In the wake of a home fire — large or small — it’s imperative to understand what to do and what to avoid doing. Follow these tips to learn what to do after a house fire.
Speak to your insurance agent immediately after a house fire
Discuss what to do to restore your property and the quantity of your insurance deductible together with your insurance broker. Request ways to secure your house and also for recommendations of restoration companies that they trust.
When you hire a fire restoration firm, make sure you get a written estimate of the cost before work starts. Consult your insurance agent who’ll pay for these costs. Save receipts for any expenditures which concern fire reduction.
Document any personal things lost and try to attach a value to each item. Review what was in the affected area or rooms and begin recording losses as soon as possible. Click here to know more.
Make sure your safety
Always ensure your safety when you enter your house after the fire. Otherwise, you might be exposing yourself to hazards.
This is why a house could be harmful after a fire: Smoke darkens the construction and obstructs the view of safety issues. There might be jeopardized structural components, falling debris, as well as electrical safety issues.
In addition to structural dangers, it’s also important to consider health problems. Every fire creates particles of incomplete combustion (PICs), many of which are also carcinogens. These stay in the air and on surfaces following the fire is out. They’re microscopic, and therefore, are easy to inhale. Thus, it’s best to avoid touching fire damaged things without precaution to avoid health risks.
Additionally, if the fire department turned off the utility services for safety reasons, do not turn them back until they advise you it is safe to do so.
Depending on the intensity of the reduction, you and other occupants might need to depart the building. Thus, make sure local officials have verified that the house is safe to go into.
If you decide to depart, secure the property
When you leave your house, secure it as far as possible to deter looters. Also, be sure to allow the authorities to know your property is empty and leave your contact information. They can help protect your property against burglars. Board up openings or make temporary fencing to protect your house, too.
Request help at a local disaster relief center
If you can not remain in your home, ask for help at local disaster relief services, such as general health departments and the American Red Cross. They can offer a safe place to stay, food, clothes, and other crucial items. Additionally, whenever you decide to start the recovery procedure, you should not have to do it independently. If you can, ask family members or friends for support.
Protect your pets
The next tip about what to do following a house fire issues pets. Care for your pets, as they may behave irrationally throughout and even after a catastrophe. Their instincts may make them uncharacteristically hide, scratch or bite, so be careful and gentle when handling them. Do not let pets get close to fire-damaged contents and offer a secure and caring space for them.
Employ a professional emergency restoration company after a house fire
It is essential to contact a licensed, professional restoration firm after a fire to mitigate the harm and restore your home. Have them involved immediately! Your property and possessions may endure further damage as time passes by. As an example:
- Plastic and marble surfaces begin to stain within minutes — eternally.
- Flooring, cloths, and wood furniture end are compromised inside days.
Respectable companies also understand the value of compassion and understanding as you deal with your loss. They understand how to help you alleviate the numerous concerns and fears you may have. Also, they will communicate with you concerning the procedures that will occur and how your house and personal items will be guarded.
When you hire a restoration company, make sure they do their job correctly. Professional restoration companies that supply fire & smoke remediation providers have these responsibilities:
- Respond quickly to the customer
- Communicate the processes and secure prior authorization
- Scope the damage and provide a written, detailed quote
- Control and contain to prevent continuing damage
- Prevent cross-contamination
- Properly clean and process the whole job
- Process and properly dispose of wastes
- Provide effective odor management
- Provide an environment prepared for any final repairs
To summarize, here’s what to do following a house fire:
- Contact your insurance company and record the claim right away
- Inventory the losses and reveal them to your insurance broker
- Ensure your security when entering your house
- If you’re leaving the home, protected it properly
- Ask for assistance from local disaster relief organizations, if desired
- Safeguard and comfort your pets after the disaster
- Hire a respectable restoration company to remediate the fire and smoke damage
For fire & smoke damage recovery, call PuroClean!
From the time the first call is received until the mitigation is complete, an expert restoration company is essential in tackling the claim and managing costs. For professional restoration services after undergoing fire and smoke damage, contact your regional PuroClean in Stuart office. Our technicians are compassionate, highly-trained, and certified to return your property to its pre-loss condition.
