What to Do After a House Fire: A Step-by-Step Nashville Checklist

A house fire turns everything upside down in minutes. Once the trucks leave, you are left with a damaged home and a long list of decisions. This checklist puts them in order. Nashville Fire Removal Pros can connect you with a local provider for fire damage cleanup in Nashville, from board-up and water removal to the rebuild.

This is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Follow the instructions of the fire department and your insurer first.

What to do in the first day after a house fire

These are the steps that matter most in the first hours, in order.

1. Get everyone to safety. Call 911 if anyone needs medical help. The Red Cross advises getting seriously injured people and animals to professional care right away.
2. Let family and friends know you're safe. A quick text saves a lot of worry.
3. Stay out until it's cleared. Don't go back in until fire officials say it is safe.
4. Call your insurance company. Report the fire, get a claim number and ask about loss-of-use coverage for a place to stay.
5. Find a safe place to sleep. Stay with family or friends, use your policy's living-expense coverage, or ask the Red Cross for help.
6. Photograph the damage. When it is safe, take photos and video of every room before anything is moved or cleaned. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance recommends this.
7. Secure the property. Board up broken windows and doors and tarp the roof to keep out rain and intruders. Save every receipt.
8. Tell your landlord or lender. Renters should notify the landlord in writing. Owners should tell their mortgage company.

Is it safe to go back inside after a fire?

Only after the fire department says so. Even then, check carefully before you walk in. The Red Cross lists these warning signs:

Check the outside first for loose power lines, broken gas lines, foundation cracks or missing supports. If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave right away and call the fire department from a safe place. Don't force a jammed door. It may be holding up part of the house. Stay off sagging floors and stay out from under sagging ceilings. Both may be heavy with water. Check for smoke and embers throughout the house, including the attic. Leave utility hookups to the utility companies. Don't restore gas or electric service yourself.

If you see sparks, frayed wires or smell hot insulation, the Red Cross advises turning off power at the main breaker only if you can reach it without standing in water. Otherwise call an electrician.

Who to call after a house fire in Nashville

Red Cross disaster action teams can provide immediate financial help, shelter and mental health support after a home fire.

What to do after a house fire for insurance

Your actions in the first weeks shape how smoothly the claim goes.

• Document first. Photos and video before cleanup are your best proof.
• Keep damaged items until the adjuster sees them, unless they are a safety risk.
• Make temporary repairs only. TDCI advises waiting on permanent repairs until the insurer has inspected and you agree on costs.
• Keep every receipt. Hotel stays, meals, clothing and supplies may count as additional living expenses.
• Build an inventory. List damaged belongings with brand, age and approximate cost.
• Take notes on every call. Write down names, dates and what was said.

Read does homeowners insurance cover fire damage for coverage details. Renters should read does renters insurance cover fire damage. The guide on how to deal with an insurance adjuster after a house fire covers the inspection and the estimate.

What can be salvaged after a house fire?

More than most people expect. Dishes, glass, metal cookware, solid wood furniture and many clothes can often be cleaned. Food, medicine, cosmetics and anything that was near the heat should go. The Red Cross advises throwing away food, drinks and medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot.

Before you discard anything, photograph it for your claim. The full list is in what to throw away after smoke damage.

How to replace documents lost in a fire

Start with the documents you need most to prove who you are.

• Tennessee driver license: If you know the DD number from the front of your license, you can order a duplicate online through the Tennessee Department of Safety. Otherwise, visit a Driver Services Center.
• Birth certificates: Tennessee Vital Records issues official copies by mail, in person in Nashville, or online through its contracted vendor. County health departments can also issue birth and death certificates registered in Tennessee.
• Social Security card, passport and tax records: Contact the issuing federal agency.
• Bank cards and checks: Call your bank and card companies to cancel and replace them.
• Insurance policies: Your agent or insurer can send copies.

Living in a house after a fire: when it is OK and when to leave

Staying in a fire-damaged house is sometimes possible after a small fire in one room. It is usually a bad idea when:

• The power, gas or water is off or unsafe.
• Smoke smell or soot is in bedrooms or living areas.
• The HVAC system ran during the fire and spread smoke through the ducts.
• Walls, ceilings or floors were soaked by firefighting water.
• Anyone in the home has asthma, heart or lung problems, or is very young or elderly.

If you leave, ask your insurer about additional living expenses. Many homeowners and renters policies pay the extra cost of living somewhere else while the home is repaired.

What to do after a house fire checklist

Everyone safe and accounted for, including pets. Insurance claim reported and claim number written down. Fire report requested from the Nashville Fire Department. Photos and video of every room taken before cleanup. Openings boarded and roof tarped, with receipts saved. Landlord or mortgage lender notified in writing. Temporary place to stay arranged. Inventory of damaged belongings started. Important documents located or replacement started. Restoration provider contacted for an inspection and estimate.

How to prevent another fire

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking. NFPA lists cooking as the leading cause of home fires.
• Give space heaters room. Keep them three feet from anything that can burn.
• Test smoke alarms monthly. Many local fire departments install free alarms through the Get Alarmed, Tennessee! program.
• Close doors at night. Closed doors slow smoke and fire.
• Clean dryer lint every load.

Local note: Fire recovery looks different across the metro. Older ranch homes in Goodlettsville and Madison often see heating fires in winter. Apartment fires in Antioch can affect several households at once. Older houses in East Nashville may have wiring that needs checking before power is restored.

Related reading: Plan the months ahead with how long fire damage restoration takes, and see what drives the bill in fire damage restoration cost.

When should you call a fire damage restoration professional?

Call a restoration provider as soon as the fire department releases the property and:

• Windows, doors or the roof are open to weather.
• Firefighting water is standing on floors or in the basement.
• Smoke and soot reached several rooms.
• Your insurer needs a written scope of work.

Just had a house fire in Nashville? Call (615) 458-0921 to reach a local fire damage cleanup provider.

After a house fire questions