What to Do After a Fire

5/30/2020 (Permalink)

A homeowner inspects her gutted home after fire damage. Call SERVPRO of Jacksonville Beach/Ponte Vedra to help you recover from disaster 904-246-6118.

Any fire can be devastating. When a fire occurs, the most important thing is the safety of your family and pets. Once everyone is safe and secure, it’s time to work on a plan for what to do next. SERVPRO of Jacksonville Beach/Ponte Vedra has created this checklist of safety precautions and more, to help begin the recovery after fire damage.

What to Do After a Fire

Call your insurance company immediately. Following ironing the details with your insurance company, contact SERVPRO of Jacksonville Beach/Ponte Vedra so the fire damage cleanup process can begin quickly. Make sure to notify your mortgage company of the fire also. If you’re not sure that the home is structurally safe, have it inspected by a certified structural engineer or building inspector before going near. If you don't know a licensed structural engineer, let SERVPRO refer one to you.

• Take pictures of all exterior damage, noting broken windows or entrances that are no longer secure.
• Make arrangements to board-up broken windows and secure the property during the cleanup and restoration process. Do you know SERVPRO does board-up and fencing?
• Shut off propane tank systems and make an appointment for them to be inspected for safety.
• Do not attempt to reconnect utilities on your own.
• Be aware that rodents, snakes, or other animals may have entered your home after you've vacated the property.

Inside the home:

• Don’t flip on electrical switches in any room with standing water from firefighting efforts.
• Don’t enter any room if you hear popping or see sparking.
• Turn off the power at the main electrical panel.
• Try not touch anything covered with soot; it’s easy to transfer it to other areas of the home, making the cleaning process more difficult.
• Wear closed-toed shoes or boots, long sleeves, long pants and gloves to protect against soot and any other contaminants as you go through the home.
• Try to locate important papers and other documents that you’ll need.
• Handle burned money as little as possible. You can take its remains to a Regional Federal Reserve Bank for replacement.
• Begin taking inventory of the building damage and all damaged items.
• Begin saving receipts for any expenses incurred after the fire. These may be needed when filing insurance claims.

Fire Damage Cleanup and Restoration

Companies like SERVPRO of Jacksonville Beach/Ponte Vedra have the expertise, as well as the right products and equipment to safely and effectively clean and restore a home after a fire. Fire damage includes more than just items burned. There will be soot, smoke, and water damage from the fire department as well.

A professional cleaning team will assess the damage to flooring, drywall, cabinets, furniture and more, before developing a plan for a thorough cleanup. Additionally, mold growth may be a concern if rooms and items that have been saturated with water during the fire-fighting efforts, are not dried out quickly.

Items that may need to be cleaned for soot and smoke removal include, but are not limited to:

• Carpets and area rugs
• Flooring: hardwood, tile and vinyl
• Woodwork and other hard surfaces like counter tops and cabinetry
• Electronics and appliances
• Furniture and upholstery
• Draperies, linens and clothing
• Books, artwork, papers and documents

After a fire, let SERVPRO of Jacksonville Beach/Ponte Vedra tackle the tough jobs and give you the peace of mind that your home will be cleaned and restored quickly, safely and correctly. Call us 24/7/365 at 904-246-6118 for any fire, smoke, or soot damage in your home or business.