Accidents can happen when you least expect them. Whether it’s due to a flash flood or another weather-related incident, your home can become the next victim. If a fire breaks out in your home, it can destroy everything in its path. So learn these five safety steps to take after a fire outbreak so you can be prepared.
Talk to Your Insurance Agent
Contacting your insurance agent is one of the first safety steps to take after a fire outbreak in your home. They are the professionals who help you with property emergencies and make sure you’re aware of coverage options.
Additionally, they’ll recommend restoration companies and qualified remediation to get your property back to its original state. Lastly, insurance agents will assist you in identifying coverages you may have for amenities, such as shelter assistance, food and clothing.
Collect Damage Information
When you get the chance, document every damage loss as early as possible. Whether you or a mitigation expert steps in, photographing interior and structural damage demolition will help you track what was lost in the accident.
Make sure you capture photos of any ruined contents and equipment from your home before taking it to the dumpster. You want to collect as much information as possible to support insurance claims and receive coverage.
Clean Up as Best You Can
After the fire completely dissipates, you’ll want to get in as best you can and help with the cleanup process. When the time comes for rebuilding and repair, remove any unaffected furniture, possessions and equipment from your home. As you pack and move everything, you’ll want to clean off everything you find.
Cleaning off soot and smoke stains after a fire is necessary to prevent secondhand smoke contamination. It’s also essential to hire professionals who can adequately perform smoke and soot removal, especially for rugs, upholstery and electrical equipment. A great carpet cleaning tip is to understand the surface or fibers you’re working with in order to get them the right kind of deep clean.
Install Smoke Alarms on Every Home Level
If you had fire alarms that failed during the fire outbreak, it’s time to replace them with new ones. You should place them throughout the home on every floor, including in the basement.
Make sure to test your fire alarms every month. If they aren’t working, battery replacement is the next step.
Prepare a Fire Escape Plan
Experiencing a fire in your home can traumatize you and your family. So, take the initiative and create a fire escape plan in case of future fire outbreaks. You’ll want to know what to do as soon as a fire starts, what to do if it can’t be controlled and how to leave your home quickly and safely.
It’s essential to keep the plan efficient and memorize it. The last thing you want is someone getting injured because they don’t know what to do when a fire breaks out. You’ll thank yourself later for taking action.
Having a fire destroy your home and everything you built is stressful and heartbreaking. Luckily, professionals and other people will support you in your time of need and help you get your life back to normal.