What to Do and Not to Do after a Fire

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

Schedule an appointment with this locally-owned and -operated fire restoration company by calling (386) 447-2202.

A house fire is an unbelievable and confusing experience. Although you’ll feel relieved to be safe, you may be overwhelmed by the many tasks for your Painters Hill home or business ahead. A SERVPRO of Flagler County specialist can help address damage to your home. Here are some other helpful steps to take moving forward. 

Do:

Limit the movement in your home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets. It is important to try to keep your hands clean of soot to not further soil upholstery, walls, or woodwork. In your high traffic areas, it would be beneficial to place clean towels or linens on your carpeted floors. Make sure to pay attention to your refrigerator and freezer if the electricity is shut off, we would not want flooding or another odor in your home. It would be best to empty them and prop the doors open. Before SERVPRO’s arrival you could also tape double layers of cheesecloth over your air registers. 

SERVPRO will document every aspect of your home and business. The more information you provide your insurer, the better. When it’s safe to do so, we will walk around your home and take pictures of all damaged items and fixtures. Also creating an inventory of damaged personal belongings. Something as a Grand Haven home owner or business owner you could do to help is to write down a description of the damaged  item, how old it is, and estimate the replacement cost. Include any receipts or bills of sale.

Don’t:

Attempt to clean up the home alone. 

While it may be tempting to clean up, doing so can cause further damage to your belongings. Do not attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting us. Fire restoration professionals will come prepared with the necessary protective equipment to perform the task safely. Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat or water without consulting an authorized repair service. There is also a risk of instability and structural damage, luckily our SERVPRO of Flagler County team is certified to locate and treat these damages. We offer several reconstruction services such as board ups, roof tarps, carpet repair, drywall removal/ installation, furniture repair, and hardwood floor repair, and many others. 

SERVPRO of Flagler County provides 24/7 assistance to help salvage your home after a fire. Our professionals can clean all damaged areas, from upholstery, carpeting, to drywall removal. We also offer water removal and restoration if the home sustained damage while the fire was being extinguished. Schedule an appointment with this locally-owned and -operated fire restoration company by calling (386) 447-2202.