What to Do After a House Fire?

Fire accidents are not only dangerous but also very complex to handle. After a home or building fire, the task of figuring out what to do next can be extremely stressful and daunting. Homeowners find it very difficult to decide what to do first and how to get their life back to normal.

Undoubtedly, moving on after a house fire seems overwhelming, but if you know from where to begin and who can help you, the process may get a bit easier to bring your life back together. The first 48 hours after fire damage are extremely crucial for restoring your property and personal belongings. So, in case you’ve just suffered a house fire, here are a few dos and don’ts to help you and your family through this difficult time and the make the task somewhat easier.

Dos after a Fire

• Contact your insurance agent

It is natural that you’re stressed and don’t know from where to begin but the timely action is crucial in such incidents. Don’t waste time calling your insurance agent to file your claim. This will help you to begin repair works or searching for a new home as early as possible. In the worst cases, if you have even lost your credit or debit cards in the fire, your insurance carriers may offer you daily expenses known as loss of use funds.

• Keep aside undamaged property

You will be required to provide a complete inventory list to your insurance company after they inspect the loss. You will need to mention details such as purchasing date of each item, the brand name, the price, model, etc. So, to make it easier, it’s better to separate your damaged property from your undamaged ones.

• Find a restoration company to clean up soot and for other restoration work

Fire damages may cause some serious long-term damages to your house if left untreated. Soon after a fire, it becomes necessary to clean up soot or water damage. Most of the fire restoration tasks are complex that homeowners are unable to fix on their own. The fire restoration companies provide services ranging from fire, smoke and soot removal to contents claims inventory and document restoration. Therefore, by hiring a reliable fire restoration company, you not only get some peace of mind but also prevent future problems. You can either find the best restoration companies online or your insurance agent can recommend a few companies to you.

Don’ts after a Fire

• Cleaning fire residues and debris from walls, ceilings or other absorbent surfaces must be avoided because you may end up creating more mess.
• Make sure not to use any electrical appliance that was in close proximity to fire heat. Also, if the ceiling is still wet, avoid turning on ceiling fixtures because wires might have been damaged. It is risky to do things on your own, so it’s better to seek the help of professional restoration services.
• The packaged or canned food items at the fire accident location should not be consumed.