Immediate Steps After a Residential Fire (Chicagoland): What To Do First

A calm, step-by-step playbook for Chicagoland homeowners after a house fire—how to stay safe, secure the property, document for insurance, assess damage, and move restoration forward quickly.

New here? If you want a primer on residue types (protein, synthetic, electrical, grease) and why cleanup methods differ, see Types of Fire Damage & Their Impact on Homes.

1) Safety First — Before You Re-Enter

• Enter only after the fire department says it’s safe.
• Watch for structural hazards (soft floors, sagging ceilings), hot spots, and electrical risks.
• Wear sturdy shoes, gloves, and a respirator around soot/ash.
• If gas, electric, or water were shut off, do not restore them yourself—wait for utilities or licensed pros. For electrical-specific guidance, read Electrical Fire Aftermath: Re-Energizing Safely.

2) Stabilize & Secure the Property (Same Day)

• Board-up & Tarp: Secure doors/windows and tarp any roof openings to prevent weather and trespass damage.
• Fence or lock if needed to keep the site safe.
• Shut off HVAC to avoid spreading soot through ductwork (details on post-fire HVAC decisions in HVAC After a Fire: When to Clean, Seal, or Replace Ducts).
• Remove standing water left from suppression to prevent warping and mold.

Need help now? Our 24/7 team can board up, tarp, extract water, and stabilize the site: Fire Damage Restoration.

3) Document Everything Immediately

• Take wide photos of each room, then close-ups of damage.
• Capture serial numbers for appliances/electronics if visible.
• Keep a running loss inventory (room → item → condition → approx. value).
• Save receipts for lodging, clothing, meals, and emergency supplies—many policies treat these as ALE (Additional Living Expense) for covered losses.

4) Contact Your Insurer & Open a Claim

• Report the loss, get your claim number, and ask about:
  • ALE, debris removal, code upgrades (ordinance/law), smoke/soot cleaning, textile restoration, electronics.
• Request the insurer’s preferred documentation format (inventory template, estimate scope).
• Clarify how to handle temporary repairs so mitigation doesn’t jeopardize coverage.

5) Don’t Toss Damaged Items Yet (Except Health Risks)

• Unless there’s a health hazard (perished food, medications), store items until your adjuster sees them or you’ve photographed them thoroughly.
• Separate salvageable vs. non-salvageable; label boxes by room.
• With protein fires (often from cooking) residues may be invisible but extremely odorous; see Protein Fire Cleanup: Kitchen Guide & Checklist for what can and can’t be saved.

6) Prioritize What’s Most Time-Sensitive

• Vital documents & keepsakes: passports, IDs, titles, insurance docs, family media.
• Textiles & soft goods: rapid smoke removal prevents permanent odor set (compare deodorization methods in Smoke Odor Removal That Actually Works).
• Electronics: don’t power them up; moisture or soot can cause failures—start with dry-down and specialized cleaning (more in the Electrical Aftermath guide above).
• Waterlogged areas: extract and dry to stop secondary damage.

If you need hands-on help with specialized cleaning (textiles, electronics, contents), see Specialty Cleaning.

7) Residential Fire Damage Assessment — What It Should Cover

A professional assessment should document:

• Structural impact: framing, roof, sheathing, masonry.
• Heat & smoke patterns: ceilings, high walls, cavities.
• Soot characteristics: dry vs. oily (protein) to choose correct cleaning agents (background in Types of Fire Damage).
• HVAC & duct contamination: whether to clean/seal/replace (see HVAC After a Fire).
• Electrical & plumbing checks: damaged conductors, melted insulation, compromised pipes (supporting detail in Electrical Fire Aftermath).
• Indoor air quality plan: filtration, negative air, and appropriate deodorization method (hydroxyl/ozone/thermal fog; see Smoke Odor Removal Methods).
• Restoration scope: demo limits, cleaning methods, sealing, odor removal, rebuild.

8) What You Shouldn’t Do

• Don’t wash walls or textiles with random cleaners—setting soot makes removal harder (protein soot is notorious; see Protein Fire Cleanup).
• Don’t run HVAC until inspected/cleaned (HVAC After a Fire explains why).
• Don’t eat food exposed to heat, smoke, or firefighting water.
• Don’t sign assignment of benefits or long-term contracts under pressure—review scope, price, and warranty first.

9) Fast-Track Your Claim (Adjuster-Ready)

• Provide a photo log (before major cleanup).
• Share emergency service invoices (board-up, tarping, extraction, deodorization containment).
• Request the adjuster’s scope in writing; compare line items with your contractor’s estimate.
• Keep a single claim folder: policy/endorsements, receipts, logs, estimates, communications.

For scope differences tied to residue types, this refresher helps: Types of Fire Damage & Their Impact.

10) Timeline: First 72 Hours

Day 0–1

• Board-up/tarp, utility coordination, moisture control, photo inventory, claim opened.
• Choose initial deodorization path (see Smoke Odor Removal Methods).

Day 1–3

• Assessment + estimate; selective demo; soot testing (protein vs. synthetic); textile/electronics pack-out; odor containment; drying/air filtration begin.
• If the fire started in a kitchen, follow the Protein Fire Cleanup checklist.
• If circuits were impacted, follow Electrical Fire Aftermath before re-energizing.

11) Rebuild & Return

After cleaning/deodorization and clearances, rebuild may include framing repair, insulation/drywall, finish carpentry, paint, flooring, and final HVAC cleaning/balancing. Ask your adjuster about code upgrades (ordinance/law coverage) if required by Chicago or your local municipality.

FAQs — Immediate Steps After a Fire (Chicagoland)

Q1: What are the first steps after a fire?
Ensure everyone’s safe, wait for clearance, secure openings (board-up/tarp), shut HVAC, document damage, open the claim, and start emergency mitigation. For an overview of residues and cleanup pathways, see Types of Fire Damage.

Q2: Who pays for board-up and tarping?
You typically hire the pro; keep receipts—these costs are often covered when tied to a covered loss.

Q3: Is smoke odor permanent?
Not if addressed quickly using the right method for your residue and materials. Compare options in Smoke Odor Removal That Actually Works.

Q4: Can I stay in the home?
If air quality, utilities, or structure are compromised, your adjuster may approve ALE (hotel/short-term housing).

Q5: How long does fire restoration take?
Minor smoke cleanup can be days; significant structural/contents restoration can take weeks to months depending on scope, permits, and materials. Kitchen fires with protein residue can be deceptively complex—see Protein Fire Cleanup.

Further Reading

• Types of Fire Damage & Their Impact on Homes
• Smoke Odor Removal: Hydroxyl vs. Ozone vs. Fogging
• HVAC After a Fire: Clean, Seal, or Replace?

Related Services

• Fire Damage Restoration
• Water Damage Restoration
• Specialty Cleaning (Textiles, Electronics, Contents)

About ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons

24/7 Emergency Fire Damage Services for Chicago, the North Shore, and Lake County. IICRC-certified, RIA member. We handle soot & smoke cleaning, odor removal, contents pack-out & restoration, HVAC cleaning, and full reconstruction—with the documentation your insurer needs.

Call: Chicago (773) 376-1110 • North Shore/Lake County (847) 316-9145