House fires are scary experiences. And not just at the time. Even after they are quelled, they continue to pose dangers and hazards in the areas that they have impacted. Their aftermaths can be just as frightening as when they were active. You probably want to know, “What do I do after a house fire?”
To protect yourself and your loved ones, read on to see exactly what needs to be done.
Be Cautious When Re-entering Your Home
Even once the fire is quelled, it still might not be safe for you to re-enter your home. This is because the flames may have damaged the structural integrity of the building, This could mean it could come crashing down at any second.
Plus, there may still be smoke inside. Subjecting yourself or your family to that will only result in health complications going forward.
For this reason, you have to be very cautious when you come to re-entering your home. Only do so once a professional has given you the green light. Even if it takes many days or longer for you to be able to step foot back inside your home, for your safety, you simply have to wait. Depending on the severity, you might not ever be allowed back in. If this is the case, unfortunately, you have to learn to accept it.
Work Alongside a Restoration Service
Aligning yourself with a fire damage restoration service right away is a smart move. This will see that your home receives a thorough evaluation. This company will identify what work is needed to return your home to its former glory as quickly as possible.
Such a service would see your home be checked for areas of not only fire damage but also water damage. This is essential, as the firefighting process most likely brought water into your home. Discovering it quickly is essential if you don’t want it to add to your problems going forward.
Working alongside a fire damage restoration service will also speed up the process of you having structural restoration performed on your home. They will pay particular attention to the areas most affected by the fire.
Make a Few Calls
As soon as the pandemonium of your house fire is over, you should set some time aside to make a few calls. House fires are harrowing experiences. Even if you or your loved ones were not present during the fire, there is still suffering.
Loved ones will be incredibly worried about your well-being. They will be looking for answers. This means you should call them quickly to ease their fears. Contact family members and friends to ensure that they know that you and your immediate family are safe.
Another important call is to your home insurance provider. You should know that nobody is going to contact them for you. Regardless of what you’ve been through, pick up the phone and call them. They will talk you through the next steps. This could involve emergency lodging and money for living expenses. Make this one of your first calls.
Be Helpful When It Comes to the Fire Report
Fire reports are conducted after all fires. Don’t feel personally attacked when one is conducted into yours. Be as helpful as you can during the conducting of this report. Be honest. They will ask about many things that might have been in your home and contributed to the fire.
It might be difficult to take the blame, especially for something that has had such an impact on your family’s life, but having the right information gathered is crucial at this stage. You should seek to get a copy of this report for your own keeping. It could prove beneficial to you should the case be taken further.
Protecting yourself and your loved ones is an ongoing task. I’ve included 22 Extremely Important Tips for Home Safety that will better inform you about fire safety and other tips. You have to resolve to be proactive going forward. If you’ve already lost so much, this shouldn’t be too hard to do. It is necessary, though, if you want to get back to “normal life” again.
