Is It Safe to Stay in a House After a Fire?what to check before moving back in

No one should re-enter a fire-damaged home until the fire department has released it. Fire crews check for hot spots, structural danger and utility hazards before they leave. If they say part or all of the house is unsafe, respect that even if it looks fine to you. Fire can weaken roof trusses and floor joists from inside.

Even after the fire department releases the building, being allowed in is not the same as it being fit to live in. That second question depends on utilities, air quality and the condition of the rooms you would use.

Smoke residue includes fine particles that can be stirred back into the air as people move around. ^[3] Health agencies note that fine particle exposure can irritate the eyes and airways and aggravate asthma and heart and lung disease. Children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with those conditions are most at risk.

If you stay in a partly damaged home, close off affected rooms, keep the HVAC off until it is cleaned, run a portable HEPA air cleaner in the rooms you use, and avoid sweeping or dusting soot yourself. If anyone develops breathing problems, chest pain or persistent headaches, leave and seek medical advice.

In a Phoenix summer, a house without working air conditioning can become dangerously hot. If power or cooling cannot be restored safely, staying in the home may not be an option, particularly for older adults, young children and pets. Many homeowner policies include additional living expenses for temporary housing; check yours. The American Red Cross can help with immediate shelter needs.

When damage is limited to one end of the house, families sometimes stay in the unaffected rooms during restoration. This can work, but it needs planning. The damaged area should be sealed off with plastic sheeting and, ideally, kept under slight negative air pressure with an air scrubber so dust and soot are drawn away from the living space rather than toward it.

The heating and cooling system is the main risk. If one system serves the whole house and its ducts are contaminated, running it spreads residue into the rooms you are using. Some families use portable air conditioners or fans in the clean rooms until the system is cleaned. Others decide that temporary housing is simpler, especially in summer.

Children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with asthma, heart or lung disease are better off out of the house while soot cleaning, demolition and odor treatment are going on. Those stages stir up the most particles.

Pets are more sensitive to smoke and residues than people, and birds especially so. Keep pets out of damaged areas, wipe their paws if they walk through soot, and watch for coughing or lethargy. A veterinarian can advise if a pet was exposed to heavy smoke.

Food, drinks and medicines exposed to heat, smoke or soot should be thrown away, even if sealed. Heat can damage contents of cans and jars, and smoke residue can contaminate packaging. If power was off for a long time, refrigerated and frozen food should also go.

If the fire damaged plumbing or if firefighting affected your water supply, check with your water utility before drinking tap water.

Children are naturally curious about a burned room and are more sensitive to smoke particles than adults. Keep them out of damaged areas entirely, including the garage and yard where debris and glass may be scattered. Wash toys that were in the house before they are used again, and set aside soft toys that smell of smoke for cleaning or replacement. If a child seems anxious after the fire, the American Red Cross and paediatricians can suggest ways to help them process the experience.

Smoke alarms exposed to heat and heavy smoke may no longer work reliably, and some will have been removed or damaged during firefighting. Before anyone sleeps in the house, test every alarm and replace any that were near the fire. If the home has gas appliances, make sure carbon monoxide alarms are working too. The NFPA recommends smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on every level.