Fire damage guides for homeowners after a fire or smoke event

If the fire just happened, start with what to do after a house fire, then is it safe to stay after a fire. Before you clean anything, read soot on walls and ceilings, because the wrong first step can make stains permanent.

If the smell is the problem weeks later, see smoke odor that won't go away. For the claim, see working with your insurance adjuster.

Each guide answers one question that homeowners face after a fire, with the answer near the top and the reasoning below it. Facts about health, safety, insurance rules and local history come from sources such as the U.S. Fire Administration, the EPA and the Colorado Division of Insurance, and every guide lists its sources at the bottom. The guides are general information; they cannot see your house, so use them to prepare questions for the contractor and your adjuster rather than as a final answer. Local details for Colorado Springs, such as wildfire history, dry air and forced-air furnaces, are included where they change the advice.