Having damage done to your home is always a nightmare. Not only is property damage expensive but it also can leave people with nowhere to live. The thought of this happening is enough to keep anyone up at night; however, this is some people’s reality. And this is especially someone’s reality if fire damage was what occurred. The thing about fire damage compared to other kinds of damage is that it’s not forgiving. Everything in the fire’s path will be destroyed or unable to be used again. And while technology has been improved these days to prevent fires from occurring as much as they used to, it is estimated that about 400,000+ fires still occur every year. While this statistic has been almost cut in half compared to what it was 20+ years ago, it still sees many Americans affected each year. Fire cannot always be stopped, but it does help to know what to do after it occurs. Follow along below to learn some of the dos and don’ts of dealing with fire damage.
Do: Stay Safe
During a fire, the main priority is making sure you and your loved ones are safe. Although there may be a few things you want to attempt to grab, we recommend resisting the urge and staying as far away from the fire as possible. We say this because although the fire may be at the back of the house or small, the smoke that comes from the fire is very dangerous and can be suffocating. This remains true after the fire has been put out. You may have the urge to see if any of your household items have survived the fire, but keep in mind that even if anything did survive, you may not be able to use it or hold onto it anymore. Sometimes materials and items can become hazardous after being drenched in the chemicals involved in a fire and the smoke. We know that this is a difficult time; however, waiting for the professionals to come out to your home is the best thing you can do. They will be able to answer any questions you may have.
Don’t: Turn on Any Electrical Items
Say your fire was small and only really affected a small portion of the house. This isn’t the best news, of course, but it certainly could have been worse. You still have your house and life; you may just have some damages to get fixed. Regardless of this situation, you should not turn on any of the electrical items. This includes any T.V.s, appliances, radios, and any items that need to be plugged in such as a phone, tablet, or laptop. You will not know if the electrical circuits throughout the house were damaged because of the fire. And if they are damaged, using them could be a huge hazard to you and your loved ones. Wait until a professional can come on out and better advise you on what to do next.
Do: Call Tri-County Restoration, Inc.
The important thing to do, after making sure everyone is safe, is to call a company you can trust such as Tri-County Restoration, Inc. Our team can come on out and take photos, notes, and videos of all the damage that occurred because of the fire. This will be very useful when you need to file an insurance claim, which is another part of the process we can assist you with. After dealing with fire you are not going to want the added stress of dealing with an insurance company. You also are not going to want to run the risk of inaccurately filling out the claim and receiving less than what you deserve, or not receiving anything at all.
If you have been dealing with fire damage at your home and do not know what to do next, let our team of experts help you. Our team at Tri-County Restoration, Inc. knows what kind of photos of the damage need to be taken, how to fill out the claim to get you everything you need, and how to negotiate with the insurance companies. We truly can do it all. To learn more about the do’s and don’ts of fire damage, and our services, give us a call today at (888) 906-0188.
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