PuroClean North Metro Atlanta 
If you’re reading this, you may have just experienced one of the most frightening events a homeowner can face. Knowing what to do after a house fire in Atlanta can feel overwhelming when your mind is racing and your home is damaged. Take a breath. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do, what to avoid, and when to call for help.
Your safety comes first. Then we’ll focus on protecting your property, working with your insurance, and getting your life back to normal. Thousands of families in Canton, Woodstock, Roswell, Alpharetta, and surrounding communities have recovered from house fires—and you can too.
Start With Safety: Make Sure Everyone Is Out and the Fire Is Fully Out
Before you think about damage, belongings, or insurance, focus on one thing: people. Life always comes before property.
If you haven’t already, confirm that every person and pet is out of the house and accounted for. If anyone is missing or trapped, call 911 immediately if you haven’t already done so. Never attempt a rescue yourself once flames or heavy smoke are present.
Even if the flames appear to be out, do not re-enter your home until the fire department has cleared it. Fires can reignite from hidden hot spots in walls, attics, or insulation. Structural damage may also make floors, stairs, or ceilings unstable.
Many homeowners ask, “Is my house safe after a fire?” The honest answer is: only the fire department can tell you for certain. They have the training and equipment to identify dangers you cannot see.
Wait for the Fire Department’s Clearance Before Re-Entering
Once firefighters have extinguished the fire, they will conduct an inspection of your property. This inspection looks for:
- Hidden hot spots that could reignite
- Structural damage to floors, walls, ceilings, and the roof
- Gas leaks or damaged gas lines
- Electrical hazards from melted wiring or damaged panels
- Areas that are unsafe to enter
The fire department may “red-tag” certain areas of your home, meaning those sections are off-limits until a professional structural assessment is completed. Follow these instructions carefully.
Do not turn utilities back on yourself. Gas and electricity should only be restored by qualified professionals after the home has been inspected. Even if the fire was small, heat and smoke can damage wiring and gas connections in ways that aren’t visible.
Remember: even after flames are gone, smoke and soot particles remain in the air and on surfaces. These are harmful to breathe and can cause ongoing health issues if not properly addressed.
Protect Your Health: Hazards of Smoke, Soot, and Ash
Many homeowners don’t realize that the aftermath of a fire can be just as dangerous as the fire itself. Smoke, soot, and ash contain toxic particles that can harm your lungs, skin, and eyes.
Smoke damage isn’t just an unpleasant smell. When materials like plastics, fabrics, insulation, and household chemicals burn, they release harmful compounds. Wet ash can be caustic and irritate skin. Soot particles are so fine they can penetrate deep into your lungs.
What NOT to do after a house fire:
- Don’t scrub walls, ceilings, or surfaces yourself—improper cleaning drives soot deeper into materials and can cause permanent staining
- Don’t use a regular household vacuum on soot—it will blow fine particles back into the air and can damage your vacuum
- Don’t eat any food that was exposed to heat, smoke, or firefighting chemicals, even if it was in a closed refrigerator or pantry
- Don’t launder heavily smoke-damaged clothing without professional guidance—heat from the dryer can permanently set smoke odors and stains
- Don’t stay in a smoke-damaged home thinking “it’s not that bad”—the health effects can be serious even when damage looks minor
If you need to enter the home briefly for documentation purposes, wear an N95 mask, long sleeves, pants, and gloves. Limit your time inside.
Step-by-Step: What to Do After a House Fire in Atlanta
Once the immediate danger has passed, you’ll need to take several important steps to protect your health, your property, and your ability to recover financially. Here’s your checklist.
Step 1 – Ensure Safety and Get Medical Attention if Needed
Before anything else, assess whether anyone in your household needs medical care. Smoke inhalation symptoms aren’t always obvious right away. Watch for:
- Persistent coughing or difficulty breathing
- Dizziness, confusion, or headache
- Burns, even minor ones
- Eye irritation or vision problems
- Nausea
If anyone shows these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Pay special attention to children, elderly family members, and pets, who may be more vulnerable to smoke exposure.
Step 2 – Contact Your Insurance Company and Start the Claim
Call your homeowner’s insurance company as soon as possible to report the fire and begin the claims process. Most insurers have 24-hour claim lines for emergencies.
