Even a small house fire can leave you feeling helpless and out of control. With so many damaged personal possessions destroyed, water or foam covering walls and floors, and broken windows or holes in the ceiling, you may want to curl up in bed and pretend it was all a nightmare. To help you deal with the results of the fire and keep your family safe while you do so, here are some simple tips.
- Safety
Remain outside until the fire department or police officers declare that the situation is in hand and it is safe to enter. When entering the building, you must be careful because the water or foam used to put the fire out could result in slippery surfaces.
- Odors
Even the most minor fire can allow lingering odors that can be offensive. Look into a chemical free odor removal company for help in eliminating all the odors left on walls, floors, and fabrics throughout your home.
- Valuables
You will need to remove any valuables from the residence as soon as the fire department deems it safe for you to return to your home. Jewelry, cash, important documents, and firearms are just some of the items you should remove.
- Insurance
Contact your insurance company and let them know what happened. They will ask for information about the fire department that responded, and the claim’s adjuster may even ask you for details about what happened. Don’t assume guilt.
- Restoration
One of your first phone calls should be to a restoration company about tarping those holes and boarding up broken windows. The restoration company can also provide an estimate for cleanup and renovations. If reconstruction isn’t their line of work, the company can provide names of contractors or companies for you to contact.
After a house fire, the most important thing you can do is get your family to a safe area. Once that is done, you can concentrate on everything else.
