A house fire is a traumatic event. To see the important things you invested money and time on, where memories were made, ruined by a fire, is an extremely emotional event. A lot will occur during and after the fire; it will be challenging to organize affairs and difficult to know what to do next.
Actions to Take After a Fire
To assist an individual or a family that is clueless about what to do after a tragic occurrence, here is a checklist that can be considered. Following these steps can be tough; however, it is better to be thorough in situations like these. This can allow a time of peaceful recovery for all affected.
Wait for the Fire Department to Allow Entry
The firefighters working on the site have to make sure that no amount of flame or burning embers is left. Aside from this, they need to examine if smoke and hot gases are expelling from the fire’s remnants. Before property owners can go back to recover valuables, the fire department should give the go signal to ensure safety.
If possible, take pictures of the structural damage and whatever is left. Doing this allows you to have references later on when talking with the insurance and remediation companies.
Collect Valuables and Documents
When permitted to get on the premises, get whatever valuables, such as heirlooms and important documents, are salvageable. You will discover that aside from fire, water from high-powered hoses would have affected your belongings also. Learn about water damage restoration with the experts to figure out what items can be saved later on, such as carpets and furniture.
Contact Family and Friends
Let them know you are alright. It is also time to plan lodgings, especially if there are children. If pets are present, comfort them and make arrangements for momentary housing. This might be for a substantial amount of time, depending on how long property remediation takes. Click here to know more about remediation projects and what to expect.
Call Utility Providers
Normally, the fire department will make a call to the providers to request disconnection as a safety precaution. If possible, try not to forget to follow up on this to be on the same page with them when it is time to request reconnection.
Inform Your Insurance Company
Call your agent or broker to assist you in starting claim processes. Make sure that they keep you updated. Advise yourself to get a complete report to help you further on. This will come from the fire department and show the incident’s specifics. Check with your insurance company for a list of reliable and preferred providers, such as one company that does fire restoration in Dallas.
Seek Help from Remediation Professionals
Fire damage remediation is a procedure that has three parts– cleaning after the fire, eliminating the water damage, and rebuilding. The remediation company will be able to find all locations that require to be dealt with systematically. Their strategic method and extensive work will ensure that more damage will not take place.
These professionals will also notify the property owner about every action they make. They can recommend disposing of or saving what was left from the fire.
Call the Community Concerned
You may call the police department to notify them that the house will be vacant for security reasons. Inform schools if necessary to provide time for kids to recover. Advise the post office, if necessary, to hold mail temporarily. If employed, notify your employer since you may need to take some days off while you sort things out.
Get Counseling
Some fires can affect the mental and emotional state of some individuals. Each person will be affected differently, so find time for therapy if necessary.
The Bottomline
Such experiences can affect everybody in different ways. The first thing to do is collect yourself and keep calm. Do everything you can to sort things out, one step at a time. Authorize experts to help you at this time to make it less nerve-wracking for you. With this, you will be able to do everything necessary to move forward from this tragedy.
