How to Deal With the Aftermath of a House Fire | SERVPRO® of Ames

10/16/2024 (Permalink)

A house fire is an absolutely devastating situation. No matter how quickly the fire was extinguished, it can still cause serious household damages and emotional repercussions for your entire family.

While handling the damage may seem overwhelming, you can make sure you are doing everything in your power to recover quickly and lessen the impact on your home and your mental well-being.

Enlist emotional support.

The damage that fires cause can be alarming to see firsthand. Firefighters will often have to break windows or cut holes in the roof or walls, and many items that were not near the fire may still be damaged by smoke, soot and water from the fire extinguishers. When you are preparing to see your home for the first time after a fire, understand that it will be traumatic and you will need to grieve. Bring people who can provide emotional support to you and your family, and be open to seeking therapeutic counseling to help yourselves through the grieving process if needed.

Wait to enter your home.

Though things may appear to not be damaged enough to make your home a hazard, never enter without first checking with officials to determine everything is safe. The invisible damage a fire causes can undermine a home’s structural elements, and a second combustion may even be possible depending on the source of the fire. Make sure you always wait for the official OK before reentering your home.

Contact your insurance company.

As soon as possible after the fire, contact your insurance agent to find out what your homeowners insurance policy covers and start your claim. Because policies vary so wildly, this should be done early on so you do not risk accidentally undermining your claim.

Document the damages.

Do a full inventory of all the damages, and take detailed photographs so you have record of everything in the home that is impacted. Not only will this be helpful as you work with your insurance adjuster, but it is also a handy tool for your personal records so you can see what you will need to replace in the home. It’s wise to have an ongoing inventory of your personal belongings before you experience a fire. If you already have a documented inventory, use that as a guide when assessing damage.

Contact your restoration company.

There is not enough good that can be said about working with a qualified fire restoration company to help you mitigate the damages. Fires are extremely stressful for your entire household, but working with a company you can trust, like SERVPRO of Ames, can alleviate many worries and headaches. We are experts at handling the details after a fire. We can help guide you through difficult steps, save you extra work and answer many of your questions along the way.

Call SERVPRO of Ames at (515) 233-4544 anytime, day or night, to help you recover after a fire. We live and work in your local Boone and Story County areas and understand what you need most after experiencing this kind of traumatic disaster. We’re ready to help!