Business Fire Recovery Plan: First Steps and Checklist
A practical recovery plan for businesses after a fire: safety, notifications, securing the site, records, restoration and reopening.
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Tell the operator your city, what happened and whether the fire department has cleared the building. You will be connected with a local provider that covers your area.
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- Give your city and ZIP code
- Say what happened and whether the fire is out
- Ask the company about its license and insurance
Quick answer
After a business fire, confirm everyone is safe, wait for fire department clearance, notify your insurer and landlord, secure the site, protect records and call a restoration company. Plan for reopening in phases where officials allow it. Call (833) 917-4160 to reach a local company that handles commercial loss.
First 24 hours
- Account for employees and customers and follow the fire department's instructions.
- Get the incident number and the officer's contact details.
- Notify your insurer, broker, landlord and mortgage lender as your policies and lease require.
- Secure the property with board up, roof tarping and fencing.
- Photograph and film the damage from a safe position.
- Call a restoration company for water removal, soot control and a written scope.
Protect records and operations
- Locate backups, key documents, contracts and customer records and protect them.
- Do not power on wet or smoke exposed electronics.
- Set up a temporary phone line, email and website message for customers.
- Tell employees where to report and how pay and schedules will work.
Restoration and reopening
Cleaning, odor treatment and repairs are planned around inspections and approvals. Some businesses reopen in phases. Your local fire marshal, building department and, for food businesses, health department decide what is required before reopening.
Documentation for your insurer
Keep a log of damaged items, invoices, payroll records, lost sales and emergency costs. If you have business interruption coverage, ask your insurer what proof it needs. Policies differ, so ask questions in writing.
Plan before it happens
Ready.gov offers business continuity and emergency planning resources. A short plan with contacts, utility shutoffs, vendor lists and backup locations saves days after a fire.
Sources and further reading
- Ready.gov: Business continuity and emergency planning
- NFPA Research: Home Structure Fires (2019), via the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office
- IICRC: ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration
Related services
- Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
- Retail Store and Office Fire Recovery
- Fire Restoration for Property Managers and Facility Managers
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