What to Do in the Aftermath of a House Fire | SERVPRO® of Cedar Mill/Oak Hills

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

Restoring fire and smoke damage are one of our specialties. Contact SERVPRO of Cedar Mill/Oak Hills to learn more.

Experiencing a fire in your home is something that can completely alter your life. Being at home when a fire starts is traumatic, in addition to dealing with the aftermath of the damage to your property. Many people who experience a house fire are doing so for the first time, and learning all that comes after the incident can be an overwhelming process in and of itself.

Because we have helped countless households in our area recover from fires, we understand the ins and outs of fire recovery and wanted to share some of our favorite tips here. While we all hope a fire is something we never experience for our own households, it is something that is wise to prepare for just in case.

How to Handle the Aftermath of a House Fire

Contact your insurance company first. One of the small bright spots in an otherwise traumatic event is that oftentimes, homeowners insurance policies will provide some coverage for fire damage. If you experience a house fire, contact your insurance company right away to get details about how to proceed. They will typically have a procedure for working with a restoration company to have your damages assessed and professionally restored in a timely manner.

Check with the fire department. House fires can damage more than simply the area where the flames were. There will often be smoke and soot damage throughout the house, water damage where the fire was extinguished and even structural damage depending on how the fire department had to access the home. Before you return to the site, make sure to check with the fire department to determine if it is safe for you to do so.

Consider the emotional recovery. Experiencing a house fire is truly a traumatizing event, especially for young children, the elderly and pets. Disasters such as house fires can take an emotional toll for any family, so it is important to be aware of emotional healing needs after a fire, both for yourself and for your family. Oftentimes, organizations such as the Red Cross and FEMA will be able to put you in contact with staff that specializes in disaster recovery and the emotional aftermath.

If you need help with the restoration process after a house fire, you can depend on us. We have a team of technicians who specialize in fire restoration for residential buildings—contact us today to learn more.