What to Do in the First 72 Hours After a Wildfire

The first three days after a wildfire are some of the hardest — and some of the most important. Decisions you make now about safety, documentation, and basic needs can shape your recovery for months. You don't have to do everything at once. This guide walks through what matters most, in roughly the order it matters.

1. Stay safe before anything else

Do not return to your property until authorities confirm it is safe. Fire-damaged areas can hide active hot spots, unstable structures, downed power lines, gas leaks, and hazardous ash. Follow all evacuation orders, and check official sources like CAL FIRE and your county's emergency office for re-entry status before going back.

2. Find shelter and immediate help

If you've been displaced, you don't have to navigate this alone. Several organizations provide emergency shelter, food, and essentials right away:

3. Register as affected

Registering your address as affected is what opens the door to many forms of assistance later. Two steps matter most early on:

• Register with FEMA once a federal disaster is declared for your area, at DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362.
• Notify your insurance company that your property was affected, even before you know the full extent of the damage. Early notice protects your claim.

4. Document everything — before anything is cleared

This is the single most important thing you can do in the first days, and it's easy to overlook in the chaos. Thorough documentation protects every claim you may make later — insurance, FEMA, and any claim against a party responsible for the fire.

1. Photograph and video everythingCapture your property, the structure, vehicles, landscaping, and the surrounding area from multiple angles — before any cleanup or debris removal begins.
2. Make a written inventoryList damaged and destroyed belongings as best you can: what it was, roughly when you got it, and its approximate value. Memory fades; a written record holds.
3. Save every receiptKeep records of all expenses tied to displacement — hotels, meals, fuel, replacement clothing and essentials. Many of these costs may be recoverable.
4. Preserve official communicationsSave evacuation orders, emergency alerts, and any notices from authorities. They establish that you were in the affected zone.

5. Take care of yourself and your family

The emotional toll of a wildfire is real, and it often hits hardest after the immediate crisis passes. Free, confidential support is available any time: the Disaster Distress Helpline (call or text 1-800-985-5990) is staffed by counselors trained specifically for disaster situations. There is no shame in using it.

What comes next

Once the immediate days have passed, recovery shifts toward insurance claims, financial assistance, and — eventually — rebuilding. Our resource directory gathers the main programs and organizations in one place so you can take the next steps at your own pace.