Your First 3 Steps After a Home Fire

1/28/2021 (Permalink)

A home fire can be an unsettling experience for you and your family. Once the fire has been extinguished, the inspection and fire restoration processes begin. It’s important to stay focused on getting the help you need and moving forward. Before you can survey your damage, an official will want to clear your home for safe entry.

Initial Safety Assessment

After the fire is extinguished, crews will assess the dwelling for safety. They will carefully inspect three aspects of the damage to determine whether you and cleanup teams can enter.

• Structural Integrity – The walls, stairwells, floors, and ceilings will be inspected for stability, and dangerous areas will likely be cordoned off.
• Electrical System – If the electrical is still live, it will likely be disconnected from power until water is removed from the building.
• Unstable Hazards – It may take a day or two for fire teams to identify hazards and remove them from the structure.
  
  

This phase of the process confirms your home is stable enough for you and cleanup crews to enter.

Damage Survey

With your home cleared for entry, you will likely go in for the first time with a crew chief or fire supervisor. The official will help you understand the extent of the fire and smoke damage and give you an overview of the fire restoration process. This important step can prepare you for initial conversations with your insurance agent and remediation professionals.

Professional Assistance

As soon as you have an overview of the damage, you can notify your insurance company and find out about your coverage. The fire specialist who toured the damage with you can recommend a damage cleaning service for your situation. Professionals will work quickly and safely to clean, dry, and restore your belongings and structure.

A fire in your home can cause you and your family significant stress. The emergency responders, your insurance agent, and your fire restoration crews are all trained to help guide you through the process. Step by step, they will work to restore your home and your belongings—and ultimately, your peace of mind.