Fire and Smoke Damage: What To Do

Accidents happen to the best of us. When those accidents dramatically impact your home or business in the form of a fire, “I’m sorry” just will not be enough to cover the damage. Most fires are caused by carelessness and are certainly the most devastating catastrophe a businessman or homeowner could experience. Material loss is only the tip of the iceberg; the recovery from these losses can take a long time even if you are properly insured. What the fire doesn’t take with it, the fireman’s water brigade will drown and the smoke and ash will tarnish. In the aftermath, what do you have left? Before the sorting process begins it is important to take a step back, a deep breath and ask for some help. The cleanup after a devastating fire is not a job you can tackle alone.

There must be a beginning and here is a list to help get you get started.  

- First things first, get approval from your local fire marshal to re-enter your home or business. The structure may not be sound enough to bear your weight or chemicals may have been used to fight the fire. You need the green light from emergency services to start the clean-up process.

- Allow for sufficient air flow and ventilation around the whole work zone. This can be simply done by opening windows, doors and garages of the building. If possible, install some fans to forcefully circulate the air. Don’t enter the home alone.

- Attempt to do a “walk through” and do your best to inventory valuables if one does not yet exist. Most insurance policies cover personal property up to a certain extent. Try to record some video and take pictures of the scene focusing in on the valuable items. 

- Be sure to contact your insurance provider and schedule an adjuster to come out ASAP. It also may be wise to ask a Public Adjuster to be your advocate in these negotiations.

- It is time to mitigate any further damage. It may be wise to seek a professional fire damage restoration company  at this point to assist with the cleanup process. If water was used to fight the fire, water extraction equipment  will help speed up the process.

- Soot can also stain walls and may require special chemicals and a careful hand to sponge off the residue and scrub away the traces of the soot. Cautionary measures should also be observed when applying such caustic materials to walls and ceilings.

- Start organizing piles of salvageable items and get a trash receptacle delivered to your home for items that cannot be salvaged. Time to make some tough decisions. Get rid of the items that there is just no hope of saving.

Most insurance providers would have a listing of restoration services in Philadelphia  that they have already pre approved for fire, flood & smoke damage. Most of the more accomplished fire damage cleanup services  will have a website and can be found with a quick search on Google. Professional restorers may understand the situation of the fire and smoke damage cleanup and therefore have insights on project planning. Working with a reputable disaster response team in Philadelphia  can mean the difference between you struggling though an emotionally devastating experience and takings unnecessary risks or placing the responsibility of cleanup in the hands of an accomplished professional while you start rebuilding your life as best you can.