What you should do after a house fire.
Experiencing a house fire is a frightening ordeal, no matter how big or small it is. Although you may be worried about your personal property, the most important thing is to get everyone out of the house to make sure that your family, friends, and household pets are safe.
Once you’re all safe and sound, then you can deal with the aftermath. To get you started on the road to recovery, we’re going to discuss what to do after a house fire and then go over some tips to help you avoid one in the first place.
What to Do After a House Fire
Any kind of fire can be extremely nerve-wracking, and knowing what to do once everyone’s outside can be a little confusing. To help you out, here are a few quick tips on what to do after a house fire:
Call 911 and Check for Injuries
Once you’ve made it outside and done a quick head count to make sure that everyone’s accounted for, you need to call 911. Don’t assume that a neighbor has already done it. Let the 911 operator know if you have any injuries so they can dispatch an ambulance if needed. Also, keep an eye on people and pets in case there was smoke inhalation that might be immediately obvious.
Stay Out Until the Home Is Safe
Even a small house fire can cause enough structural damage to make your home unsafe. The fact that you left some belongings inside or that your kids left their precious phones simply isn’t enough reason to go back in. Wait until the fire department has arrived and you’ve been given an official notice that entry is safe.
Locate a Safe Place to Stay
If your home isn’t safe to enter, then you need to find somewhere else to stay as soon as possible. This is actually something you should probably set up long before a house fire occurs. Make sure that you have at least a couple relatives or friends who are willing and prepared to have you stay with them for at least a few days until you can figure things out.
Call a Public Adjuster to File a Claim
After things have settled down a bit, you need to file a claim for fire and smoke damage. Homeowners will often contact their insurance company, but a public insurance adjuster is more likely to fight for a fair settlement. An adjuster knows the ins and outs of all insurance claim types, including fire and smoke, flood and water, roof, wind, and hurricane damage.
How to Keep Your Family Safe
Knowing what to do after a house fire is very important, but it’s even more crucial that you understand how to prevent one in the first place.
Follow these tips to help keep your family safe:
Every month, test smoke detectors
Smoke detectors are one of those things that are easy to forget about until the moment when you really need them. There are several things you should check around your home every month, such as leaky faucets, damaged electrical cords, etc., to keep your household safe and running smoothly. Add a smoke detector test to your monthly to-do list and replace batteries or entire units as needed.
Be Careful with Space Heaters
Even though many Florida homes have central heat, homeowners still often rely on space heaters because they’re convenient and use much less electricity. The problem is that space heaters get very hot and can cause a fire if you’re not careful. Make sure you unplug them when no one’s in the room, and definitely never fall asleep with one turned on. Also, don’t leave flammable materials like paper and clothing sitting in front of them.
Conduct Fire Drills (with Pets, Too)
Although the likelihood of having a house fire in any given month or year is low, you always want to be prepared. We should consider having a fire drill at least every 3–6 months, along with a written plan of action. Designate what each person should do if a fire breaks out, how to deal with pets, and where to meet outside. Even a biannual fire drill can save lives!
For more information on what to do after a house fire, contact Property Protectors
Property Protectors is the most trusted public adjuster in Florida. If you have any questions on what to do after a house fire or are in need of our services for any type of residential or commercial damage claim, reach out to us at (800) 658-1943 today to schedule a free consultation.