When you call, ask:
- What documentation do they need from you?
- Do they have preferred vendors, or can you choose your own restoration company?
- What is covered under your specific policy?
- What are the next steps and timeline?
Keep a notebook or use your phone to document every conversation, including dates, times, and the names of representatives you speak with.
Tip: Many fire damage restoration companies, including PuroClean of North Metro Atlanta, can coordinate directly with your insurance adjuster to streamline the process and ensure accurate documentation of all damage.
Step 3 – Document the Damage Safely (Photos, Videos, Item Lists)
If the fire department has cleared you to enter certain areas of your home, begin documenting the damage. This documentation is critical for your insurance claim.
Take photos and videos of:
- Structural damage (walls, ceilings, floors, roof)
- Damaged furniture, appliances, and personal belongings
- Visible soot and smoke damage
- Water damage from firefighting efforts
- The exterior of your home
Create a written inventory of damaged items, including approximate values and purchase dates if you can remember them. Don’t throw anything away until your insurance adjuster has seen it or told you it’s okay to dispose of it.
Important: If the air feels thick, you smell strong chemical odors, or anything feels structurally unsafe, leave immediately. Your safety is more important than documentation. Professional restoration teams have the equipment to document damage safely.
Step 4 – Prevent Further Damage: Secure and Board Up When Needed
After a fire, your home may have broken windows, damaged doors, or holes in the roof. These openings expose your property to additional risks:
- Weather damage from rain, wind, or humidity
- Theft or vandalism
- Animals or pests entering the structure
Boarding up windows and doors and tarping damaged roof sections should happen quickly—ideally within 24 hours. Most insurance policies expect homeowners to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, so this isn’t optional.
If you’re in Canton, Woodstock, Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, or surrounding areas, PuroClean of North Metro Atlanta offers emergency board-up and tarping services as part of our fire damage restoration process.
Step 5 – Address Water Damage from Firefighting Efforts
Here’s something many homeowners don’t expect: most house fires also result in significant water damage. Firefighters use hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water to extinguish flames, and that water soaks into floors, walls, insulation, and belongings.
Standing water and moisture trapped in building materials create the perfect environment for mold growth—sometimes within 24 to 48 hours in our humid Georgia climate.
This means your home may need both fire damage restoration and water damage restoration. A comprehensive restoration company can handle both, preventing you from having to coordinate multiple contractors.
If you notice standing water, wet carpets, or damp drywall, mention this to your restoration company right away.
Step 6 – Call a Local Fire Damage Restoration Company
Once you’ve contacted your insurance and the immediate chaos has settled, it’s time to call a professional fire damage restoration company. This is not a DIY project for all but the most minor incidents.
Professional smoke and soot removal requires specialized equipment, training, and cleaning agents that aren’t available to consumers. Attempting cleanup yourself often makes damage worse and can void insurance coverage.
When choosing a restoration company, look for:
- 24/7 emergency response availability
- Experience with fire, smoke, and water damage
- Proper licensing and insurance
- Willingness to work directly with your insurance company
- Local presence and fast response times
PuroClean of North Metro Atlanta offers emergency fire restoration services throughout Woodstock, Canton, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Buford, Jasper, Suwanee, and nearby communities. Our teams are trained in complete fire damage restoration, from emergency board-up to final repairs.
What Professional Fire Damage Restoration Looks Like
If you’ve never been through this before, you might wonder what fire damage restoration actually involves. Here’s a general overview of the process so you know what to expect.
Initial inspection and assessment. A restoration professional will walk through your property to evaluate the extent of fire, smoke, and water damage. They’ll identify safety hazards and determine which areas and items can be salvaged.
Creating a restoration plan. Based on the inspection, the team will develop a detailed plan and provide an estimate. This plan is typically shared with your insurance adjuster.
Emergency services. If not already done, the team will board up openings, tarp the roof, and extract standing water to prevent further damage.
Removing unsalvageable materials. Severely burned materials, destroyed belongings, and debris will be carefully removed and disposed of properly.
Smoke and soot removal. This is where specialized equipment matters. Professionals use HEPA vacuums, dry sponges, and chemical cleaners designed specifically for soot. Different types of fires (protein, synthetic, wood) leave different residues that require different approaches.
