a home visit, you generally have three business days to cancel. For disaster repair, the Attorney General says you can also cancel within five days after your insurer denies coverage (Illinois Attorney General).
• Verify public adjusters with the Department of Insurance, and check that any roofer is licensed by IDFPR (Illinois Attorney General).
• For home repair work over $1,000, get a written contract and the “Home Repair: Know Your Rights” pamphlet (Illinois Attorney General).

Damage from a storm instead? See our storm damage guide and our home repair hub.