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What to do after a house fire
A practical first-steps guide for safe access, temporary living arrangements, essential contacts and the first restoration decisions.
Open this resourceHow fire restoration works
Understand the workstreams, assessment decisions, evidence and handoffs that turn a damaged property into a defined restoration project.
Open this resourceSmoke damage: what needs assessment
Look beyond visible soot and understand how surface residues, odours, contents and building systems change the assessment.
Open this resourcePlan a clear smoke and soot cleanup scope
What to look for in a cleaning proposal: assessment boundaries, test areas, contents handling, treatment decisions and completion checks.
Open this resourceWater damage after firefighting
Follow the water through the building, understand drying records and ask the right questions before repairs conceal wet materials.
Open this resourceRebuilding after fire damage
Organize assessment, approvals, design choices and construction handoffs without making premature cost or move-back promises.
Open this resourceEmergency now, recovery next
Know which call to make, what information to give and how to move from an active emergency into a documented recovery plan.
Open this resourceOrganize a fire insurance claim
Build a clear record of the loss, expenses, work approvals and unanswered policy questions so the claim is easier to follow.
Open this resourceChoose restoration expertise with better questions
Understand what a standard, certification, trade licence and project report can tell you—and what still needs to be checked.
Open this resourceReturning and rebuilding after wildfire
Coordinate official return instructions, property access, ash and smoke assessment, water questions and recovery documents.
Open this resourceSupport for you and your household after a fire
Practical ways to reduce the load, ask for help and find appropriate support while housing and restoration decisions continue.
Open this resourceRecord safe access instructions clearly
Keep entry permissions, restrictions and responsible contacts precise so a recovery team does not mistake one permission for another.
Open this resourceBuild a room-by-room restoration scope
Turn an estimate into a readable register of affected materials, proposed work, exclusions and completion evidence.
Open this resourceRecovering a heritage home after fire
Protect significant features while coordinating emergency stabilization, assessment, conservation decisions and repair approvals.
Open this resourceFire recovery in a condo or strata building
Coordinate the unit, shared building systems, corporation or strata responsibilities and individual insurance discussions.
Open this resourceResolve questions about a fire-damage estimate
Build a clear issue sheet that separates missing scope, quantities, pricing, coverage and workmanship concerns.
Open this resourceAir quality after a fire: ask a specific question
Understand the limits of a smell check, particle reading or air sample, and plan an assessment that informs the next decision.
Open this resourceMake fire prevention part of the return-home plan
Use the rebuilding period to review alarms, escape arrangements, equipment and everyday routines with the right professionals.
Open this resourceCommercial fire recovery without an unclear reopening plan
Coordinate building work, business continuity, stock, equipment, insurers and the decisions required before reopening.
Open this resourceOffice fire recovery: people, systems and a controlled return
Plan work areas, IT equipment, records, shared services and the evidence needed for staff to return to the affected office.
Open this resourceRetail fire recovery: stock, fixtures and reopening
Track merchandise decisions, protect customer property and coordinate the sales floor, back-of-house areas and public access.
Open this resourceRestaurant fire recovery: kitchen, food and reopening
Coordinate food disposition, cooking equipment, ventilation, utilities and the authority decisions required before service resumes.
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When a guide is not enough
Use these chapters to understand the questions and prepare a useful brief. The responsible authority, qualified professionals and insurer make the decisions for the actual property. If a question remains unclear, record what is known, what is missing and who can resolve it.
The tool collection helps organize that information, and the local directory helps find the appropriate public starting point.