Who to Call After a House Fire in Orlando, in Order

After a house fire, call 911 first, then follow the fire department's instructions on when you may re-enter. Next, report the claim to your insurer and call your mortgage company. Then call a fire restoration company to board up and secure the house; in Central Florida, call or text CFDR at 321-420-7274 to be matched with one.

Updated Oct 2026

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What should I do right after the fire is out?

1. Get everyone out and account for them
Do not try to fight the fire or go back in for belongings. Meet at a spot outside, count everyone, and call 911 if the fire is still burning.
2. Stay out until the fire department says you may re-enter
Floors and ceilings can be weakened and wiring can be damaged even after the flames are out. The fire department decides when the structure is safe to enter, not you and not a contractor.
3. Photograph the outside from a safe distance
Take photos and video of the exterior before anyone starts boarding up or cleaning. The time stamp on your phone helps your claim.
4. Ask for the fire incident report number
Get it from the responding fire department before they leave. Your insurer will ask for it.
5. Leave switches, breakers and gas alone
Do not flip breakers, use outlets or turn gas back on until a licensed electrician, plumber or your gas company has inspected. If a utility needs to be shut off, the fire department can often do it at the scene.
6. Take only what the fire department lets you take
If you are allowed in, grab medications, ID, insurance papers and irreplaceable items first. Leave soot-covered belongings where they are until they are photographed.

Source: City of Orlando, After the Fire.

Who do I call after a house fire, and in what order?

1. 911 and the fire department, if not already done
If any fire is still active, this is your only call. Stay outside and follow the fire department's instructions on when you may re-enter. Ask for the incident report number before the crew leaves.
2. Medical care for smoke inhalation and burns
Anyone who was inside during or right after the fire, especially children, older adults and people with breathing problems, should be checked at an emergency room even if they feel fine. People first, property second.
3. Your insurance company: report the claim
Report the fire as soon as you can and get a claim number. Ask whether your policy includes Additional Living Expenses (ALE) for a hotel or temporary rental, and what the limits are; coverage varies by policy. If you rent, call your renter's insurer and your landlord.
4. Your mortgage company, or your landlord if you rent
Claim payments on a mortgaged home are often issued jointly to you and the lender, so tell the lender a claim is open and ask how it releases funds. A landlord needs to know right away so the landlord can report the loss to the building's insurer.
5. A fire restoration company, to board up and secure the house
Once the fire department releases the home, openings need to be boarded and tarped, standing water pumped out and soot and smoke residue dealt with. Call or text CFDR at 321-420-7274. Ryan Solberg matches you with a restoration company from CFDR's network. Ask the matched company for its arrival time before you agree to anything. Florida's Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights tells you to make and document emergency repairs that prevent further damage (s. 627.7142), so board-up and tarping do not have to wait for the adjuster; keep every receipt and take photos before and after.
6. Utility companies, to disconnect or restore safely
Do not flip breakers or run appliances until a licensed electrician has inspected the system. Heat can melt wire insulation in ways you cannot see. For gas, wait for your gas company or a licensed plumber to check every connection.
7. The American Red Cross and local relief
If you need shelter, food, clothing or personal care items, call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS or your county emergency management office. The Orlando Fire Department also keeps a checklist for fire victims: After the Fire (City of Orlando).

How does a fire claim work in Florida?

Your homeowner's policy decides what is covered. Fire and smoke damage to the structure, water used to fight the fire, cleaning or replacing contents and temporary housing are the usual items to ask your insurer about; limits, exclusions and your deductible are in your policy. Ask your matched company how billing works on an insurance job; your deductible is yours.

What does the matched company do for the claim?

Your matched company documents the loss for your claim and writes a line-item Xactimate estimate. Coverage and settlement decisions stay between you and your insurer.

Photographs and writes down the damage before anything is moved.
Writes a line-item Xactimate estimate, and can explain its own estimate to you or the adjuster.
Can document contents and temporary-housing receipts you submit to your insurer.

More on timelines and documentation in the Florida insurance claim guide.

What mistakes should I avoid after a house fire?

Wiping soot with a dry rag or wet sponge
Rubbing can spread soot into porous surfaces. Leave it for the restoration company to clean with the right method.
Running the HVAC or fans
The air handler can push smoke particles into every room and into the ductwork.
Throwing items away before they are photographed
Your insurer will want a list and photos of what was damaged. Discard nothing until it is documented.
Hiring anyone without checking the license
Verify a Florida contractor license before work starts, and get a written estimate. See how to check any restoration company.
Waiting to report the claim
Report the fire right away and keep a log of every call, name and claim number.

Water used to fight the fire can leave materials wet. The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth, so tell the matched company about any wet drywall, carpet or insulation.

Is there a printable fire checklist?

Yes. Print it and keep it with your insurance papers.

Related fire pages

Fire and smoke restoration Fire damage restoration process Contents cleaning after a fire Fire damage cost Smoke damage cleanup cost Board-up services Insurance claim guide How to check a restoration company

Who is CFDR?

Private Orlando restoration referral service, not FEMA. Call or text 321-420-7274 24/7 and Ryan Solberg matches you with a local restoration company. You pay CFDR nothing, and CFDR does not bill your insurer.

How CFDR works →

Where does CFDR match companies?

CFDR matches homes and businesses within about 90 minutes' drive of downtown Orlando: Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia, Polk, Brevard, Sumter and Marion counties. That covers Orlando, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Sanford, Winter Park, Apopka, Clermont, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, DeLand, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Leesburg, The Villages and Ocala. Tampa and Brandon are edge areas: Ryan matches them when a network company covers the address. Outside these counties, call about large commercial, multi-unit or whole-home losses.