Step by Step Fire Recovery for Homeowners

by Kristopher Samuels Writer

After a house fire, homeowners are left with damage caused by smoke, the flames themselves, and water damage from the firefighters extinguishing the blaze. The cleanup and recovery process is a lengthy one that will one require teams of restoration professionals and contractors to put your house back in order. It helps to know what they’re going to do and how you can make sure the cleanup is done properly.

Fire Insurance and Recovery

The first step in the fire recovery process is contacting your insurance company and initiating a claim. Filing a fire insurance claim provides access to the insurance coverage you need to pay for restoration services. The insurer may pay restoration professionals directly or make the mortgagor on the homeowner co-payable on the cheque.

Handling a fire insurance claim is a long and complicated process. You will be dealing with an insurance adjuster who works on behalf of the insurance company. They will review the damage to your property and work with professionals to estimate the costs of repairing your home and replacing your belongings. There will be a lot of information and paperwork you need to prepare and you may disagree with the adjuster’s estimates. You can find more information about the fire insurance claim process at https://viranilaw.ca/ and learn what you can do to improve your claim.

The Cleanup Process

Restoration professionals – the contractors who clean up smoke, fire, and water damage – follow six steps to cleaning up a home after a fire loss:

#1 Confirm the Safety of the Property

Before doing anything, they must confirm the safety of the property with the proper authorities, such as the fire department or an engineer. As the homeowner, you will also have to wait until the property is deemed safe to enter before you are able to start documenting damage and/or working towards any cleanup.

#2 Limit the Damage

The damage caused by smoke, fire, and extinguishing efforts will only get worse with time. Soot staining becomes harder to remove the longer it remains, so professionals will have to act quickly. Likewise, mold and mildew can begin to grow where there has been saturation or water damage.

Restoration professionals will most likely begin to clean up smoke damage with an air scrubber and air mover to improve the air quality on the site.

#3 Remove Soot

Removing soot quickly will make the cleanup process go smoothly and improve air quality in the home for both the homeowner and workers. Everything is washed and wiped down with an appropriate cleaner. Vacuuming can also help remove some of the airborne particles.

#4 Remove Debris and Unsalvageable Belongings

Debris and personal belongings that were too damaged to salvage come next. As the homeowner, it’s imperative that you document belongings before they are removed. Since professionals will likely be the ones removing them, make sure you have a chance to photograph or video the extent of the damage first. If you remove anything on your own, be sure to document the item as you found it, and let your insurance company know where you’ve taken it.

#5 Remove Water and Dehumidify

Once soot has been removed and cleaned, professionals will tackle water damage by cleaning up any standing water and then using commercial dehumidifiers to deal with water that has soaked into the walls and flooring.

#6 Deodorize and Remove Deep Stains

Finally, it’s time to deodorize the home and get rid of those deep, stubborn stains. Fabrics are particularly adept at catching and holding onto smoke odors, and curtains and carpets will largely have to be disposed of.

Throughout the process, make sure you get updates from restoration professionals. You can intervene when something is going on that you disagree with. The cleaning and restoration process is an essential part of rebuilding, and you have a right to know how the process is going.