# What to Do Immediately After a House Fire | Castle Rock Water Restoration Pros > Safety and re-entry cautions, securing your property, contacting your insurer, and why fast mitigation limits soot damage. URL: https://waterdamagecastlerock.com/guide/what-to-do-after-house-fire/ Last-Modified: 2026-07-10 ![Family outside a fire damaged home with first responder](/images/misc/family-standing-outside-a-fire-damaged-castle-rock.webp) The fire is out. Your family is safe. Now what? The next 24 hours matter more than most homeowners realize. Soot continues to damage surfaces, smoke odor migrates deeper into the structure, and unsecured openings invite weather and further damage. Here’s what to do — in order. ## First: your safety Do not re-enter the property until the fire department clears it. Structural collapse, hidden hot spots, energized electrical wiring in contact with water, and toxic air can all be present even after visible flames are out. When you’re cleared to enter, do so briefly and carefully: - **Wear an N95 or better mask.** Soot is a respiratory hazard. - **Wear closed shoes** — debris, glass, staples from fire hoses. - **Don’t touch soot-covered surfaces** with bare hands. - **Don’t turn on utilities** that were affected until inspected. ![Family outside a fire damaged home with first responder](/images/misc/family-standing-outside-a-fire-damaged-castle-rock.webp) ## Second: your family Housing, medications, phones, IDs, essential documents. If you’re displaced, your homeowners policy typically includes Additional Living Expenses (ALE) — hotel, meals above your normal grocery, laundry. Save every receipt. ## Third: call your insurer Report the loss. You get a claim number and (usually) an adjuster assigned. Provide only the basics — you don’t need a scope yet. ## Fourth: call a restoration company This is where fast action pays off big. The property needs to be secured with board-up and tarping before overnight weather makes things worse. Soot removal has a time window before residues etch surfaces permanently. And your claim benefits from documentation that starts on day one, not week two. ![Crew installing emergency board-up after a fire](/images/misc/restoration-crew-installing-emergency-board-up-on-.webp) We handle: - **Emergency board-up and tarping** to secure the property - **Air quality control** with HEPA filtration and containment - **Content triage** — separating salvageable items and starting pack-out - **Damage assessment** and Xactimate documentation for your claim - **Coordination with your adjuster** throughout the process Call **(720) 842-1950** 24/7. ## What NOT to do - **Don’t clean soot with soap and water** — it smears and sets permanently - **Don’t use household vacuums** on soot — you’ll damage the vacuum and spread particulate - **Don’t wash walls** — professional cleaning uses dry methods first - **Don’t turn on HVAC** — you’ll spread soot through every duct in the house - **Don’t run kitchen appliances** that were near the fire — smoke odor gets baked in - **Don’t throw anything away** before documenting — including obviously ruined items ## What to save (for the claim) - **Photos and video** of everything, including exterior, interior, contents, damaged items - **Receipts** for hotel, meals, replacement clothing, essential items - **Inventory** of contents, especially high-value items - **Damaged items themselves** — insurers may need to see or verify them Read more in our filing a fire damage insurance claim in Colorado [/guide/filing-fire-damage-insurance-claim-colorado/ →](/guide/filing-fire-damage-insurance-claim-colorado/) guide. ## The soot damage window Fire residues start etching surfaces within days. Metal, glass, ceramic, and finished wood can be permanently damaged if soot sits untouched. Ozone and thermal fogging deodorization is dramatically more effective when done early. See our how smoke and soot damage spreads [/guide/how-smoke-and-soot-damage-spreads/ →](/guide/how-smoke-and-soot-damage-spreads/) guide. ## Insurance and your rights You have the right to choose your own restoration company. Insurers may recommend a “preferred vendor,” but the choice is yours. Ask any restoration company you consider: - Are you IICRC-certified? - Do you have direct experience with fire and smoke restoration (not just water)? - Will you provide a detailed Xactimate scope for my adjuster? - Will you bill my carrier directly? We answer yes to all four. Call **(720) 842-1950** about fire and smoke damage restoration [/fire-smoke-damage-restoration/ →](/fire-smoke-damage-restoration/) or request a free inspection [/contact/ →](/contact/) if you want a walkthrough before you commit to anyone. ## Bottom line Safety first, insurance second, restoration third — but with restoration, don’t wait days to make the call. The mitigation window is measured in hours, not weeks. We’re here 24/7. ## Frequently Asked Questions Is it safe to go back in after a fire? Only after the fire department clears the property. Structural, electrical, and air-quality hazards may remain even after visible flames are out. When you do re-enter, wear an N95 or better mask — soot and particulate are respiratory hazards. Should I clean soot myself? No. Improper cleaning drives soot deeper into porous surfaces and etches them permanently. Wet cleaning too early smears residue. Professional soot removal uses specific dry-first methods and technique matched to residue type. Who do I call first? After the fire department clears you and your family is safe: your insurance carrier and a certified restoration company. Fast mitigation (securing the property, containing smoke damage) limits total loss and protects your claim.