When Can You Go Back Into a House After a Fire?
When it is safe to reenter a house after a fire, what hazards remain and how to decide whether to stay or move out during restoration.
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Tell the operator your city, what happened and whether the fire department has cleared the building. You will be connected with a local provider that covers your area.
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- Give your city and ZIP code
- Say what happened and whether the fire is out
- Ask the company about its license and insurance
Quick answer
Only after the fire department says the building is safe. Even then, a fire damaged home can have weakened structure, soot, contaminated water, damaged utilities and poor air. Many people cannot live in the home during restoration.
Step one: official clearance
The fire department decides when firefighters hand the property back. That clearance is about the fire being out, not about the home being healthy. Ask the officer about structural concerns, utilities and any areas that should stay off limits.
Hazards that remain after the flames
- Weakened floors, stairs and ceilings
- Broken glass, exposed nails and holes in the roof
- Wet, dirty water in basements and low areas
- Damaged electrical and gas systems
- Soot, ash and smoke residue in the air and on surfaces
- Asbestos or lead based paint in older buildings that was disturbed
The Red Cross advises against entering until power and gas are confirmed off, and says to be very careful with fire damaged items.
When you can stay and when you cannot
Short visits to collect essentials with a respirator, sturdy shoes and gloves are different from sleeping in the house. Staying overnight is usually a poor idea when there is no power, no heat, strong smoke odor or heavy residue. Ask your restoration company about the condition of the building and ask your insurer about additional living expense coverage for lodging.
Protect your health
- Wear an N95 or better respirator when entering
- Keep children, pets and people with lung or heart conditions out
- Do not run the HVAC until it has been inspected and cleaned if needed
- Ventilate only as advised by professionals, since opening windows can allow weather in and move soot
Moving back in
Return once cleaning, odor control and any needed repairs are complete and the building passes required inspections. A final walkthrough with the restoration company should confirm that residue and odor have been addressed.
Sources and further reading
- American Red Cross: what to do after the fire department leaves
- IICRC: ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration
- U.S. EPA: Indoor air quality
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