Fire Prevention Month: What Should You do After a Fire Disaster Affects Your Residence

10/29/2019 (Permalink)

An unexpected house fire in the West Brown County area could be a very traumatic and unsettling experience for your family. Having to deal with the aftermath can leave anyone feeling uncertain about the future of the place they call home. Where does one start once the smoke as settled, and are now faced with making decisions you never thought possible? 

One of the critical factors about your living quarters is knowing whether it is safe to enter after a fire. As a rule of thumb, it is best to wait until the professionals called in to extinguish the fire and inspect the structure, state it is fine to do so. 

Knowing who to call after a fire is equally important. Don't assume that someone is going to contact your insurance. This will not only enable documentation of the event and set in train the insurance claim, but your insurer will be able to talk you through emergency lodging and living expenses. Remember to retain all receipts to make a claim. The insurance company will also assist with clean up options.

Depending on your housing situation, you may need to contact additional people, especially if you are a tenant. The owner/landlord needs as much information that you can offer them for their insurance company to process the claim that will get you back into the place you call home sooner than later.

If your place only sustained damage rather than being destroyed, an interior cleanup will be required. Be aware that destruction to the property often goes beyond what the eye can see. Some of those damages include soot, ash, charring, smoke, and odor.

The smoke alone is known to leave an undesirable odor on items from treasured belongings, to all thing's upholstery, and your clothing. Also, be aware that soot and smoke damage might be significant. It often creates a film on the walls. There will also be residue from the extinguishers used by the fire crew.

Do keep in mind, water damage is typical if water hoses were used to put out the fire. Your possessions could end up soggy. Anything you want to preserve, or reuse will need careful cleaning. When you have a critical cleanup situation, it is best to take immediate action and hire professionals that specialize in both fire and water restoration services. 

SERVPRO of West Brown County specializes in fire and water restoration. We've received advance training in restoration techniques, and we have the experience and specialized equipment to restore your property quickly.

Our Technicians train in the following areas:

• Fire & Smoke Restoration 
• Odor Control 
• Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning
• Water Damage Restoration Technician

We are a locally owned and operated business that is strategically located to respond quickly to your smoke or fire damage event. If you have questions about fire, smoke, or soot damage, call us today at (920) 434-8224.