A fire leaves more than burned materials behind. Smoke and soot travel through a home and its air ducts, and the water used to put the fire out can soak walls and floors. This page covers what to do first, how to clean up ash safely, and when to call a fire and smoke damage company in San Pedro or the Harbor Area.
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First steps
- Wait for the all-clear. Don’t go back inside until the fire department says it’s safe.
- Leave utilities off until the fire department or the utility says they can be turned back on.
- Call your insurance company and write down the claim number. Ask what your policy covers for repairs, belongings and living somewhere else while the home is fixed.
- Protect the property. Boarding up windows and tarping a damaged roof keep out rain and intruders. Keep the receipts.
- Photograph everything before cleanup: each room, ceilings, belongings and any water damage.
Water damage after a fire
Hoses and sprinklers often leave more water behind than the fire did damage. Wet drywall, insulation, carpet and subfloors need to be dried within 24 to 48 hours, the EPA’s window for keeping mold from starting. See our water damage page for what drying involves.
Cleaning up ash and soot safely
LA County Public Health recommends:
- Protect yourself: a well-fitted N95 or better mask, household gloves (leather or cut-resistant gloves for broken glass and debris), safety goggles, long sleeves, long pants and sturdy closed shoes.
- Keep ash out of the air: don’t use leaf blowers, shop vacuums or regular household vacuums. Gently sweep, then wet mop, or use a HEPA-filter vacuum.
- Bag the ash in plastic before putting it in the trash, and shower after working in ash-covered areas.
- Keep children and pets away from ash and anything covered in it.
- Food and water: “When in doubt, throw it out.” Discard food that was exposed to ash unless it was in sealed glass or metal containers, and check with your water provider before drinking tap water.
Source: LA County Public Health: Returning Home After a Fire. Questions: (888) 700-9995.
When to call a professional
- Soot or smoke stains on walls and ceilings in more than one room.
- A smoke smell that comes back, or comes out of the heating and air vents.
- Burned or charred framing, drywall or flooring.
- Water from firefighting that soaked walls, carpet or the space under the floor.
- Anyone in the home has asthma or other breathing problems.
Insurance and smoke damage
- Smoke damage claims must be investigated. In 2025 the California Insurance Commissioner told insurers that it is “not reasonable to deny a smoke damage claim without conducting an appropriate investigation,” and that if professional testing is warranted, the insurer is expected to contract and pay for it. (CDI Bulletin 2025-7)
- Ask for your full policy. Your insurer must provide it free within 30 days of your request.
- Keep a claim diary of every call and email with your insurer or adjuster, and ask them to point to the policy language for anything they say isn’t covered.
- Living expenses: if you can’t live at home, track the extra costs (temporary rent, extra mileage). After a declared disaster, California gives you at least 24 months to collect them.
- Need help? California Department of Insurance hotline: 1-800-927-4357. (CDI tips for fire claimants)
More on claims in our insurance guide.
Questions to ask a fire and smoke damage company
- What’s your California contractor license number? (Check it at cslb.ca.gov or 1-800-321-2752.)
- Do your technicians have fire and smoke restoration training, such as the IICRC Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician (FSRT) course?
- How will you clean the air ducts and remove the odor, not just cover it?
- Can I get the scope and price in writing, and will you document the damage for my insurer?
Talk to a local fire and smoke damage company
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Sources checked October 31, 2026: LA County Department of Public Health, “Returning Home After a Fire” fact sheet; California Department of Insurance (Bulletin 2025-7 on smoke damage claims; Top Ten Tips for wildfire claimants); U.S. Fire Administration, “After a Fire”; U.S. EPA mold guidance; CSLB.