A house fire can be an incredibly traumatic event, no matter how minor it may seem at first. If your home has been damaged by fire, there’s still plenty that you can do to make the process of recovery easier, as long as you act quickly. In fact, taking care of the basics right after your home fire will help you recover faster and easier in the long run, so check out this blog post on how to recover from a home fire to learn more about what to do next time your house catches on fire.
Go Back to the Scene
Returning to the scene of a fire is difficult. You may feel overwhelmed and powerless, but there are a few things you can do to help the recovery process. The first thing to do after a fire is go back to the scene with your insurance company representative, as they will need information about everything that was destroyed in order to help you recover what’s been lost.
Call Insurance
It’s important to call your insurance company as soon as possible after a fire. You will be able to determine the extent of the damages and what type of coverage you have. If you don’t have homeowners insurance, it may be time to consider adding it to your monthly budget.
Get Medical Help
Seek medical attention from a local hospital or urgent care center as soon as possible to assess your injuries. The sooner you get medical help, the better. You might not realize how injured you are until hours after the incident.
Call Family and Friends
It’s important to call family and friends as soon as you can after a fire. They will be able to provide emotional support, help with logistics, and help you feel like you are not alone in this difficult time.
Check For Smoke Damage
One of the most important steps to take after a fire is to check for any damage that was done by the smoke. This can be anything from furniture and carpets being stained by black soot to walls and ceilings with ash on them. One way to do this is to open windows, doors and turn on fans in order to clear the air. You may also want to hire a professional restoration company like SERVPRO of Roanoke Rapids, NC.
Pack Important Items
The first thing you want to do after a fire is make sure your family is safe and unharmed. After that, it’s time to start cleaning up the mess.
Save Vital Records
The most important thing to save after a fire is your vital records. These include birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees and death certificates. If you have these on file electronically or in a safe place, that’s great! But if not, you’ll need to order new copies from the appropriate agency.
Store Important Documents
The first thing to do after a home fire is to find a safe place to store your important documents. The best place to store them is in a fire proof box, or at the very least, make sure they are stored in a water proof container. This includes things like your passport, birth certificate and other legal papers.
Get a General Cleanup Estimate
When a fire burns at your home, the first step is to get a general cleanup estimate and make sure all water sources are shut off. You will also want to document the date, time and cause of the fire as well as any injuries. After you have all of this information, you will want to report it to your insurance company. The next step is to call your local fire department and file a claim for damages that were not covered by your insurance policy.
Learn About Legal Compensation Options
Many homeowners are unaware of their rights when they suffer a loss due to someone else’s negligence. This is why it is important to know the compensation options that are available to you in the event of a home fire.
-You may be eligible for relief through your homeowner’s insurance policy, but only if you have comprehensive coverage and have not committed fraud by concealing information on your application.
