After experiencing a house fire, you may feel homeless and have no idea what to do next. However, by knowing the right way to go about it, you can easily recover and rebuild your life. In case the worst happens, or you have already been affected by a house fire, don’t feel lost. In this article, we will share some handy tips that you may utilize to ensure your home is safe, covered for any eventuality, and restored.
Here are 8 important tips that can help you recover from a house fire and keep your family protected:
1. Assess the Extent of Damage
The safety of you and your family comes first when your house has been destroyed or damaged by fire. Once the firefighters are done with making sure the entire fire is out, there are structural and environmental aspects that have to be done. That will establish whether your house is safe to get in before you can begin doing recoveries. Hence, before going back to your home, wait for clearance from the firefighters and other experts in damage assessment. as well as the local authorities.
2. Approach with Cautions
Once your house is declared safe to enter, protect yourself by wearing protective gear such as masks to avoid exposure to smoke residue and other contaminants. Also, beware that the structure may not be very stale, especially with loose hanging objects. If the house was determined to be unsafe, find somewhere else to stay until it has been substantially repaired.
3. Inform Insurance Company
Did your house have insurance coverage? Once the fire has been contained, you are supposed to inform your insurance agent of the incident as soon as possible. You are not supposed to engage in any repairs or move items until they have independently assessed the damage caused. This will allow them to determine the amount of compensation from your claim and reconstruct your house. However, you should personally also take evidence of the extent of the damage by taking photos and documenting everything lost or damaged.
4. Close all Openings and Entrances
After a fire, your house may be left exposed, as anyone can easily access it through the broken windows and doors. Hence, you need to protect it from further damage, theft, or vandalism. Close the windows and doors and other openings with boards and cover damaged areas with plastic sheeting. If the damage to the walls was also extensive, consider doing perimeter fencing with temporary and cheaper material to limit trespass. It will also make the house safe while it undergoes restoration.
5. Work with Professionals
Recovering from a house fire often requires the use of skilled professionals during the reconstruction. A damaged house may be even more challenging to recover than a new house, and everything has to be done perfectly to avoid other maintenance costs in the future. For structural works, you need to get a contractor with reputable engineering works to make sure the house is stable and rebuilt before other amenities can be installed. Avoid shortcuts when it comes to other delicate amenities like drainage and electrification, which will need to be overhauled due to their sensitivity.
6. Clean Thoroughly after Renovations
Once the work is done, clean your house intensively to remove debris, dust, and the smell of smoke. You may employ professional cleaners or do it yourself to cut costs. All you need to do is identify the best cleaning agents to make the work easier. Baking soda, for example, is an inexpensive and natural odor-absorber that you can use to cleanse tubs, sinks, and toilets without causing scratches. In areas that wont clean well, you may seek help from skilled local cleaners.
7. Seek Medical Checkup
The aftermath of a house fire can take a toll on your physical and emotional state of health. Take care of yourself and your family by prioritizing health and well-being. Seek medical attention for any injuries or health concerns resulting from the fire. For instance, you may have inhaled smoke during the process of getting to safety or recovering items that could result in respiratory issues. If you are to live in the same house again, you all need to go through counseling to forget what has happened and be able to move on.
8. Restore Households in Phases
After restoring your home after a fire, you also need to make it comfortable to live in with your family. That requires careful planning, budgeting, and requisitioning to ensure that you have basic items restored first. Work closely with your partner to develop a plan for giving back life to your house in a way that will make you forget that anything tragic ever happened. Additionally, for your family to feel safer, consider installing your home with fire prevention and fighting equipment such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to reduce the risk of future incidents.