What To Do After a Fire (7 Steps)

1. Check With Your Family

This may seem obvious, but in the heat of the moment (okay, bad pun) it’s easy to be overwhelmed and confused, forgetting to do even the most basic things. If you weren’t alone when the fire happened, check in and make sure everyone is okay. Depending on the size of the fire and the age of those involved, it can be very traumatic.

Take a moment and contact any family members that may not be with you. Let them know what happened and the status of any other friends and family that are with you. If none of your family members are local, call a close friend. You will want to have some support as you begin the fire restoration process.

If you are renting your home, make sure you also contact the property owners immediately so that they can make decisions about the property and begin the recovery process.

2. House Fire Insurance

A common question to ask is what to do after a house fire with insurance. The answer to that is don’t assume that someone else is going to contact your homeowners insurance company. DO NOT call your insurance company right away, as you may end up saying something that will get you into trouble later. Instead, talk to an expert fire restoration company FIRST (such as ours). They will be able to assist you in knowing exactly what to say and how to say it to your insurance. This is the first thing that you need to do after you have contacted your family. Armed with the right information, you can now call the insurance company and they will start the event documentation and begin the insurance claim process.

From there, your insurance agent should be experienced in dealing with property emergencies and can talk you through things like emergency lodging and living expenses. However, most insurance companies will refer and recommend restoration companies who will err on the side of the insurance company (not you)!

Again, this is why it’s important to talk to a trusted, experienced and unbiased restoration company FIRST.

The best restoration companies like DryCare Restoration will work directly with your insurance company to handle the fire damage cleanup.  Be clear on who is going to pay for different pieces of the restoration process. Make sure you have physical, written copies of every agreement.

Make sure to get a copy of the fire report. You can usually get fire reports from your local fire department. The report may be helpful in providing more information for your insurance agency.

3. Figure Out If Your Home is Salvageable

Have you ever wondered how hot a house fire is? According to Ready.gov, the average temperature of a house fire gets between 100 degrees at the floor level and 600 degrees at eye level; hot enough to scorch your lungs if you inhale it!

That sort of heat can cause structural damage to your home, leaving lingering issues. Your insurance company will most likely send out an adjuster to evaluate the fire damage to your home (don’t worry – we’ll handle them). They will decide if your home can be saved, or if it must be demolished and rebuilt.

If your house has been damaged rather than destroyed in the fire, it will need professional fire damage cleanup. Not only will direct damage from the fire need to be repaired or replaced, but heat, smoke, and soot can cause damage to your home and your possessions. On top of that, you may now actually require water mitigation to prevent or reduce the amount of water damage that happens after the firefighters put the fire out.

Fire damage to your property often goes beyond what the eye can see. Professionals like DryCare Restoration have IICRC certified Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians who know exactly where to start.

4. Make Sure It’s Safe Before Re-entering Your House

Do not enter a house or other building that has been damaged by a fire until the fire department has made sure that it’s safe to enter your home. Fires can start again even if they appear to be out and there is almost always hidden damage. Roofs and floors may be damaged and could fall down when you’re inside.

On top of that, there are health risks associated with inhaling smoke and soot, especially for a long period of time.

When you are given clearance to safely re-enter your home, make sure that you focus on retrieving valuables and important paperwork such as birth certificates, medical records, and passports. Do not bring food or cosmetic items with you, the presence of high heat or smoke in these items can cause you harm. Only bring out prescription medication packaging so that you can get replacements. Don’t take or ingest medicines from a burned house.

5. Organize Your Possessions

Separating your damaged possessions from your undamaged ones will make it easier for you to make a list of damaged items for your insurance company. Having a list of all of your personal belongings is very helpful in this situation. These lists often contain receipts and bank statements of purchased items. Providing photos along with the list can help greatly when filing the claim.

6. Save Undamaged Possessions

Either you or the restoration company needs to sort through your possessions. In many situations, there will be salvageable items in the wreckage, particularly if you saved certain items or documents like social security cards in a fire-proof box. Any items that are not damaged or destroyed should be put in a safe place, even if it means putting them in storage.

You will find that household items the fire did not burn up may be ruined by smoke, soot, or the water used to put out the flames. Anything you want to save will need to be carefully and potentially professionally cleaned.

7. Find Somewhere to Stay During the Fire Damage Restoration Process

Most homeowner’s insurance policies will pay for the food, clothing, and shelter that you and your family may need for a specified period of time. You may want to contact local disaster relief services such as the American Red Cross, your church, or family and friends who can help you find a safe place to stay while restoration services are in progress. If all else fails, we can also help you find lodging.

Emotional Impact of a House Fire

House fires can be massive disasters that devastate your home and family. Disasters like these can cause a great deal of unsettled feelings, and your emotional care and recovery are important too.

Make sure you take the proper immediate steps to take care of yourself and your family. It might be necessary to seek counselling, particularly in the case of children. Be gentle on yourself and your family members as you begin to heal emotionally from the struggle that you are all sharing.

Rebuilding Your Fire Damaged Home

Life after a house fire is difficult, but not impossible. Fire Remediation teams like the ones at DryCare Restoration will coordinate with the officials at your local Fire Department in order to start the work as soon as the house fire has been extinguished.

Once the fire and smoke damage restoration process has begun, your fire restoration technicians will board-up the walls and seal the roof and windows. The top priority should be to secure your belongings. They will work with teams of professionals to clean your clothes, carpets, and furniture. After they remove the mess and debris, they will work to remove any bad smells and odors from smoke damage in your house.

If you have home or renter’s insurance, you will be compensated and may be able to rebuild or repair your home at little to no cost to you. It is always important to have insurance coverage for your home; you may end up regretting it if you don’t. DryCare Restoration works closely with your insurance carrier to help coordinate your claim and help you get your property and life back together. You will want to check with your restoration company to see if they can do the same.

What to do after a house fire

When rebuilding, consider installing fire prevention measures such as heat-activated sprinklers. These can help save you from a house fire in the future. These systems are highly efficient and will significantly reduce the damage to your home in the event of a fire.

If you are wondering how to get help after a house fire, contact DryCare Restoration. Follow the things to do after  a house fire listed above, and call our 24/7/365 emergency line at 844-524.7365 to help get your home back to normal. With decades of experience in fire and smoke damage restoration, we will quickly restore your property to its’ original condition…or better!