Deodorizing and air filtration. Smoke odor can penetrate deep into porous materials. Professional deodorization uses techniques like thermal fogging, ozone treatment, or hydroxyl generators to neutralize odors at the molecular level—not just cover them up.
Cleaning salvageable contents. Many belongings can be professionally cleaned and restored, including furniture, clothing, documents, and electronics. This is often more cost-effective than replacement.
Repairs and reconstruction. Depending on the extent of damage, restoration may include drywall replacement, painting, flooring installation, and other repairs to return your home to its pre-fire condition.
How PuroClean of North Metro Atlanta Helps After a House Fire
When fire damages your home, you need a team that understands both the technical demands of restoration and the emotional weight of what you’re going through. PuroClean of North Metro Atlanta has helped families throughout our community recover from fire damage—and we’re here to help you too.
What sets us apart:
- 24/7 emergency fire damage response – Fires don’t wait for business hours, and neither do we. Call anytime, day or night.
- Fast local response – We serve Woodstock, Canton, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Buford, Jasper, Suwanee, and surrounding areas with quick on-site arrival.
- Complete fire, smoke, and water restoration – One team handles everything, so you don’t have to juggle multiple contractors.
- Insurance coordination – We work directly with your insurance adjuster to document damage and streamline your claim.
- Trained and certified technicians – Our team follows nationally recognized standards while providing personalized local service.
- Compassionate, professional service – We know this is one of the hardest times you’ll face. We treat every home like it’s our own.
Whether you’re dealing with a kitchen fire, an electrical fire, or major structural damage, PuroClean of North Metro Atlanta has the expertise to restore your home and help you move forward.
FAQ: Common Questions After a House Fire in Atlanta
Is my house safe to stay in after a small fire?
Even after a small fire, your home may not be safe. Smoke and soot can spread through HVAC systems into rooms that weren’t directly affected. Electrical wiring may be damaged. The only way to know for certain is to have the fire department clear the home and, ideally, have a professional inspection. When in doubt, stay elsewhere until you’re sure.
How soon should I call a fire damage restoration company?
Call as soon as it’s safe to do so—ideally within 24 hours of the fire. The sooner restoration begins, the less secondary damage (like mold from water or permanent soot staining) will occur. Contact your insurance company first, then reach out to a restoration company immediately after.
Can I clean smoke damage myself?
For very minor smoke exposure, some surface cleaning may be possible. However, most smoke damage requires professional equipment and techniques. Improper cleaning can drive soot deeper into materials, spread contamination, and create permanent damage. It’s also a health risk without proper protective equipment. We recommend at least getting a professional assessment before attempting any cleanup.
How long does fire damage restoration usually take?
It depends on the extent of the damage. A minor fire with limited smoke damage might be restored in a few days to a week. Moderate damage typically takes two to four weeks. Severe structural damage requiring reconstruction can take several months. Your restoration company will give you a timeline after their initial assessment.
Does insurance usually cover fire damage?
Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies cover fire damage from accidental fires, including damage from smoke and the water used to extinguish the fire. However, coverage varies by policy, and there may be limits or exclusions. Contact your insurance company directly to understand your specific coverage. Keep all documentation and receipts related to the fire.
Why is Georgia’s humidity a concern after a fire?
Georgia’s warm, humid climate accelerates mold growth. After firefighting efforts soak your home, mold can begin developing in as little as 24 to 48 hours if moisture isn’t properly extracted. This makes fast response and professional water extraction critical after any fire in the Atlanta area.
When to Call PuroClean of North Metro Atlanta
If your home has experienced anything more than a very minor, superficial fire, professional restoration is the safest and most effective path forward. Fire, smoke, and water damage are complex—and they interact in ways that aren’t always obvious to homeowners.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
PuroClean of North Metro Atlanta is here for homeowners throughout Woodstock, Canton, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Buford, Jasper, Suwanee, and surrounding communities. We offer 24/7 emergency fire damage response, and we’ll work with your insurance company to make the process as smooth as possible.
Now that you know what to do after a house fire in Atlanta, the most important thing is to take action. Your home can be restored, your belongings can often be saved, and your family can recover from this.
Call PuroClean of North Metro Atlanta any time, day or night. We’re local, we’re experienced, and we’re ready to help you rebuild.
PuroClean North Metro Atlanta 