Have you ever considered what to do after a fire has occurred in your home or business? Or do you know how to protect yourself while attempting to minimize further damage and safely remove the soot and start the restoration process?
Experiencing a fire can be very devastating, causing substantial structural damage, residual smoke odors, and emotional pain. Following the event, it is imperative to act quickly and accurately to maintain safety and start the restoration process.
This blog will provide you with actionable steps to take immediately after fire damage, including safety tips, professional restoration steps, and when to call a professional fire damage restoration company in Auburn Hills for help.
How to Deal with Fire Damage- Step By Step Approach
By taking safety as a top priority, contacting your insurance, securing your property, and contacting the professionals, you can help speed along the process and minimize further damage.
Step 1: Safety First
Before doing anything, safety should always come first. After a fire, even when the fire is out, there might still be hidden dangers present. Structural instability, toxic or flammable fumes, or electrical hazards, among other threats, could be present and cause harm to you and your family.
Do not enter the property until fire officials or emergency responders say you can. The house may appear structurally sound from the outside, but there could be weak walls, ceilings, or floors inside.
If you are allowed to enter, certainly wear protective clothing including gloves, sturdy shoes or boots, and a properly fitted mask. Smoke and soot particles can be dangerous to inhale, especially for individuals with respiratory problems. Open doors and windows to ventilate the area as much as possible to remove any remaining smoke.
Step 2: Call Your Insurance Company Right Away
After verifying that everyone is safe, your next phone call should be to your insurance company. The sooner you make this call, the sooner they can start the claims process. Be prepared to provide as much information as possible about the incident and the damage done to your property.
Do not get rid of damaged objects until your insurance adjuster has the chance to assess the situation because they need to see the damage for themselves. Make sure to take quality photos and videos from different angles to show the damage done.
Your insurance agents may also recommend trusted professionals in Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Auburn Hills, who can provide fire and smoke cleanup while working with you and your claim.
Step 3: Secure the Property
Fire and smoke may leave your home and/or building vulnerable to the elements, as well as to vandalism and theft. If windows are broken, doors are damaged, or the roof is compromised, the risk of theft and property loss can increase. If applicable, set up emergency board-up services to secure the property.
Professional restoration teams can often arrive at the site first to help secure your home from further loss or create hazardous safety conditions. If damage occurs in a commercial space, it is often even worth securing the premises to protect their inventory, equipment, and sometimes even private data.
Step 4: Assess the Damage Done from Fire and Smoke
Once you have ensured the property is safe and secured, it is finally time to look at the damage that has happened. Fire damage doesn’t just mean burned walls and furniture; your entire home can be contaminated with smoke and soot.
Smoke residue can permeate walls, ceilings, upholstery, and even electronics. The longer it lingers, the more challenging it will be to remove, and whichever areas are not cleaned promptly may cause permanent damage, including odor and staining.
This is when you should contact Smoke Damage Restoration experts in Auburn Hills. They have the tools and methods to assess visible and hidden damage so that nothing is missed.
Step 5: Start Professional Smoke & Soot Removal
Removing the effects of fire is not as simple as just wiping down the surfaces. Smoke and soot contain acids that will begin to corrode the materials as they sit. Cleaning it yourself could do even more damage if you don’t have the right equipment or materials.
Smoke Damage Restoration Services in Auburn Hills employ technicians who will use advanced practices to remove soot, deodorize affected areas, and perform cleaning on the surfaces. This will typically include:
- Deep cleaning your walls, ceilings, and flooring
- Ozone treatments or thermal fogging for odor neutralization
- HVAC system cleaning to prevent the spread of soot
- Cleaning of salvageable items
Every minute counts when it comes to cleaning smoke damage. The sooner you get in touch with someone, the more likely your items and home will be saved.
Step 6: Identify Water Damage Caused by Firefighting Efforts
Water used to put out the fire can create further problems. If excess humidity is present and is not properly taken care of, it can result in mold growth, the structural integrity of the building may become unsafe, and conditions will further worsen. A comprehensive Smoke Damage Restoration Company in Auburn Hills will take care of water extraction and drying services as part of the restoration process. Heavy-duty dehumidifiers and air movers are used to mitigate the affected areas completely.
This is important in order to not only protect your property but also to prevent secondary damage, which can hinder the recovery process.
Step 7: Assess and Restore Salvageable Items
Not everything that was damaged in a fire is a complete loss. Most personal items, like furniture, documents, and electronics etc., can often be cleaned and restored with professional cleaning and restoration.
Smoke Damage Restoration Near Me experts utilize ultrasonic cleaning systems and proprietary treatments to clean soot and odors from household contents. The experts will also be packing and storing items safely during the restoration.
Step 8: Treat Odors
After the cleanup, you may notice that smoke odors will still linger for weeks and even months if they are not treated correctly, even when visible damages are cleaned. The odors will likely have permanently penetrated porous materials such as carpet, insulation, and upholstery.
Professionals use advanced deodorization techniques like ozone treatment, hydroxyl generators, or thermal fogging, which will neutralize odors at the molecular level. These methods will ultimately restore your home or office to a fresh and clean atmosphere.
Step 9: Rebuild and Restore
After the cleanup and deodorization, and following the inspection, it should be time to rebuild what is lost. Depending on the level of damage, you may only need minor repairs, or there may be a need for major reconstruction.
Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration professionals in Auburn Hills can care for every aspect, from repairing drywall and painting to complete remodeling. Their job is to restore your property to the pre-loss condition or better.
This is a chance not only to rebuild your property but to make it safer and more functional.
Step 10: Fire Prevention Steps
After you have restored your property, the final step is prevention. Recovering from a fire is an emotional process, and making a plan from an emotional and realistic standpoint can prevent it from happening again.
Install smoke detectors on every level of your home; test them every month; replace the batteries at least once a year. Keep fire extinguishers on every level of your home, especially in the kitchen and garage.
Consider scheduling electrical inspections, as faulty wiring is one of the most common causes of fires. Prepare a practical fire escape plan and ensure every family member knows exactly what to do.
Final Thoughts- Always Rely On Experts For Effective Smoke Damage Restoration
Experiencing a fire is one of the most gut-wrenching experiences a home or business owner will experience. However, if you are prepared for what to do right after the event occurs, it can make a tremendous amount of difference.
Based in Auburn Hills, Pristine Clean is the reliable name for fire and smoke restoration. Our experienced professionals provide timely, reliable, and compassionate service to aid both home and business owners in regaining their lives after suffering from a devastating fire incident.
If a disaster occurs, feel free to contact us not only to restore the property but also your peace of mind.
