What To Do After a Home Fire

What To Do After a Home Fire Seek Shelter You will probably need to stay somewhere else after a house fire Contact friends and family, or look for a hotel in the area where you can stay Disaster relief services such as the Red Cross can also provide help at this time Contact Your Insurance Provider Call your insurance company to let them know what happened Ask how you should report your belongings that were damaged or destroyed Find out if your insurance covers the cost of professional fire, smoke, and water cleanup Use Caution Do not reenter your home until the fire department says it is safe to do so Don't try to force open doors that are stuck shut- it could cause additional damage or collapse CAUTION If you smell gas, leave the premises immediately and alert the fire department CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION Be Safe with Utilities The fire department will let you know when it's safe to use your utilities If it is unsafe, they will turn them off before they leave your home Never try to turn your utilities back on by yourself, as this can be dangerous Call the Pros Cleaning up after a fire is a big job, and can be hazardous if done improperly Damage can happen as a result of the fire itself, smoke and soot, and water from extinguishing the fire Soot and remaining water may contain substances that can harm your health Document Everything Save receipts for any expenditures related to the fire Your insurance company may require them for reimbursement You may be entitled to tax benefits for recovering from fire loss, so save everything Provided by: WATER PRO RESTORATION WATER. FIRE. CLEAN-UP. RENOVATION www.waterprorestoration.com Sources: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa_46.pdf http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/ m38840101_picking-up-the-pieces-after-a-fire.pdf