If you’ve had a house fire in Houston, stay out until the Houston Fire Department says it is safe, then call your insurer. Call (855) 727-0147 and we’ll connect you with an independent restoration company that serves Houston to secure the property and start the cleanup.
What to do in the first 24 hours in Houston
- Wait for the all-clear. Don’t go back inside until the Houston Fire Department says it is safe (USFA). Call 911 in an emergency. For city services, call 311 (713-837-0311 from some phones).
- Call your insurer and write down the claim number. Photograph and film every room before anything is moved (TDI claim tips).
- Leave utilities off. If firefighters shut off power, gas or water, don’t turn them back on yourself. CenterPoint Energy takes power outage reports at 800-227-1376 (CenterPoint Energy).
- Smell gas? Leave first. CenterPoint Energy is Houston’s gas utility. From a safe place, call 911 and CenterPoint at 713-659-2111 or 800-752-8036 (CenterPoint Energy).
- Secure the property. Have broken windows, doors and roof openings boarded up or tarped, and keep the receipt.
- Ask for the fire report. Your insurer may want the incident report number. Request it through the city’s GOVQA public information portal, or call the HFD records office at 832-394-6860 (Houston Fire Department).
- Find a place to stay. The American Red Cross helps after home fires at 1-800-733-2767. Ask your insurer about additional living expenses (TDI).
- Throw out exposed food. Food exposed to flames or fumes should be discarded, even in cans or the fridge (USDA).
Local numbers to keep handy in Houston
| Who | Why you might call | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | Fire, injury or gas leak | 911 |
| City of Houston | City services, water problems | 311 or 713-837-0311 |
| HFD records office | Fire reports | 832-394-6860 |
| CenterPoint Energy | Power outages | 800-227-1376 |
| CenterPoint Energy | Gas leaks | 713-659-2111 or 800-752-8036 |
| Structural Inspections | Fire damage inspection before a repair permit | 832-394-8840 |
| Houston Permitting Center | Repair permits | 832-394-9000 |
| Floodplain Management Office | Floodplain homes, before any repair | 832-394-8854 |
| Harris County permits | Repairs outside city limits | 713-274-3900 |
What fire damage restoration involves
A fire restoration job usually moves through these stages. Several can overlap.
| Stage | What happens | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Board-up and tarp | Openings are covered to keep out rain and intruders. | Usually the first visit |
| Inspection and scope | Damage is photographed and a written scope prepared. | First visit, written scope after |
| Water extraction and drying | Firefighting water is removed and the structure dried with moisture readings logged. | Several days in most homes |
| Soot cleaning | Residue is removed with methods matched to the residue type and surface. | Days to weeks |
| Odor removal | The source is cleaned, then deodorized. Some treatments need the house empty. | One or more rounds |
| Contents pack-out | Belongings are inventoried and moved out for cleaning or storage. | Alongside structural work |
| Rebuild | Drywall, insulation, flooring, framing or roofing is replaced, with permits where required. | After the insurer approves the scope |
What it typically costs
No two fire jobs cost the same. The written estimate depends mainly on:
- How many rooms the fire, smoke and soot reached.
- How much water firefighters used and how long it sat.
- Whether residue is dry soot or greasy kitchen or fuel residue.
- The volume of belongings to pack out, clean or store.
- Structural work such as framing, roofing or wiring, and the permits it needs.
Ask for an itemized estimate before work starts. Your adjuster will compare it with the insurer’s own.
How does insurance work for fire damage restoration in Texas?
Your adjuster decides what your policy covers. The restoration company documents the damage and writes the estimate the adjuster reviews. It can’t negotiate your claim for you.
- Timelines: insurers have 15 business days to acknowledge a claim, then 15 business days to accept or deny it after receiving what they need. They can take 45 more days if they explain why (TDI).
- What to photograph: every affected room, the source of the damage and damaged belongings, before cleanup.
- What the restorer documents: photos, moisture readings or residue notes, a written scope and an itemized estimate.
- Deductible: you pay it. Texas law bars contractors from offering to waive, rebate or absorb it. A contractor also can’t act as your public adjuster (TDI: know the law).
- Living expenses: if covered damage makes the home unlivable, additional living expenses coverage may pay for a hotel and meals (TDI).
Problems with a claim? Call the Texas Department of Insurance help line at 800-252-3439 or file a complaint.
What’s specific to Houston?
- A city inspection comes before the repair permit. Houston requires a fire damage inspection by its Structural Inspections Section before you can apply for a residential fire damage repair permit. Call 832-394-8840 to schedule it (Houston Permitting Center).
- Fire reports online. Houston Fire Department records can be requested through the city’s GOVQA public information portal. The records office answers at 832-394-6860, weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Houston Fire Department).
- CenterPoint for gas and power lines. CenterPoint Energy Entex is the gas utility for Houston (Railroad Commission of Texas). CenterPoint lists 713-659-2111 or 800-752-8036 for gas leaks and 800-227-1376 for power outages (CenterPoint Energy).
- Most homes are rentals. About 42% of Houston’s occupied homes are owner-occupied (42.1%, U.S. Census Bureau 2020–2024 estimate), so many households need their landlord involved (Census QuickFacts).
- Outside city limits. In unincorporated Harris County, repair permits go through the County Engineer’s office at 713-274-3900. All repairs must meet the county’s floodplain rules (Harris County Engineering).
How getting help works
When you call or send the form, we connect you with an independent restoration company that serves your area. They inspect, document the damage and give you a written scope — you decide whether to hire them.
Questions to ask the company that comes out
- Which IICRC certifications does the lead technician hold (for example WRT, FSRT, OCT or AMRT)?
- Do you carry general liability and workers’ comp insurance, and can I see the certificate?
- Will I get a written scope of work before anything starts?
- Who will talk with my insurance adjuster, and what will you send them?
- If mold is involved: what is your TDLR mold remediation license number, and who did the independent mold assessment?
Frequently asked questions
Once the fire department releases the property and it is safe to enter. Board-up and tarping usually come first, then drying and cleaning.
Your insurer may ask for the incident report number. Ask the fire department how to get a copy.
Yes. Houston requires a fire damage inspection by its Structural Inspections Section (832-394-8840) before you apply for a residential fire damage repair permit.
Light, dry soot can be vacuumed with the nozzle held above the surface. Leave washing walls, ceilings and anything greasy to professionals.
If the damage is covered, additional living expenses coverage may pay reasonable extra costs. Check your limit and keep every receipt.
Related help nearby
- Fire, smoke and water damage help in Houston
- Smoke Damage Restoration in Houston
- Water Damage Restoration in Houston
- Flood Damage Cleanup in Houston
- Mold Remediation in Houston
- Harris County
- Fire Damage Restoration: the full guide
- What to do after a house fire in Texas
Get connected with a local restoration company
Free. No obligation. Prefer to talk? Call (855) 727-0147.