What To Do If You Have Just Experienced a House Fire

The emotional impact following a house fire can be significant. The wide variety of emotions and concerns can leave you paralyzed, not knowing the best next step, particularly considering that fire can seriously harm the entire structure, both inside and out.



There are many different things that might cause a fire, whether you’ve experienced a tiny kitchen fire, an electrical fire, or even one started by candles.

The intense heat may damage glass windows, melt plastic, blister paint, and more. In addition to attempting to begin the repair process, you’re attempting to comprehend the loss.

Next steps can be overwhelming, including questions concerning at what point it’s safe to re-enter, what the insurance requirements are, and if your house is secure once the fire has been extinguished. Where do you start, you may ask?

Being unsure about what to do or where to go is natural, but know that recovery, getting a fresh start and a repaired house are all possible.

Follow these steps to get back on your feet:

1. Check in with family

Check on everyone who was in the house during the fire and make sure they are alright. Although it may seem evident at the time, it is simple to become overloaded and disoriented and fail to do even the most elementary tasks.

After then, take a minute to call any family members or any close friends who might not have been present. It's important to inform them of what happened, but you also may want some assistance and support during the next stages of the process.

2. Find somewhere to stay

Check on everyone who was in the house during the fire and make sure they’re alright. Although it may seem evident after the fact, it’s common to become overwhelmed and disoriented and fail to do even the most elementary tasks.



After that, take a minute to call any family members or close friends who might not have been present. It's important to inform them of what happened, but you may also want some assistance and support during the next stages of the process.

3. Contact your insurance

You must file a claim and take care of your urgent necessities. Recording the incident and filing the claim will enable the rest of the process to get underway.

In some cases, your insurance policy may be used to pay for living costs and other regular expenses. Insurance can also help find a restoration company who’ll help repair the damage to your home.



The restoration businesses will manage the fire damage cleaning in direct coordination with your insurance provider. Make sure you’re clear, however, on who will pay for each step of the repair procedure, and get it in writing.

Get a copy of the fire report as soon as possible. This will be helpful in providing your insurance company with further details. Typically, your local fire department can help provide this.

No insurance

Most homeowners have home insurance, but this isn't true for everyone.



Without insurance, you can’t make a claim or have your belongings replaced, but you may still be qualified for help from charitable organizations, government subsidies, or other programs.

4. Retrieve possessions

Once your home has been inspected for safety and you’re allowed back in, take inventory of all damaged items and make a report to the insurance company, who often pays for items lost in a house fire. Try to give as much detail as possible, including price, description of each item, and the date they were purchased.

Then go through the rest of the home to locate items that are undamaged or recoverable. Give priority to important documents like passports, birth certificates, and other valuables. Food, prescription drugs, and personal care products should not be used or consumed as they could be tainted by fire and smoke damage.



Even if certain items were not completely consumed by the flames, due to smoke or soot, they could still be damaged, so it’s necessary to have them inspected and properly cleaned.

5. Think about your finances

Unfortunately, even if your house is damaged, your financial obligations, like your mortgage, will still need to be taken care of. In the event of a fire, many insurance plans will cover mortgages, but you still need to consider other ongoing expenses. These could include utilities, cable/internet, student loans, and auto loans.

Consider canceling any subscription services and turning off any services you won't be needing such as electricity, cable, and internet. Emergency personnel sometimes take care of shutting off your utilities, but check with the fire department to make sure.



If your credit or debit cards were destroyed in the fire, you’ll need to replace those immediately.

6. Call a restoration company

After speaking with your insurance representative, they might give you the go-ahead to contact a repair firm to assist you with pressing issues like water damage and safeguarding your property from weather or intruders. They may also put you in contact with a restoration company if you don’t know of one.



A restoration business like Craftech can help you with any fire damage-related needs you have. Based on the severity of the fire, restoration specialists can advise you on next steps and assist you with any questions you might have during the difficult and confusing time.

Conclusion

A home fire can be extremely frightening and cause you to feel lost and unsure of your next steps. Be assured though, that even though it may be difficult, it’s definitely possible to recover.

At Craftech, we’re aware of how to assist you in quickly restoring your home and way of life. You can be assured that we know what to do and can help you through the entire process.



Please get in touch with us with any questions or if you've had a home fire and need assistance.