A fire in your home is destructive and frightening. It could leave you feeling vulnerable. While we hope you never need to deal with fire injury, we also believe in being prepared for the worst especially with all the fires happening on the west coast right now.
Considering that fire is a high-pressure situation, you don’t want to wait till you’re dealing with it to know exactly what to do. Learn it today to help you’ll be ready.
WAIT TO ENTER THE BUILDING
Even when everything looks safe and clear to you, don’t enter your home following a fire until a pro has told you it’s safe to do so. Not only could your structure be unstable, but fires can start again — even once they seem to be out. The police are the ones who need to determine if your home is a safe zone or not. Trust them.
CALL THE RIGHT PEOPLE
First, call your members of the loved ones and household members to let them know exactly what happened. Then, you’ll want to call us to hurry over and assess the situation. Additionally, call your insurer to get things set in motion. They might help organize temporary accommodation and walk you through your next actions. Communicate to them that you’ve contacted a disaster relief company, and let them know exactly what the business reports to you.
GET A COPY OF THE FIRE REPORT
Call the fire department to get a copy of the fire report. If they aren’t authorized to give it to you personally, they’ll let you know who you may call. The fire report must cover the condition of your home, who had been involved, the time and date of the fire injury, and more.
SECURE YOUR PROPERTY
To prevent looting or any further accidents, secure your property. This might include things like boarding up windows. Your insurance contract might need this, so ask them for details and reach out to emergency services for more information on what you must do. In case your utilities aren’t safe to use, the fire department will close them off before they leave. don’t turn them back on.
CANCEL CREDIT CARDS AND REPLACE DOCUMENTS
CONSIDER WATER DAMAGE
If water was used to put out the fire, you’ll need to worry about water damage and mold. This is best left to a professional disaster cleanup company, as mold can grow quickly and must be removed carefully so it doesn’t damage anyone’s health — or come back.
CONSIDER EMOTIONAL HEALTH
A fire in your home can cause serious stress and strong emotions. Make sure to take stock of your emotional and mental health, as well as the emotional health of everyone in your family. Seek professional counseling if you need it.