Few experiences are more frightening than a house fire. In the aftermath of a home fire accident, it’s very important to know what to do next and what to avoid doing. After evacuation if it was a bigger fire, make sure it’s safe to enter the home. Discuss the recovery process with your insurance agent and ask for help at local disaster relief shelters. If you choose to have your home restored, hire a reputable disaster restoration company, like PuroClean of Princeton.
Steps to Take After Fire Accident
- Ensure your safety: Above all else, if you enter your home after the fire, make sure you and your loved ones will be safe doing so. When in doubt, wait it out. If you are unsure, you can wait for our fire restoration specialists and we will inspect the building first. You could also ask your local fire department, insurance agent or local building officials if the building is safe to enter.
- When you do, do not touch fire-damaged items, as soot and contaminated water (that was used to extinguish the fire) may pose health risks if handled. If the utility services were turned off by the fire department for safety reasons, do not turn them back on until you are advised to do so.
- Contact your insurance agent: If using insurance, your agent will discuss with you what can be done to restore your property and the amount of your insurance deductible. While you wait for us, ask for ways to secure your home. If you have a home inventory, show it to your agent, which can help with later claims.
- Ask for help at local disaster relief services: The third step while waiting for us should be to contact local disaster relief organizations, such as public health departments or the American Red Cross. They can provide a safe place to stay and give you food, clothes and other essential items. When you decide to start the recovery process, don’t do it alone. Ask family members, friends, or the community for support.
- Care for your pets: In the aftermath of a house fire, pets may behave irrationally. Their instincts may cause them to bite or scratch, so be careful and gentle when handling them. Do not let pets get near fire-damaged contents and provide a safe shelter for them.
- When you hire a fire restoration company, make sure you receive an estimate of the cost before work is started. Ask our team about the proposed scope and estimate. Ask your insurance agent who will cover the costs. Save the receipts for any expenses that concern the fire loss.
- If you must leave your house, let the local police department know your property is unoccupied. They can protect your property against burglaries. Also make sure you board up openings or make a temporary fence to protect your home.
We hope you never need us, and that you never need to use any fire aftermath safety tips. But if you do, we are only one call away. Having helped restore homes and livelihoods for over sixteen years, we are confident we have the tools and the expertise to help you as well.
To learn how to prevent fire accidents from happening in your home or building, take a look and follow our Fire Safety Checklist. With the cold season also on the horizon, take some time to read our Heating Equipment Fire Safety Tips, as well. If you need professional restoration services to return your property back to pre-loss condition after experiencing fire, water or mold damage, contact your local IICRC-certified fire restoration specialists at PuroClean of Princeton.
