After the Fire

What do I do after a fire?

  The first thing you want to do after a fire is to secure yourself and the site.

• Contact your local disaster relief service, (American Red Cross or the Salvation Army) to help you obtain immediate needs such as temporary housing, food, medicine and other essential items.

• The next thing to do is contact your insurance company to notify them a fire has occurred in your home.

Dangers

• Do not enter the damaged site. There may be unseen hazards such as smoldering remains of the fire or structural damage caused by the fire. Roofs and floors may be subject to collapse.

• Do not attempt to turn on the utilities (water, electric, gas) yourself after they have been shut off by the utility department.

Leaving your home

• Contact the police department to advise them the site will be unoccupied.

• In some cases it may be necessary to board up openings to discourage trespassers.

• Beginning immediately, save your receipts for any money you spend. These receipts are important in showing the insurance company what money you have spent related to your fire loss and also for verifying losses claimed on your income tax.

• Be sure to notify everyone of where you will be relocating to (insurance company, mortgage company, post office, etc).

• Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made by your insurance company.