No matter how sturdy your house is, there are a few threats that can utterly destroy it, regardless of its strength and sturdiness. These threats include:
- Flooding
- Extreme weather
- Termite infestation
- FIRE
House fires are some of the most common, damaging, and dangerous threats to US homeowners, with an average of about 358,000 reported house fires per year.
From cooking accidents and fireplace accidents to candle misuse, grill misuse, faulty electrical systems, and so many other possibilities for a fire accident, the potential of experiencing a house fire is always present.
If you have experienced a fire at your house, you’re probably wondering what your next steps should be. Figuring out what you need to do can be confusing, overwhelming, and emotionally draining. That’s why we’ve created the following post-fire checklist so that you can be sure you start the road to fire damage restoration on the right foot.
Steps to Take After a House Fire
#1: Check on Everyone Who Was in the House at the Time
After you and your family, roommates, or guests have evacuated the home and are safely away from the fire, check on everyone to ensure they are safe and injury-free. If anyone is hurt, including yourself, alert first responders and request medical attention ASAP.
#2: Contact Those Close to You
Support is everything at a time like this. It’s important to contact family, friends, and other loved ones to let them know about the house fire and the status of those inside. Doing so can lighten the weight of the event and allow those close to you to help you move forward with more support and more clarity.
#3: Contact Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company to inform them of the accident. Doing so will begin the claim process. Your agent can provide details about your policy, next steps, and what to expect. They also may be able to help you sort out emergency lodging options, set up living expense reimbursement, and connect you to a trusted restoration company in your area.
#4: Obtain Copies of Your Fire Report and Gather Other Important Documentation
You will want a copy of your fire report on hand in case your insurance company needs any information from it. It’s also important to get copies of all agreements, statements, or documents provided by your insurance company and/or restoration company. Doing so will keep you informed and in the loop with your fire restoration process.
#5: Evaluate the Damage
Your insurance company will likely send an adjuster to evaluate the damage to your home. They will determine if your home can be restored as is or if it needs to be rebuilt entirely. For homes that have only been damaged, not completely destroyed, a fire-damage restoration team will be able to provide the services necessary to bring your home back to pre-fire conditions.
#6: Remove Everything Inside and Sort Between What’s Salvageable and Unsalvageable
Once you are cleared by the fire department to reenter your home, you should remove all items within and determine what can be saved and what is unsalvageable. Some things may be wholly or partially burned, some things may have significant soot and smoke damage, and other things may only have slight damage that can be corrected. You may even have items that were not affected by the fire at all. It’s important to go through your things and make a list of what was destroyed or damaged too severely to keep. Your insurance policy may cover the expense of replacing your damaged items.
Note that salvageable items may still need to undergo restoration to correct soot, smoke, or water damage.
#7: Find Lodging During Fire Restoration
Your restoration team will be hard at work removing soot and smoke damage, performing water mitigation, and returning your home to pre-loss conditions. You can check in on the progress, but it’s important not to be in the house while work is being done. Your insurance policy will likely cover lodging for some time while the restoration process continues.
#8: Return to Your Newly Restored Home
Once restoration is complete and you are cleared to reenter your home, you and your family can move back in and set it up however you would like! Although your home may feel emptier at this time, you can work to fill it again with the items you need or want and begin the journey back to normalcy.
AfterCare Restoration Provides Efficient, Thorough Fire Restoration Services to PA Homeowners.
Fire damage is no match for the team at AfterCare Restoration! We work with all insurance companies to restore your home to pre-fire conditions. Plus, we respond quickly and provide detailed services like water mitigation, smoke damage restoration, soot removal, and reconstruction.
Call 24/7 for fast responses and thorough service. 215.515.1000
Related Articles:
- Pennsylvania Fire Damage Experts Answer Your House Fire FAQs
- 6 Common Electrical Fire Hazards to Watch For
AfterCare Restoration is a Local Family- and Veteran-Owned damage restoration company. We specialize in 24/7 water damage restoration, fire board-up, fire damage restoration, smoke damage restoration, and complete reconstruction services.
At AfterCare, we use the latest technology, arrive in marked vehicles and professional uniforms, and stand 100% behind our work. This is why at AfterCare, we consistently receive 5-star reviews from customers who choose AfterCare for water damage cleanup and fire and smoke damage restoration.
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