Is it safe to stay in your home after a fire?

It may be reasonable to stay if the fire was small and confined, the fire department has released the home, the gas and electricity have been confirmed safe, there is no water damage in the rooms you will use, and smoke residue is limited to a small area that can be closed off. Even then, sensitive family members may be better off elsewhere until cleaning is done.

Plan to stay elsewhere if the fire department has not released the home, utilities are off or unsafe, there is structural damage, heavy smoke or soot reached the bedrooms, ceilings or floors are wet, or the heat is off in cold weather. The Illinois Department of Insurance says that if your home appears unsafe, you should report it to your insurer and live elsewhere ^[4].

Some people are more vulnerable to smoke residue and the dust stirred up during cleanup. EPA identifies children, older adults and people with heart or lung disease as more sensitive to fine particle pollution ^[2]. Pregnant people and anyone with asthma or COPD should be especially cautious.

Pets are sensitive too. Birds in particular are vulnerable to airborne irritants. If pets were in the home during the fire, have a veterinarian check them for smoke inhalation.

If anyone in the household falls into these groups, arranging somewhere else to stay until cleaning and drying are finished is the safer choice, even if the damage seems limited.

Ask your insurer right away whether your policy includes additional living expenses. The Illinois Department of Insurance explains that this coverage pays the increase in your living expenses over your normal spending while the home is being repaired, and advises asking about any limits on hotel stays ^[4]. If you stay with family or friends, the insurer may need proof of what you paid them.

Keep every receipt: lodging, meals beyond your normal grocery spending, laundry, extra mileage and storage. Disaster relief organizations can also help with immediate shelter, food and medicine ^[1].

In a two-flat, three-flat, courtyard building or high-rise, you may be affected by a fire that was not in your unit. Smoke in the shared stair, water through your ceiling or a building-wide loss of heat can make your home unsafe even if it did not burn. Ask the building owner or management what they know about the building's condition and when shared systems will be restored.

If the rear porch was damaged, your unit may lack a safe second exit until it is shored or rebuilt, which matters for whether it is safe to sleep there. In winter, a building without heat is also at risk of frozen pipes.