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SERVPRO: What Should Homeowners Do Once the Fire Has Been Extinguished?
7/14/2021 (Permalink)
Blog summary: The article by SERVPRO shares a post-fire checklist that homeowners can refer to.
Post-fire checklist
There are multiple reasons a fire may occur at a home. Once the fire is extinguished, there are hundreds of things that need to be taken care of besides the fire damage restoration of the home itself. SERVPRO understands how daunting a challenge this can be, and shares a simple post-fire checklist that homeowners can use to decide their next steps.
1. Contact family
A fire is a traumatic event that can overwhelm. It is a time when everyone needs support from family and friends. Letting family and friends know about the incident is important to begin the process of rehabilitation and restoration.
Also, inform the property owners immediately so they can take steps regarding their property and recovery.
2. Call insurance company
Notify the insurance agent to begin the claim process immediately. Until the fire is reported to the insurance company, repairs cannot begin. And the longer the repairs are delayed the worse the damage can become. Once the process begins, an insurance agent can handle property emergencies, lodging, and living expenses.
Contact the personal bank, mortgage lender, auto insurance agent (in case of vehicle damage), and utility company. Notification of the fire damage event to these entities may provide relief from late fees on payments while the restoration work takes place.
Fire damage restoration companies like SERVPRO work with insurance companies by providing repair estimates and helping with claims. Make sure to get a copy of the fire report which is helpful in providing more information for the insurance agency.
3. Get the property assessed
An insurance adjuster is likely to visit to evaluate the fire damage to the house. This evaluation will determine if the home can be saved, or if it must be demolished and rebuilt.
In case the house can be saved, a professional fire damage and water damage restoration company like SERVPRO can come to the rescue. Besides the direct damage from the fire, damage caused by heat, smoke, and soot will also need redressal. The water damage caused by fire extinguishing activities is another aspect that must be addressed at the earliest to avoid secondary water damage such as mold.
Fire damage often runs deep and it takes a professional restoration team’s skills and state-of-the-art equipment to detect and amend the damage that may be invisible to the inexperienced eye.
4. Get clearance to enter the house
Await a clearance from the fire department before entering the house that has been damaged by fire. There is often hidden damage that can lead to the fire restarting. Damaged roofs and floors could also collapse and cause serious injury. Additionally, there are health effects associated with inhaling smoke and soot that must be addressed before moving back in.
Entering the house too soon can also impact the insurance claim so it’s advised to await the green signal from the fire department and the insurance company.
5. Organize the possessions
Segregating the damaged and undamaged items in the house helps to be more organized. A list of all undamaged articles along with their details such as model number, current price, and receipts is very useful while filing an insurance claim. Providing photos of these items is also advisable.
Undamaged items must be removed from the fire-damaged property to protect them from looting. These items can be stored safely in a rented storage unit restoration of the house is complete.
This assessment of damaged contents can be done by the homeowner or a professional restoration company. A professional restoration team will be able to assess if certain items can be restored or not. This can help reduce the claim and also help save valuable items that can’t be replaced with money.
6. Find a place to stay while the house gets restored
Until a professional team has restored the house and disposed of all unsafe elements including mold, smoke, soot, and unstable structures, the homeowner would need another place to stay. Most insurance policies will pay for the food, clothing, and shelter for a specified period of time. Homeowners can contact local disaster relief services such as the American Red Cross, government agencies, the local church, or family and friends for a safe and temporary place to stay in until the house is restored.
After a fire event, it is crucial to take care of one’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. So a comfortable place to stay is crucial.
7. Restore, rebuild, and move forward
With the help of the insurance agent and a professional restoration company like SERVPRO, homeowners can begin the task of restoring and rebuilding their homes and eventually return to their lives.
It is important to deal with the right fire damage restoration company to ensure that the restoration work is accurate, economical, and swift.
Why SERVPRO?
SERVPRO uses state-of-the-art equipment to bring the damaged property back to its original state. SERVPRO of Hurst-Euless-Bedford is always updating its fleet and equipment so clients in Hurst, Euless, Bedford, or anywhere else can quickly access the services.
With over 1,700 US and Canadian Franchise locations, SERVPRO is strategically positioned to respond faster to an emergency of any magnitude.
The SERVPRO staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. They receive initial in-house training and constant skill up-gradation at the corporate training facility and also acquire the regular IICRC-industry certification.