What Should I Do After a House Fire?

After the fire is out and the smoke has cleared, the fire department is gone, and you are left with a disaster on your hands. In the aftermath of a home fire – big or small – it’s imperative to know what to do and what to avoid doing. Follow these guidelines to learn what to do after a house fire.

Contact your insurance agent immediately after a house fire

Your first obligation is to call your insurance agent. Discuss what to do to restore your property and the amount of your insurance deductible with your insurance agent. Ask for ways to secure your home and for recommendations of restoration companies that they trust.

When you hire a fire restoration company, make sure you receive a written estimate of the cost before work begins. Ask your insurance agent who will cover these costs. Save receipts for any expenses that concern the fire loss.

Document any personal items lost and try to attach a value to each item. Review what was in the affected room or rooms and begin documenting losses as soon as possible.

Ensure your safety

Always ensure your safety whenever you enter your home after the fire. Ask the restoration specialists, fire department, insurance agent, or local building officials if the building is safe to enter. Otherwise, you could be exposing yourself to hazards.

Here’s why a house may be dangerous after a fire: Smoke darkens the structure and obstructs the view of safety concerns. There may be compromised structural components, falling debris, or even electrical safety issues.

In addition to structural hazards, it’s also important to consider health issues. Every fire generates particles of incomplete combustion (PICs), many of which are carcinogens. These remain in the air and on surfaces after the fire is out. They are microscopic, and therefore, are easy to inhale. Thus, it is best to avoid touching fire-damaged items without precaution to avoid health risks.

Additionally, if the fire department turned off the utility services for safety reasons, don’t turn them back on until they advise you it is safe to do so.

Depending on the severity of the loss, you and other occupants may need to leave the building. So, make sure local officials have confirmed that the property is safe to enter.

If you decide to leave, secure the property

When you leave your house, secure it as much as possible to deter looters. Also, be sure to let the police know your property is unoccupied and leave your contact info. They can help protect your property against burglars. Board up openings or make a temporary fence to protect your home, as well.

Ask for help at a local disaster relief center

If you can’t stay in your home, ask for help at local disaster relief services, such as public health departments and the American Red Cross. They can provide a safe place to stay, food, clothes, and other essential items. Also, when you decide to start the recovery process, you should not have to do it alone. If you can, ask family members or friends for support.

Protect your pets

The next tip on what to do after a house fire concerns pets. Care for your pets, as they may behave irrationally during and even after a disaster. Their instincts may cause them to uncharacteristically hide, bite or scratch, so be careful and gentle when handling them. Don’t let pets get near fire-damaged contents and provide a safe and caring space for them.

Hire a professional disaster restoration company after a house fire

It’s essential to contact a licensed, professional restoration company after a fire to mitigate the damage and restore your home. Get them involved immediately! The sooner they start the restoration process, the easier it will be to assess, evaluate, and act on the damage. Your property and possessions may suffer further damage as time passes by. For example:

• Plastic and marble surfaces begin to stain within minutes – permanently.
• Metals tarnish, grout stains, and fiberglass and furniture yellows within hours.
• Flooring, fabrics, and wood furniture finish are permanently compromised within days.

Reputable companies also recognize the importance of compassion and understanding as you cope with your loss. They know how to help you alleviate the many concerns and fears that you may have. A prompt, knowledgeable, and sympathetic response will go a long way in assuring the best possible outcome. Also, they will communicate with you about the processes that will take place and how your property and personal items will be protected.

When you hire a restoration company, make sure they do their job right. Professional restoration companies that provide fire & smoke remediation services have these responsibilities:

• Respond rapidly to the client
• Communicate the procedures and secure prior authorization
• Scope the damage and provide a written, detailed estimate
• Control and contain to prevent continuing damage
• Prevent cross-contamination
• Properly clean and process the entire job
• Process and properly dispose of wastes
• Provide effective odor control
• Provide an environment ready for any final repairs

To summarize, here’s what to do after a house fire:

• Contact your insurance company and file the claim right away
• Inventory the losses and show them to your insurance agent
• Ensure your safety when entering your home
• If you’re leaving the home, secure it properly
• Ask for help from local disaster relief organizations, if needed
• Protect and comfort your pets after the disaster
• Hire a reputable restoration company to remediate the fire and smoke damage

For fire & smoke damage restoration, call PuroClean!

From the time the first call is received until the mitigation is complete, a professional restoration company is essential in handling the claim and managing costs. For professional restoration services after experiencing fire and smoke damage, contact your local PuroClean office. Our technicians are compassionate, highly-trained and certified to return your property to its pre-loss condition.