What to do after a fire
The essential steps, in order. You can also walk through this with Fire, our free interactive guide.
Walk through it with Fire →Safety first
Do not go back inside until the fire department tells you the home is safe — even if the damage looks minor. Fire can weaken the structure, and smoke, soot, and water leave hazards you can't see. Leave the utilities (gas, electricity) off until a professional says otherwise, and get medical attention for anyone who needs it, including anyone who breathed smoke.
If you can't stay at home tonight, start with family or friends — and know that the Red Cross helps families displaced by residential fires. Wherever you stay, keep the receipt for every expense from day one: lodging, food, clothes, everything. Those receipts will matter in your claim.
Don't touch — document everything
It's tempting to start cleaning up. Don't — not yet. Before anything is moved or thrown away, take photos and video of every room, from several angles, including closets, drawers, and damaged belongings. That record of what the fire actually did protects you later if there is ever a question about your losses.
At the same time, most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage — things like boarding up openings or stopping water. Keep the receipt for every one of those expenses. Document first, then protect, and throw nothing away until your insurer has seen it.
Calling your insurance company
Report the claim to your insurance company as soon as you reasonably can — the claims number is on your policy documents or the company's website. When you call, ask for three things: the date the adjuster will inspect your home, an advance on your claim for immediate needs, and ALE (additional living expenses) if you can't live at home.
Write down your claim number and the name of every person you speak with, with the date. From here on, a simple log of every call and email will save you real headaches.
Advance payments
An advance is an early payment your insurer can make against your claim so you can cover immediate needs — clothes, essentials, deposits. It isn't extra money: it's part of your total claim, paid sooner.
If you need one, ask directly: "I'd like to request an advance on my claim." Keep the receipts for what you spend it on.
ALE — additional living expenses
ALE — additional living expenses — is the part of most homeowner policies that helps cover the extra cost of living away from home: a hotel or rent, and food beyond what you would normally spend. It covers the amount above your normal costs, not everything.
Ask your insurer how they will handle ALE for your claim — up-front payments, reimbursement, or a housing service — and keep every receipt: lodging, meals, laundry. Receipts are how ALE gets paid.
Be careful what you sign
In the days after a fire, many companies will show up at your door with papers — contractors, cleaning services, others. Some are legitimate; the paper still matters. Before you sign anything, understand what it is. An "assignment" or "authorization" can give a company rights over parts of your claim or your home.
You are allowed to take your time. Get every offer in writing, read it, and remember: you choose who works on your home. No one at your door decides that for you.
Structure vs. contents
Your policy usually treats these as two separate coverages, with separate processes. Structure means the building itself — walls, roof, built-in systems. Contents means your belongings — furniture, clothes, everything inside.
The contents side depends on an inventory: a list of what was damaged or lost, room by room. Starting it early matters, while memory is fresh and before anything is moved. Your photos and video from the documentation step are the foundation.
The adjuster's visit
The insurance adjuster is the person your insurer sends to inspect the damage and estimate the loss. Be present for the inspection if you can. Walk them through everything — every room, every damaged item you can show — and share your photos, video, and inventory.
Before they leave, ask when you will receive their report or estimate and how to reach them with questions. Texas has general timelines for insurers to acknowledge and decide claims; if things go quiet, it is fair to ask where your claim stands.
Your rights and deadlines (Texas)
Texas law gives policyholders general protections. The Texas Insurance Code — including Chapter 542, known for its prompt-payment timelines — sets deadlines for insurers to acknowledge, investigate, and pay claims. Many policies also include an appraisal option: a process for resolving disagreements about the amount of a loss.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is the state regulator. It publishes consumer help in English and Spanish and takes complaints — you can find it at tdi.texas.gov. This is general information, not legal advice; for your specific situation, consider talking to a licensed professional.
Expensive mistakes to avoid
The expensive ones repeat themselves: throwing things away before documenting them. Cleaning smoke or soot damage yourself — it can make things worse and complicate the claim. Missing deadlines in your policy or your insurer's letters. Not keeping receipts. Signing papers without reading them. And accepting the first number without understanding what the estimate covers and what it leaves out.
None of these is irreversible on its own — but each can cost real money or make your claim harder to support. Going slowly is fine. Documenting everything is what counts.