After fire clean up should begin with safety, not a bucket and sponge. Even after flames are out, a home may contain unstable structures, damaged wiring, soot, smoke residue and water from firefighting. Wait for the scene to be released, document the damage, contact your insurer and arrange a professional assessment before disturbing affected areas. You may be able to handle simple tasks in an unaffected space, but cleaning soot, dealing with contaminated water and deciding what can be salvaged are usually better left to trained restoration professionals.
Follow instructions from Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and do not enter while access is restricted. Once you are allowed back, keep children and pets away. If the building looks unstable, you smell gas, see exposed wiring or have any other immediate safety concern, leave and contact the appropriate emergency or utility service. If you are unsure whether the structure is safe, wait for an assessment by a qualified building professional.
Before handling anything, consider the hazards that may remain:
Don’t operate the heating, ventilation or air-conditioning system if soot or smoke may have reached it. Running it could distribute residue into other rooms. Ask a restoration professional whether the system needs inspection and cleaning before it is used.
Once it is safe to enter, record what you can before items are moved or removed. Take photographs and video of each affected room, including ceilings, walls, floors, windows, contents and visible water damage. Capture wide views as well as close-ups, and make a written inventory of damaged belongings with any details that may help identify them, such as make, model or approximate age.
Contact your insurer promptly and ask how it wants the damage documented, what steps it expects before repairs, and whether it can arrange an assessment. Policies and claims processes differ, so don’t assume that every cleanup or replacement cost will be covered. Keep records of calls and emails, save receipts for reasonable emergency expenses, and note who has attended the property and what work they have done.
Don’t discard damaged items or begin permanent repairs until you have checked with your insurer, unless an immediate safety or damage-prevention need makes action necessary. If something must be removed to reduce further damage, photograph it first where safe, keep receipts and record why it had to be moved. Ask the insurer how it wants unsalvageable items handled.
After fire clean up is not one task. The right approach depends on how far smoke travelled, what burned, the type of surfaces affected and how much water was used. A homeowner may be able to make an inventory or move an untouched item from a confirmed safe area. That does not mean it is safe to wipe soot from walls or pull up wet flooring.
| Task or area | Possible homeowner action | When to use a professional |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs and inventory | Record visible damage and contents from a safe position. | Ask the insurer or assessor to document areas that are unsafe or inaccessible. |
| Unaffected belongings | Move clean, undamaged items only if the route and room are safe. | Use contents-restoration help if smoke has reached items or you are unsure whether they are contaminated. |
| Soot on walls or ceilings | Avoid rubbing, brushing, spraying or vacuuming it. | Restoration technicians can assess the residue and choose an appropriate cleaning method for each surface. |
| Wet rooms and contents | Keep out of standing water and don’t use electrical equipment in wet areas. | Use professionals to assess hidden moisture, remove water safely and dry affected materials. |
| Electrical, gas or structural concerns | Keep clear and don’t switch equipment or services on. | Arrange assessment by the relevant qualified tradesperson or building professional. |
The main advantage of professional cleanup is not simply access to equipment. A restoration team can assess different materials, identify where smoke and moisture travelled, and select methods suited to the surface and residue. The limitation is that the work and cost depend on the actual damage and the scope agreed with your insurer. Ask for a written assessment rather than assuming that one cleaning method will suit the whole property.
Soot can smear into porous materials or spread to clean areas when handled. Household cleaners may also change a surface or leave residue that complicates later restoration. Avoid dry brushing, ordinary vacuuming and improvised chemical treatments on soot-affected surfaces. Don’t mix cleaning products.
If you have been directed to enter and need to retrieve essential items, keep the visit brief, avoid touching damaged areas and leave if you notice irritation, strong smoke odour or another safety concern. A basic face covering should not be treated as protection against all fire residues. For cleanup involving soot, debris or contaminated materials, ask the restoration contractor what precautions are appropriate.
The sequence varies with the property and the fire, but a careful assessment should address fire, smoke and water damage together. Cleaning soot while moisture remains hidden, for example, may leave a separate problem unresolved. Ask the contractor to explain the order of work and what findings could change the scope.
Ask how the contractor will check whether affected materials are dry and how it will report progress. If the work uncovers damage not included in the original scope, request an explanation and written update before authorising additional work where circumstances allow.
Start by telling your insurer what has happened and asking whether it has preferred arrangements or specific claim requirements. You can also compare local restoration contractors. The insurer’s process and the contractor’s proposed scope are separate questions: understand what the policy may cover, and make sure you understand what the contractor will actually do.
When comparing providers, look for experience with fire and smoke damage, clear written scopes, appropriate insurance, and a process for documenting contents and work. Ask whether the same team handles water extraction, smoke cleaning and repairs or whether other trades will be involved. If several companies are assessing the home, give each the same information and ask them to identify exclusions, assumptions and work that may require a specialist.
Read any work authorisation or contract carefully before signing. Check whether it permits emergency work only or also commits you to broader cleaning, repairs or reconstruction. If wording is unclear, ask for a plain-language explanation and check with your insurer before proceeding, except where immediate action is needed to protect people or prevent further damage.
It may be possible to clean limited residue from a confirmed safe, non-porous surface, but soot can smear and cleaning products can damage finishes. If residue is widespread, has entered porous materials, or you are unsure what burned, wait for a restoration assessment before trying to clean it.
Contact your insurer and a restoration professional as soon as you can do so safely. The right response depends on how much water entered, where it travelled and what materials are wet. Don’t enter standing water or use electrical equipment in a wet area.
Don’t consume food or use medicines that may have been exposed to heat, smoke, soot or firefighting products until their safety has been established. Photograph and list affected items for your records, and ask your insurer or an appropriate health professional how to handle them.
Yes. Smoke and soot can travel beyond the room where the fire started, and odour may remain in contents or materials that look clean. Include adjoining rooms and affected belongings in the inspection rather than judging the damage only by visible charring.
Coverage depends on your policy, the cause and circumstances of the loss, and the insurer’s assessment. Notify your insurer promptly, keep records and receipts, and ask what work needs approval before you authorise non-emergency cleanup or repairs.
For after fire clean up, the safest first steps are to follow access instructions, document the loss and contact your insurer. Leave soot removal, hidden moisture checks and hazardous or structural work to appropriately qualified professionals. Before cleanup or repairs expand beyond urgent protection, make sure you understand the written scope and how it fits your claim.
