The American Red Cross has prepared this information to encourage you take precautions to help keep you safe and speed your recovery after a fire. It also offers ideas on what you can do to help make yourself and your home safer from fires in the future.

Immediately After…

• Have injuries treated by a medical professional. Wash small wounds with soap and water. To help prevent infection of small wounds, use bandages and replace them if they become soiled, damaged or waterlogged.
• Remain calm. Pace yourself. You may find yourself in the position of taking charge of other people. Listen carefully to what people are telling you, and deal patiently with urgent situations first.
• Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter. Do not cut or walk past colored tape that was placed over doors or windows to mark damaged areas unless local authorities advise that it is safe to do so. If a building inspector has placed a color-coded sign on the home, do not enter it until you get more information, advice and instructions about what the sign means and whether it is safe to enter your home.

Checking for Structural Damage

• Check the outside of your home before you enter. Look for loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, foundation cracks or other damage. See if porch roofs and overhangs still have all their supports. If you see damage on the outside, it could indicate that the inside of your home is seriously unsafe. Ask a building inspector or contractor to check the structure before you enter.
• If there is no significant visible outside damage, then check inside. Carefully open the door. If it is jammed, do not force it open. It may be providing support to the structure of your home. If you force open the door, it may cause parts of your home to collapse or become more damaged. Find another way to enter your home. Those who do enter your damaged home should wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toed rubber- soled shoes or boots and work gloves. Depending on the situation dust masks, safety glasses (or goggles) and/or a hard hat and other safety equipment may be needed. Many people are injured after disasters during clean-up—the last thing that you want to do is add injuries to the list of things to take care of after a disaster.
• Smell or sniff for gas. If you detect the odor of natural or propane gas, or hear a hissing noise, leave the property immediately and get well away from it. Call the fire department using a cellular telephone or a neighbor's phone. If the fire department instructs you to do so, turn off the gas with the proper tool at the valve on the outside meter. When natural gas is turned off at the main valve, it must be turned back on by a professional to ensure that the proper sequence is followed to restore gas service and prevent possible gas leaks, fires or an explosion.
• If you have a propane tank system, turn off all valves and contact a propane supplier to check the system out before you use it again.
• Throughout your first day back, and beyond, check for smoke and embers throughout the home, including the attic.
• Beware of animals, such as rodents, snakes, spiders and insects, that may have entered your home.
• As you inspect your home, tap loudly and often on the floor with a stick to give notice that you are there. Animals (including snakes) do not want encounters with humans, and will move away if you make your presence known.
• Objects, such as furnishings or building parts that have been damaged, may be unstable. Be very cautious when moving near them. Avoid holding, pushing or leaning against damaged building parts.
• 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. Since damaged plaster or wallboard will have to be replaced anyway, you can try to knock it down but do so carefully. Wear protective clothing, including eye protection and a hard hat. Use a long stick, and stand well away from the damaged area. If the ceiling is sagging from the weight of water, poke holes in the ceiling starting from the outside of the bulge to let water drain out slowly. Take your time, and knock away small chunks at a time. Striking the center of the damaged area first may cause the ceiling to collapse.
• Check the floor for signs of sagging. Again, flooring such as plywood that was damaged by water from fire hoses could collapse under human weight. Avoid walking on sagging floors. If small sections of floors are sagging, place thick plywood panels or thick, strong boards on the floor to cover the damaged area. Be sure the wood extends at least 8–12 inches on each side of the sagging area.
• If it is dry out, open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.
• If power is out, use a flashlight to inspect for damage and for as long as the power remains out. Do not use any open flame, including candles, to inspect for damage or serve as alternate lighting.
• Disconnect and check all appliances for water damage before using them.
• Make temporary repairs such as covering holes, bracing walls, and removing debris. Save all receipts.
• Take photographs of the damage. You may need these to substantiate insurance claims later.

Checking Household Items

• Normal household items, such as cleaning products, can cause toxic fumes and other hazards if they mix. If you smell a noxious odor, or your eyes water from fumes of mixed chemicals, open a window and get out of your home. Call for professional help.
• 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. Clean up spills carefully. Discard spilled chemicals and rags used for cleaning according to the advice of local authorities.
• Throw away food, beverages and medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot. Food that was in the freezer can be used if it still has ice crystals on it. If not, discard it.

Cleaning Up and Removing Smoke Odor

• There are some products available for reducing odors in fabrics. These products will list these properties on the label. A product with tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) is a common cleaning agent. It can be purchased under the generic name TSP. It is a caustic substance and should be used with care. Use and store it out of reach of children and pets. Read the label for further information and safety instructions. Any product that is not clearly described as suitable for use on personal clothing or fabrics that come in contact with skin should never be used for the removal of smoke odors from clothing.
• Test garments before using any treatment, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Smoke odor and soot can sometimes be washed from clothing that can be bleached with 4 to 6 tbsp. Tri-Sodium Phosphate, 1 cup household cleaner or chlorine bleach, to every gallon of warm water. Mix well, add clothes and rinse with clear water. Dry thoroughly. Alternatively, consider washing clothes in cold water with your usual household laundry detergent, and adding one tablespoon of pure vanilla extract. This solution also has been shown to remove smoke odors on kitchen surfaces and washable furniture. To remove soot and smoke from walls, furniture and floors, use a mild soap or detergent or mix together 4 to 6 tbsp. tri-sodium phosphate and 1 cup household cleaner or chlorine bleach to every gallon of warm water. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning with this solution. Be sure to rinse your walls and furniture with clear warm water and dry thoroughly after washing them with this.
• Pots, pans, flatware, etc., should be washed with soapy water, rinsed and then polished with a fine-powdered cleaner. You can polish copper and brass with salt sprinkled on a piece of lemon, or salt sprinkled on a cloth saturated with vinegar.
• Wipe leather goods with a damp cloth, then a dry cloth. Stuff purses and shoes with newspaper to retain shape. Leave suitcases open. Leather goods should be dried away from heat and sun. When leather goods are dry, clean with saddle soap. Rinse leather and suede jackets in cold water and dry away from heat and sun.
• Washable wallpaper can be cleansed like painted walls, but do not wet through the paper. Work from bottom to top to prevent streaking. Use a commercial paste to repaste any loose edges or sections.Wash a small area of the walls at a time, working from the floor up. Then rinse the wall with clear water immediately. Ceilings should be washed last. Do not repaint until walls and ceilings are completely dry. Reduce the chances of growth of mold and mildew by wiping down all surfaces that had gotten wet with a solution of one cup of liquid household bleach to a gallon of water. Test painted, textured or wallpapered surfaces to ensure that the bleach solution will not discolor these surfaces. To conduct this test, wipe a small area of the surface with the bleach solution, and allow it to dry at least 24 hours.
• Consult a professional about replacing drywall and insulation that has been soaked by water from fire hoses. Water-damaged drywall and insulation must be replaced. It can not be dried out and maintain structural integrity or resistance to mold and mildew.