The days after a house fire are chaotic, emotional, and overwhelming. Insurance adjusters call. Contractors knock on your door. Family members offer advice. Here’s a clear, practical guide to what you should actually do in the first seven days after a fire in your Illinois home.
Day 1: Safety First, Then Document
Don’t re-enter the property until the fire marshal has cleared it as structurally safe. Once cleared, document everything – photograph every room, every damaged area, every affected item. Don’t throw anything away, even if it looks destroyed. Burnt belongings are part of your insurance claim.
Day 2: Call a Restoration Contractor Before Your Insurance Company
This is counter-intuitive, but important. When you call your insurance company first, they dispatch their own adjuster – someone whose job is to document damage from the insurer’s perspective. When you call a qualified restoration contractor first, you get an independent assessment of the full scope of damage before the insurance company’s numbers are set.
A good contractor will also be present when the insurance adjuster arrives to make sure nothing gets missed.
Day 3: Secure the Property
Your restoration contractor should board up windows and doors, tarp any open roof sections, and secure the perimeter. This prevents further weather damage, theft, and unauthorized entry – and it protects your insurance claim by demonstrating you took reasonable steps to mitigate additional loss.
Day 4: Understand Your “Additional Living Expenses” Coverage
Most homeowners policies include Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage, which pays for a hotel, meals, and other costs while your home is being restored. Call your insurance company specifically about ALE – this benefit is often underused because homeowners don’t know to ask.
Day 5: Get the Full Scope of Damage Documented
Fire damage extends far beyond the burn zone. Smoke and soot affect every room. Heat warps materials beyond what burned. Water from firefighting creates its own damage. Your restoration contractor should document all of it – not just what’s visibly burned.
Day 6: Review Your Policy – Or Have Someone Do It For You
Your insurance policy determines how much you’ll receive. Key things to understand: Do you have Replacement Cost Value (RCV) or Actual Cash Value (ACV) coverage? What is your deductible? Are there any coverage exclusions that apply? If this feels overwhelming, a licensed Public Adjuster can review your policy and explain exactly what you’re entitled to.
Day 7: Choose Your Restoration Partner Carefully
You’ll have no shortage of contractors offering to help – some legitimate, some predatory. Choose a company that: has verifiable local references, handles the complete scope of work (not just demo or just rebuild), understands the insurance claim process, and ideally has access to a licensed Public Adjuster for claim advocacy.
Statewide Restoration handles all of the above. We serve Will, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Grundy, Kankakee, and Kendall counties and are available for emergency response.
If your home has recently been damaged by fire, contact us for a free assessment. We’ll help you understand your options and navigate the next steps.