Experiencing a fire can be completely devastating. It leaves you with not just physical damage but deep emotional stress. If you have been through this, we are deeply sorry, but recovery is still possible.
Sadly, you are one of many that had to go through this. As of 2024, a home catches fire every 87 seconds. And 49% of all house fires start in the kitchen.
However, there are steps you can take to help restore your home. You can read more about that in today’s article.
Steps to Take After a Fire
Here is what to do:
1. Call Your Insurance Company
After the fire, you need to call your insurance company as quickly as you can and start the claims process. They can help you find a temporary place to stay. Just remember to keep ALL receipts and the whole process as documented as possible.
2. Secure the Property
The next thing you need to do is to secure your property. Your home is now in a fragile state, and theft and damage from rain and other weather conditions can happen. That’s why it’s important to protect your house.
As soon as the fire department declares it safe to enter your residence, you’re going to need to board up broken windows, tarp your roofs, and put up a fence around your home.
This way you will be safe from the rain or snow, as well as potential trespassing, while you work on restoring your place.
3. Assess the Damage
First, you need to see how much damage the fire has caused. You can hire professionals to inspect the property to document the extent of the damage you’re going to need to fix. They will evaluate the condition of the structural elements and your personal belongings, and find any materials that may be a risk during restoration.
The more detailed you are, the better, because you will need to submit as much information as possible when filing an insurance claim.
4. Clear the Space
After you’ve secured the property, it’s time to clear out everything you no longer need. You have to take out damaged furniture and everything else that can’t be repaired.
The goal is to create a clean slate for further restoration. The fire can leave behind toxic chemicals and an unsafe environment to clean in, so make sure you use the right equipment and take proper safety precautions during this process.
5. Remove Water
The water firefighters use to extinguish the fire can also make the restoration more complicated. So, you are going to have to remove it.
Water is extracted with the help of pumps and industrial vacuums. Once extracted, the water-damaged area must be dried out with dehumidifiers and air movers to prevent mold outbreaks and further structural harm. Depending on the damage, this process can take up to a few days.
6. Smoke and Soot Removal
Smoke and soot can linger long after a fire has been put out and they can cause odors and more damage. Professionals use chemical sponges or vacuums that are designed specifically for soot removal to get this done.
7. Structural Repairs
Once the property is cleaned and dried, we can focus on structural repairs. This step requires inspecting the harm done to walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doors. Any materials that were compromised need to be either replaced or repaired to make sure you stay safe. For example:
- Walls and ceilings: Damaged drywall or plaster needs to be replaced.
- Floors: Burned flooring needs to be removed and replaced.
- Roof: Inspections are conducted to find out what kind of repairs need to be done on the roof.
8. Restoring Your Personal Belongings
The good news is that you can restore many of your belongings with the right attention and care. Textiles, electronics, and important documents may be recoverable with some help. For instance:
- Textiles: Some professional cleaning services can help restore and clean up your clothes, curtains, and carpets.
- Electronics: Experts can see if electronics damaged by smoke can be cleaned or repaired.
- Documents: Freeze-drying techniques can help recover important papers.
9. Final Cleaning and Sanitization
After you’ve finished the structural repairs, you need to do a final deep cleaning of your entire home. This includes air duct cleaning to remove any remaining soot or smoke residues from HVAC systems. Also, surface sanitization with antimicrobial treatments helps prevent mold growth and makes sure you can live in a healthy environment.
10. Final Inspection
Before the restoration is complete and you can come back to your home, you need to have a thorough final inspection. This step is important because it makes sure that all areas have been addressed properly and no issues remain. It’s an opportunity to make sure that everything is safe enough for you to move back in.
Preventive Measures for Future Safety
Once the process is completed and your property has been restored, you can think about implementing some measures to avoid future fires.
You can add smoke detectors, develop an emergency escape plan, or buy nonflammable materials when you renovate. Remember to regularly check your electrical systems and appliances to help reduce any possible risks.
Working With Insurance
Filing insurance claims after a fire can be complicated, but it’s important for covering the restoration costs. Make sure you document all damages thoroughly during assessments because it will help you a lot when filing claims. You can also work closely with your insurance adjuster throughout the process to make sure all necessary repairs are covered.
Asking for Help
Recovering from a fire is not something you have to go through alone. You can always contact local organizations, non-profits, and internet support groups for help. Plenty of these organizations offer free or low-cost services for fire victims, like temporary housing and mental health support.
You can also join support groups for fire survivors. They can provide you with emotional support and some practical advice. In these groups, people share their experiences and resources that helped them, so this can help you on your healing journey and help you gain access to more information.
The Cost of Fire Damage Restoration
The cost of fire damage restoration depends on how big the damage is and the size of your property. Some factors that influence the cost include:
- The extent of the damage: Minor surface damage costs less, while rebuilding compromised walls, roofs, or floors will increase the expenses.
- Water damage remediation: Putting out a fire will often cause water damage, and that means additional work to get the water out.
- Smoke and soot cleanup: Cleaning and deodorizing air ducts usually costs from $500 to $5,000, again depending on the severity.
Choosing the Right Restoration Company
Finding a qualified restoration company is very important. Look for credible and quality professionals who have plenty of experience in handling similar cases.
The right company that specializes in property restoration US can guide you through every step of the process and restore your property safely and efficiently.
Final Thoughts
Repairing properties that were damaged in fires is a difficult process and requires plenty of planning, knowledge, and emotional resilience.
But by following these steps, you can find a way to navigate this challenging journey.
Remember that while it may feel overwhelming at times, every step brings you closer to restoring your home and starting over.
Stay proactive about fire prevention to protect your home or business from future incidents, and know that there is always support available to guide you through this process. You don’t have to go through this alone.
