Knowledge for the hardest days.

Step oneHour 0: Stay safe, stay out.

Before anything else, protect people. Property can be replaced. People cannot.

• Do not re-enter the home until the fire department says it is safe. Fire-damaged structures can be unstable, and floors, stairs, and roofs may fail without warning.
• Account for everyone. Make sure every person and pet is accounted for. Tell firefighters immediately if anyone may still be inside.
• Stay upwind of smoke. Smoke from a house fire contains chemicals from burned plastics, furnishings, and building materials. Keep children, elderly family members, and anyone with breathing difficulties well away.
• Do not touch soot-covered items with bare hands if you can avoid it. Soot is acidic and can irritate skin and lungs.
• Get the incident information. Ask the fire department for the incident or report number and the name of the station that responded. You will need this later.

Step twoHours 1 to 6: Stabilize the essentials.

Once everyone is safe, secure the basics: a place to sleep tonight, medications, and a way for people to reach you.

• Find safe shelter for tonight. Contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 for immediate disaster assistance, including temporary lodging. Lean on family and friends if you can.
• Secure medications and medical needs. If prescriptions were lost in the fire, call your pharmacy or doctor; most can issue emergency refills. If anyone needs medical attention, seek it now.
• Set up a contact number. Make sure one working phone number reaches you, and give it to the fire department, your landlord or mortgage company, and family. If your phone was lost, borrow one and set up voicemail.
• Start a notebook. From this moment on, write down every name, phone number, case number, and promise anyone makes you. Date every entry. This notebook becomes one of the most valuable things you own.
• Notify your landlord or mortgage servicer that the property has had a fire, briefly and in writing if you can.

Step threeHours 6 to 24: Document everything.

Documentation is the foundation of every recovery path: insurance claims, assistance applications, and tax records all depend on it. Start before anything is moved or cleaned.

• Photograph the exterior from all four sides, in daylight if possible. Capture the overall scene before close-ups.
• Photograph every room, wide angle first, then close-ups of damaged areas. Open closets and drawers to show contents where it is safe to do so.
• Photograph serial numbers and brand names on appliances and electronics. These details matter later.
• Begin a room-by-room inventory. List what was in each room, roughly what it cost, and about when you bought it. Don't aim for perfection; aim for completeness. Receipts, photos on your phone, and credit card statements can fill gaps later.
• Save everything the fire gives you. Keep the fire department's incident number, business cards from every official you meet, and copies of anything you sign.
• Do not throw anything away yet. Damaged items may need to be inspected. If health or safety requires disposal, photograph the items first, in place.

Step fourHours 24 to 48: Make the right calls.

In order, contact the people and organizations whose help compounds over time.

• Your insurance company (if you have a policy). Report the loss and get a claim number. Write down the adjuster's name and direct number. You are not required to accept the first assessment; you can ask questions and take notes.
• The American Red Cross (1-800-733-2767) if you have not already. They coordinate immediate disaster relief: shelter, food, clothing, and comfort kits.
• Your children's schools. Let teachers and counselors know what happened; schools can connect you with supplies, counseling, and enrollment flexibility.
• Your employer. A brief explanation buys understanding and time. Ask about emergency leave, employee assistance programs, or hardship resources.
• Utility companies. Arrange to stop, transfer, or hold service, and ask about deposit requirements for your temporary address.
• The post office. File a change of address or hold so important mail, including claim correspondence, reaches you.

Step fiveHours 48 to 72: Plan the next 30 days.

The first 72 hours are about survival. The next 30 days are about stability. Use the third day to convert urgency into a plan.

• Secure interim housing. Work with the Red Cross, your insurer's additional living expense coverage (if you have it), or family to arrange somewhere stable for the coming weeks.
• Replace essential documents. Driver's license, Social Security card, birth certificates, and prescriptions. Start with whatever unlocks the rest; your state's vital records office and the SSA can advise on order and cost.
• Open a dedicated folder, physical or digital, for every receipt from this point forward. Recovery spending is often reimbursable or tax-relevant, but only if you can prove it.
• Ask for help early. Family resource centers, faith communities, and nonprofits like ours exist for this moment. Reaching out on day three is not too soon; it is exactly on time.
• Take care of the people, not just the paperwork. Children especially may need time and space to process what happened. School counselors and community programs can help, and asking is a sign of strength.

Quick referenceThe 72-hour checklist.

Print this, screenshot it, or share it with a family who needs it tonight.

1. Everyone is safe and accounted for; pets too.
2. Fire department incident or report number recorded.
3. Safe shelter arranged for tonight.
4. Medications and urgent medical needs handled.
5. One working contact number, shared with key parties.
6. Notebook started; every conversation dated and logged.
7. Landlord or mortgage servicer notified.
8. Home photographed inside and out before anything is moved.
9. Room-by-room inventory begun.
10. Insurance company contacted (if insured); claim number recorded.
11. Red Cross contacted: 1-800-733-2767.
12. Schools, employer, utilities, and post office notified.
13. Interim housing plan for the next 30 days in motion.
14. Document replacement started.
15. Receipt folder opened.
16. Help requested, from us or from your community. You don't have to do this alone.

Get Help From the Foundation