Recovery From a Fire

Immediately After the Fire
Immediately after the fire, you may be wondering why there are broken windows and holes in the ceilings and roof of your home. To explain this, you must know that as a fire burns, it moves upward, then outward. Ventilating by removing windows and cutting holes in the roof stops that damaging outward movement, and enables the fire department to fight the fire more efficiently, resulting in less damage in the long run. The fire department will also create holes in the walls to be sure, ABSOLUTELY SURE, that ALL the fire is out and that there is no hidden fire inside the walls or partitions. In some instances, the area immediately surrounding the fire will be roped off or posted with signs directing persons to keep out. These are placed at the scene by order of the Fire Chief who is charged by law to determine the cause and origin of every fire. When these signs are posted, do not enter the premises for any reason without permission from the officer in charge. If you have other questions about the suppression operation or the fire, please don’t hesitate to call the fire department for more information.
Securing the Site
The site of the fire needs to be protected from further damage by weather, theft or vandalism. If you are the owner, it becomes your responsibility to protect your property from further loss and see that any holes are covered against rain and entry. All outside doors to your home should be locked or secured. The fire department will help with this activity.
You should also contact your insurance agent or company to report the loss. He or she must be notified of the fire and may also be able to help you find resources to make immediate repairs. If you cannot reach your agent or need professional assistance in boarding up your home, a general contractor, fire damage restoration firm or fire service firm can help. Check your yellow pages. If the fire is not under investigation and you plan to leave the fire site, try to remove any valuables remaining in the building. Do not leave until the site has been secured and your valuables have been removed. If the fire department is investigating the fire, they will have a police officer accompany you while you remove valuables from your property and they will inventory the property you take. If you are a tenant, contact the resident manager or the owner. See that your personal belongings are secure within the building or move them to another location, such as the home of a relative or friend.
Leaving your Home
Whether the decision to leave your home is your own or based on the fire officer’s judgment that the residence is unsafe, there are certain things you will need to know.
- Contact the local police. They will keep an eye on the property during your absence.
- If you are insured under a package homeowner’s or tenant’s policy, a section of your coverage may pay for the extra costs of temporary housing such as a hotel.
- If you are in need of immediate funds, ask your insurance agent about how soon you might get an advance on your eventual insurance claim settlement.
- Do NOT attempt to open your safe at this time. A safe involved in a fire may hold the intense heat for several hours. If the door is opened before the safe has cooled down, the entering air, combined with the high inside temperature, may cause the contents to burst into flames.
Locate the Following Items to Take With You:
- Identification
- Vital medicines such as insulin or blood pressure regulating drugs
- Eyeglasses, hearing aids, prosthetic devices or other personal aids
- Valuables such as credit cards, checkbooks, insurance policies, savings account books, money, etc.
Notify the Following Parties of Your Location:
- Your insurance agent or adjuster
- Your mortgage company - Inform them also of the fire
- Your employer
- Family and friends
- Your children’s school(s)
- Your attorney
- Your post office - Have them either hold or forward your mail depending on the length of time you expect to be relocated.
- Delivery services such as those for newspapers
- Utility companies - Including telephone, heat, power, and water
Returning to Normal
Files
what-to-do-after-the-fire.pdf
what to do after the fire
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