After a fire, you may want to inspect your home—but safety comes first. Always check with the fire department to confirm that it’s safe to enter. Do not walk past colored tape placed over doors or windows, as it marks potentially hazardous areas. Only proceed if local authorities say it’s safe. If a building inspector has posted a color-coded sign on your home, do not enter until you’ve received more information about what it means.

Check for Structural Damage

After a fire, it’s crucial to have a qualified building inspector assess your home for structural damage before anyone re-enters. Professionals can identify compromised beams, walls, and foundations that may not be obvious to the untrained eye, helping prevent further risks and ensuring the home’s safety and integrity.

If a building inspector isn’t immediately available, avoid entering the home until local authorities give the all-clear. When it’s safe to do so, look for visible signs of damage:

• Inspect the outside of your home before entering. Look for loose power lines, damaged gas lines, foundation cracks, missing support beams, or other damage. If you see any visible damage, ask a building inspector to check the structure before you enter.
• If there's no visible damage outside your home, carefully check the inside. Be sure to wear proper protective gear, including long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toe shoes, work gloves, a dust mask, safety glasses, and a hard hat.
• Check for gas leaks. If you smell natural gas or hear a hissing noise, leave the property right away and call 9-1-1. If your gas is shut off, it must be turned back on by a professional to ensure that the proper steps are followed.
• Turn off propane tanks. If you have a propane tank system, turn off all valves and contact your propane supplier to check the system before using it again.
• Check the ceiling for signs of sagging. Water from fire hoses or rain may wet plaster or wallboard. Wet plaster or wallboard is very heavy and dangerous if it falls. It will have to be replaced.
• Check the floor for signs of sagging. Flooring such as plywood that was damaged by water from fire hoses could collapse under human weight. Avoid walking on sagging floors.
• Check for mold. Mold spores can be toxic and pose serious health risks. Look for signs like dampness, discoloration, or musty odors—especially in hidden areas such as behind walls, under floors, and inside cabinets. To confirm the presence of mold, consider using a mold test kit or hiring a professional inspector.
• If you make temporary repairs, keep records. If you make temporary repairs like covering holes or removing debris, save your receipts. You may need them for your insurance claim.

Check Utilities & Major Systems

• Check landline telephones. Check each telephone individually for a dial tone. If you don’t hear anything, try unplugging all the phones and then plugging them in one at a time. This will help determine if the phone itself is broken or the service is out.
• Check for bad wires. If you see sparks, broken, or frayed wires, turn off the electricity at the circuit breaker. If you cannot access the breaker panel, call a qualified electrician.
• Inspect your panel box for tripped breakers. A tripped breaker could mean damaged wiring in your home. Don't turn on tripped breakers; instead, ensure that they are turned off. Mark any tripped breakers and have a qualified electrician inspect them.
• Check appliances for water damage. Disconnect and check all appliances for water damage before using them.
• Check your sewage system. If you suspect that your sewage lines are damaged, avoid using sinks, showers, or toilets and call a qualified plumber.
• Inspect your water pipes. If any piping is damaged, turn off the water at the main valve. Call a qualified plumber for assistance.
• Watch out for spilled household chemicals. Normal household items, such as cleaning products, can cause toxic fumes if they mix. If you smell a noxious odor, or your eyes water from fumes, open a window and get out of your home. If there are spilled chemicals that do not pose a health risk, be sure to put on rubber gloves in addition to other protective clothing.
• Throw away food, drinks, and medicine exposed to heat or smoke. Food that was in the freezer can be used if it still has ice crystals on it.