After a Fire – What to do Fire and smoke cause a lot of damage to one’s property. The building and your possessions may have been badly damaged by flames, heat, smoke and water. Furthermore, things that the fire did not consume are now ruined by smoke and drenched with water used for extinguishing. Anything you want to save or re-use will need to be carefully cleaned.
Although there are a number of companies who specialize in giving professional help in fire damage cleaning, there are some essential dos and don’ts that the property owner ought to follow, to minimize loss.
At the outset, ask professionals whether it is safe to enter the affected building or property, only after the authorities have checked out the site and established it as a safety zone. Make sure that the fire is extinguished. Contact family members that weren’t with you and let them know what happened, only the necessary details which are to be told. If you are a tenant, contact your real estate agent or landlord and inform them. It is imperative that you should take the responsibility of contacting your insurance company. Don’t assume that someone else is going to contact your insurance. It is essential to secure the affected building or property to prevent theft or vandalism. Cover all carpets with old rags and towels. In this way, the suspended particles in the air like soot will not cause further damage. Open the windows of the building, which will drive out the smoke and alleviate odour problems.