Photograph or videotape all damage immediately after a fire to document the extent of the fire.
If your home is not habitable, tell the police that you will be absent from it. Remove valuables and important documents where possible.
If firemen have broken doors or windows, have them boarded up securely. Glaziers who operate a 24-hour emergency service are listed in the Yellow Pages and local Thomson Directory, or enquire at your local police station for contacts. Local councils may provide this service for their tenants. You will probably not be able to claim this expense against your insurance policy.
If temporary repairs are necessary to prevent further damage, such as stopping rain coming through the roof, have these done immediately, and keep the bill for insurance purposes. Don't make any permanent repairs without sending the quotes first to your insurance company.
Contact an insurance claim consultant or public adjuster to assist you with your insurance claim.
Collect receipts for all costs related to your fire damage.
If you are able to live in your home, do not reconnect the gas or electricity or turn on any water until the gas and electricity boards and a plumber have checked pipes and fittings.
Move damaged household goods to a safe place so that the insurance adjuster can inspect them.
Use fans, blowers or dehumidifiers to dry out the house. If the weather is warm, keep windows open as much as possible to ventilate your home.
Move all rugs and carpets (and their padding) outdoors to dry and get rid of smells. Or hire wet/dry vacuum cleaners from a cleaning or equipment leasing company. If the task is too great, use a specialist cleaning company.
Clean walls and ceilings with sugar soap or a mild detergent. Do not paint until they are thoroughly dry.
Wipe down wood furniture and leave it to dry, before applying wood polish. Vacuum loose sooty residue from upholstery and all horizontal surfaces. Or use a specialist cleaning company.
Don't let wet fabrics dry where they are. Move them to an undamaged room to dry at room temperature.
Transfer art, books and other porous valuables to a freezer (if yours is too small, try a local frozen-food company) until you can hire specialists to restore them.
Discard all food, drinks and medicines that have been exposed to high heat or otherwise damaged.
When fridges and freezers have defrosted, wash them with an ammonia or vinegar solution before rinsing with clean water to remove any smell. Let them dry naturally.
Send clothing to a dry cleaner who will give it specialist treatment; improper cleaning methods can fix the smell of smoke permanently.
Fire or water damage restoration and smoke removal can be a complex task that may need a professional fire restoration company.
