First Steps to Recovery After a House Fire

Imagine for a moment that you just had a fire in your home. Maybe it wasn't too bad and it didn't burn the entire house down. No one was injured, but it destroyed your kitchen, and really messed up part of your family room, too. The fire hoses soaked everything in that part of the house. The smoke was thick and filled every room, and everything you own now smells like smoke. There's also a film of soot covering everything. The fire is out and the smoke has cleared. So, what now?

There are steps you need to take right away. The hours immediately after a fire are crucial if you're going to recover quickly, so remember the following steps:

1. Immediately call your insurance agent or claims manager. You'll want to file your claim as quickly as possible and get the ball rolling on your recovery. Also, most policies have provisions for the insurance company to issue an immediate advance against your claim to pay for accommodations while the home is uninhabitable, so the sooner you file, the sooner you can plan your temporary living arrangements.

2. Find out when you can re-enter the home. Wait for the fire marshal to give you the "all clear" before going back inside. There are dangers from falling debris and chemicals in the air after a fire. The fire department will let you know when it's safe to go back into the house.

3. Secure your house. If there are holes in the structure or broken windows, you'll need to have it boarded up once the fire is out. You'll eventually have all of your belongings removed from the home, cleaned and stored for you. Until then, they need to be protected from thieves and weather. Regarding especially expensive items that can easily be removed (jewelry, cash, firearms etc.), you might want to consider relocating them to a more secure location immediately, if possible.

4. Make arrangements for a hotel stay, or accommodations with a relative nearby until you can make more long-term arrangements. Be sure to keep any hotel receipts for your insurance claims adjuster. Most insurance policies state that the insurance company will pay for any reasonable living expenses necessary to maintain the policy holder's current standard of living, and since you will likely be out of your home for several months while repairs are being made, you'll eventually want something larger and more comfortable than the initial hotel room. Your insurance agent can probably put you in touch with local resources for finding suitable temporary housing.

5. Buy some basic items like clothing, toiletries, etc. Since everything in your home will probably be saturated with the smell of smoke, it's best to just buy some new things to use until the professional cleaners can clean and remove the smoke odors from your clothing. The same advance against your insurance claim that pays for a hotel will also pay for these other needs.

6. Once you can safely go back inside your house, don't touch anything with your bare hands. Even things that appear unaffected by the fire will have a film of soot on them. The chemical reaction between the soot and the oils in your skin could permeate the objects and cause damage to things that could otherwise be cleaned and salvaged. That's especially the case with things like walls, furniture (both wood and upholstered), photos and art.

7. Contact ServiceMaster by Cornerstone (or a mitigation specialist in your area) to handle the cleanup. Delaying cleanup could cause further damage due to corrosive gasses from the fire, as well as water damage from the fire hoses. Mitigation companies like ServiceMaster have the equipment, expertise and manpower to handle everything, including the removal, cleaning and temporary storage of your belongings. They will work with your insurance company and repair contractors to get everything cleaned up and returned to normal as quickly as possible.

8. Make note of anything that is obviously damaged. ServiceMaster by Cornerstone will also take photos of the damage and all contents in the home, documenting each non-salvageable item. Those photos will then be sent to the claims adjuster in a convenient report intended to help speed up your claims process.

9. Prepare yourself for a few months of inconvenience while things are being put right again. Keep in mind that for a while at least, life is going to be very different from your usual routine and circumstances. There will be several phone calls with people ranging from your insurance company to your mitigation and repair contractors. There will be decisions to make and questions to answer. Just remember that everyone is working toward the same goal; getting you and your belongings back home again.

There's nothing easy about having a house fire. It turns your life upside down and can stress you out, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Try to stay positive, and don't lose sight of the fact that life will eventually go back to normal again.