How do I know it is safe to go back inside?

You wait for the fire department to tell you. Fire officials decide when a building can be entered, and they also make sure utilities are safe or shut off. A contractor cannot clear a building for re-entry.

Should I start cleaning up right away?

Not before you have photographed everything and your insurer has told you what it needs. Protect the property from further damage, but leave demolition and permanent repairs until the damage has been documented and seen.

Who should I call first?

Emergency services if anyone is in danger, then your insurance company. Local relief groups such as the American Red Cross can help with shelter and food if you cannot stay in the home.

First 24 Hours After a House Fire

Hour one: people first

If anyone is still inside, or you are not sure, call 911 and stay out. Account for every person and pet you can. Belongings, documents and photographs can be replaced or recovered. Do not go back in for them. If you left the building and the fire is out, the next question is not "what can I save" but "who has said this is safe".

Before you go back inside

Wait for the fire department to say the building is safe to enter. Floors, stairs and walls can be weaker than they look, and fires can restart from hidden embers.
Look at the outside first: loose power lines, damaged gas lines, cracks in the foundation, missing supports.
If a door is jammed, do not force it. It may be holding up part of the structure.
If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave and get well away from the property.
Do not turn utilities back on yourself. The fire department confirms they are safe or has them disconnected before it leaves.
Treat soot and standing water as hazardous. Both can carry contaminants that make people sick.

Call your insurance company early

Open the claim and ask what they want you to do first. Ask what your policy provides for temporary housing and living expenses, which vendors they use for board-up and cleaning, and whether they require anything in writing. Tell your mortgage company about the fire as well. If you cannot stay in the home, a local Red Cross chapter can help with immediate needs such as shelter and food.

Write down the claim number, the name of everyone you speak with, and the date and time. Many calls in the first week feel like a blur, and these notes are what you will reach for later.

Document before anything is moved or cleaned

Photograph and video every room from the doorway, then close-ups of damaged items.
Photograph the exterior, the roof edge if you can see it from the ground, and any openings made by firefighters.
Start a written inventory of damaged belongings. Do not discard items until it is finished, and photograph anything you do throw away.
Keep every receipt for money you spend because of the fire, including hotel stays, meals, clothing and emergency supplies.

Receipts matter twice. Insurers often ask for them, and they can also support a loss claimed on a tax return.

Board-up and tarping

An opened building invites rain, animals and thieves, and most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. The Texas Department of Insurance advises policyholders to make only temporary repairs, such as tarping a roof, because permanent repairs made before the adjuster has seen the damage can put the claim at risk. Board-up and tarps count as temporary. Rebuilding does not.

FMGC does emergency board-up and roof tarping for properties in DFW. If your insurer has a preferred vendor, ask them first, and keep the invoice either way. Photograph the work before and after.

What not to throw away

Damaged items, until your inventory is complete.
Receipts, invoices and any paperwork from the fire department, the insurer or relief groups.
Samples of damaged flooring, trim or fixtures that you may need to match later.
Records of anyone you spoke with, such as the fire department's report number and your claim number.

Things to hold off on

Signing a repair contract the same day, especially with someone who came to your door.
Hiring a contractor who offers to handle or adjust the claim for you. Texas law restricts contractors from acting as public adjusters, and the guide on who pays explains why.
Handing over cash up front for work that has not been scoped in writing.
Starting demolition or permanent repairs before the damage has been recorded.

When the contractor comes in

The rebuild comes after safety clearance, the insurer's inspection, and any structural assessment. Once you are ready, call and we will walk the property, usually within 24 to 48 hours, and write an itemized scope. The sequence of that work is in the fire and smoke repair guide.

Common questions

How do I know it is safe to go back inside?: You wait for the fire department to tell you. Fire officials decide when a building can be entered, and they also make sure utilities are safe or shut off. A contractor cannot clear a building for re-entry.
Should I start cleaning up right away?: Not before you have photographed everything and your insurer has told you what it needs. Protect the property from further damage, but leave demolition and permanent repairs until the damage has been documented and seen.
Who should I call first?: Emergency services if anyone is in danger, then your insurance company. Local relief groups such as the American Red Cross can help with shelter and food if you cannot stay in the home.

Where this guidance comes from

Need help with the repair side? Call (214) 713-2443. We are a general contractor, not a public adjuster, and we do not advise on coverage.

The first 24 hours after a fire