Post-Fire Re-Entry Safety Checklist

Do not enter until Fairfax County Fire and Rescue or the building official has cleared the structure. A cleared structure may still have hazards; clearance means the immediate fire risk is resolved, not that all hazards are gone.

Gas service: confirmed off at the meter or by the utility. Electrical: confirmed off at the main breaker or by the utility. Do not restore gas or electrical service yourself — contact the utility and a licensed contractor. Water: if pipes may have been damaged by heat, shut off at the main before entering.

A minimum N-95 respirator is required before entering any fire-affected area. Burned synthetic materials including carpet, wiring insulation, and furniture produce toxic particulate that lingers in the air after visible smoke clears. Children and immunocompromised individuals should not enter the structure at this stage.

From the doorway, look for sagging ceilings, bowed walls, or floors that appear to have lost support below. Do not enter rooms with visible structural compromise without professional confirmation. Attic fires can weaken ceiling framing that appears intact from below.

Begin photographing immediately on entry. Photograph every affected room from multiple angles before any item is moved, cleaned, or removed. Photograph the fire origin location in situ. Photograph any openings in the building envelope. This pre-mitigation record is your insurance baseline and cannot be recreated after the fact.

Note any broken windows, damaged doors, or roof openings. These must be secured with board-up before leaving the property or before rain is in the forecast. Our emergency board-up service can be arranged to run concurrently with your initial visit. Rain entering an open roof creates mold conditions within 24 to 48 hours.

Do not operate the HVAC system in a fire-affected home. Soot deposits inside ductwork will be redistributed to every room the system serves the moment the system runs. Keep the system off until a professional assessment confirms whether duct cleaning is required before restarting.

File the claim as soon as documentation is underway. Have your policy number, a description of the event, the address, and any fire department report number available. Your policy requires prompt notification after a covered loss.

Call (703) 397-8315 to begin the restoration assessment. Our crew documents conditions on arrival, boards up any openings, begins water extraction from firefighting water if present, and develops the full scope. The mitigation obligation under your policy begins immediately; calling the restoration crew fulfills it.