Few things are as scary, destructive, and distressing as a house fire. In minutes, it can consume all the belongings you have acquired in a lifetime. It can destroy cherished items and wipe out the fond memories you’ve made in your home. Most of all, it can leave you physically and mentally exhausted, emotionally unsettled, and financially unstable.
You may not expect a fire in your home, but you should still prepare for the eventuality. Don’t be caught unprepared.
At West Central Equipment and Restoration in Lecanto, Florida, we encourage homeowners to prepare and anticipate possibilities of fire damage in their homes.
From our experience in dealing with fire accidents, we’ve seen how much damage is prevented by just being prepared.
What should you do after a fire damages your home?
- Make sure you are safe
With fire, you never really know when you will be hurt. Even when things look safe and clear, it can still be dangerous. That is why you must start with your safety and the members of your households.
When fire strikes, evacuate them to a safe place and stay away from your house until after a professional has assessed the situation and given permission that it is safe enough. Doing so will protect you from accidents due to unstable structures or harm from a fire that starts again after it appears to be out.
You must only move into your home again after authorities determine that it is safe. Avoid turning on gas, electricity, or water utilities; keep off cleaning smoke or soot damage; don’t move or start your vehicle if it has been damaged.
- Make the right calls
You’ve moved to a safe place, but the fire won’t extinguish on its own. The next step must be to call the fire department to alert them of the fire and request immediate help.
You should alert utility providers (electric, gas, and water) as well of the fire.
If your family members are not with you, call to inform them of the incident. Where necessary, you should notify your children’s school to make teachers aware that your children are going through a difficult time.
You must also call your homeowner’s insurance company to begin the claims process. They can even arrange temporary lodging and offer a lot of support.
Additionally, call your fire damage restoration company to hurry over and get assistance with the situation.
- Get a copy of the fire report
With the fire contained, the fire department will furnish a fire report that covers the specifics of the fire incident. The report will indicate the condition of the home, the time and date of the fire, who was involved, and the extent of the damage.
The fire report is a critical official document that is very important for insurance purposes. You must make sure to get a copy of it.
Apart from the official report, you must also document all the damage. Use detailed notes, photographs, and videos, and organize them in readiness for your insurance claim.
- Protect your property
You’ve lost a lot already due to the fire, but you can still lose a lot more if you don’t protect your property.
Remember that the fire has rendered your home more vulnerable to the weather and unlawful entry.
Your insurance policy may require that you take steps to secure your home soon after a fire and may ask you for specifics during the claims process.
Board up the windows to prevent entry, looting, and exposure to the elements. Cover areas of the roofs damaged by the fire and reinforce the doors.
If utilities in your home aren’t safe anymore, make sure they are shut off and never turned back on again.
You should also call the local police department to inform them that your home will be temporarily vacant.
- Deal with your finances
You will need to continue with your payments even if your home has been damaged or destroyed. If your valuable documents are trapped inside, and authorities certify that it is safe to enter, then go in to find the documents.
If you’ve lost any of your credit or debit cards in the fire, you should cancel them immediately and replace them. Do not disregard the possibilities of it being in the hands of other people.
You can also start the process of replacing important documents lost in the fire, such as passports, social security cards, birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and other equally essential cards or documents.
- Clean up the mess
Your home will be a mess because of the fire and may need a thorough cleaning to restore it to its prime condition.
If only a small area is affected by the fire, you may clean it yourself. You will need to use tri-sodium phosphate mixed with water to wipe off soot from the wall. You will also need a vacuum cleaner to remove soot and extinguisher residue. Do not forget to open doors and windows to let air circulate in your house.
However, for most cases of fire damage, large areas and several items are usually affected. The damage can be much more severe than observed. The smoke, soot, and extinguisher residue can widely spread and be difficult to clean.
You will need to call a professional fire damage restoration service to assist with the cleanup and meticulously clean your carpets, rugs, curtains, and other items.
Fire damage is usually associated with water damage and mold growth. It is best to leave fire damage cleanup to a professional restoration company, as mold can spread quickly and must be removed properly to prevent health risks.
- Recover your possessions
It is most likely that the items destroyed in the house fire are covered by insurance on a replacement-cost policy. Hence, you can expect to receive the actual cash value of the damaged items at the time of settlement and can recover the replacement cost after your insurer replaces them.
But for maximum recovery and to account for all the items, you will need to have a home inventory of your possessions. The detailed inventory should include the type, description, date of purchase, and cost of purchase of every item.
- Protect emotional health
A fire in your house can cause intense emotions and severe stress.
After the fire, you should ensure that your emotional and mental health, together with everyone in your family, is also taken care of.
Be patient with yourself as you work through the stress. Seek support for members of your family experiencing difficulties.
Likewise, take care of your pets as their lungs can be damaged by smoke, and burns can hide under their fur. Have them checked by a veterinarian after the fire.
Working with a reliable fire damage restoration service
Once the fire in your home is contained, you will need your home restored to a habitable condition. You can’t do it by yourself. It is best to trust professional technicians to clean up the mess and restore your home to its previous state.
At West Central Equipment and Restoration, we are happy to work with Lecanto homeowners to help them repair and restore the condition of their homes after fire damage.
We have a pool of skilled and experienced technicians who will treat your property with the utmost respect and help salvage your treasured items. You will be satisfied and proud of the service we’ll deliver.
Want a fire damage restoration service in Lecanto, Florida? Give us a call today at (352) 270-8417 to benefit from the skill and experience of our competent technicians.
