There are few things scarier than experiencing a house fire, especially a kitchen fire. Given that there are so many accelerants located inside this area, what started out as a bit of grease on the burner can quickly become a raging inferno that endangers your family.
Once your loved ones are all safe and the immediate danger has passed, you may feel lost as to what to do next. While most of us are taught fire safety in school and throughout our lives, many of us don’t know how to deal with the aftermath, including who to call and how to begin the recovery process. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to move back to normal, starting right when the fires die down and the rescue teams depart.
Assess the damage as soon as it’s safe to do so
First, it’s important to note that you should never enter a building until the firefighters say that it is safe to do; even if it appears that the fire is out, smoldering carpet or wood can still be hot enough to burn you. More than that, house fires create noxious gasses that can cause severe respiratory damage, and these gasses take time to clear out.
Once you have been given the all-clear to enter, you should pull out your phone and start taking photos and videos of the damage. It’s important that you’re able to document belongings that will need to be replaced by the insurance company, and that you have a general example of the layout for the restoration company. If there are any unburned areas of wall or floor, take pictures of this as well, as they can be used for renovation.
The firefighters will have used enormous amounts of water and fire suppressant sprays in order to put out the fire, so you should expect to find both fire and water damage throughout the area. Be advised that this water will contain chemicals leached from the burnt belongings, and you should wear protection like boots and gloves when touching the water.
Contact your insurance agent and a restoration company
Your next steps are to get professionals involved: namely, your insurance company and restoration experts. The insurance agent will help you get a claim started so that you can be compensated for damaged belongings and for the remediation process. They will ask for documentation, including pictures of the scene, then send assessors out to take a look at the damage and determine how much was materially lost. The company will also estimate how much it will take to return the property back to its original state.
Once you have informed your insurance company, it’s time to get in touch with a Portland restoration team who can get your home back to normal. Most water damage remediation companies work directly with your insurance, but you should double-check with both your agent and with the remediation company to ensure that they will work together.
Secure the area and get air circulating
In the aftermath of the fire, you need to ensure that no trespassers enter, as you will still be liable if they are injured on your property. Board up any broken windows or doors; you might also want to use caution tape or other barriers to inform people that it is not safe to enter.
However, you also want to maintain adequate airflow, both to help dry out soaked surfaces and to disperse the noxious gasses released by the fire. When you’re available to protect the property, open windows and use fans to circulate air throughout the area. Note that you should never use electrical systems that have been compromised by the fire, and don’t try to reconnect circuits yourself just to plug in fans. Instead, use generators, which should always be placed at least 20 ft away from the interior of a home.
Carefully remove debris
Your water damage remediation company will assist in hauling out large items that have been damaged, such as drywall and flooring, but as long as the area is safe for you to move in, you can help with this process by removing smaller belongings, like pots, pans, and kitchen utensils. The remediation company will advise you on what can and cannot be saved; while it’s hard to get rid of treasured belongings, you should follow their recommendations, as your health and safety is at stake.
Remember to use proper protective equipment, such as boots, heavy-duty gloves, and respirators while inside the home.
Follow the remediation process set out by the restoration company
An experienced water damage remediation company will be able to give you an overview and schedule of what will happen every step of the way, from assessing the property for structural damage to actually replacing the injured items. Be sure to ask questions if anything doesn’t make sense to you, and offer to help with the steps that do not require special training.
While of course a professional company such as PacWest Restoration can handle every step of the renovation process, it can be incredibly cathartic to get involved. Many people feel very helpless after they experience a traumatic event like a house fire, which can make the pain of losing precious belongings even worse. Taking ownership of the process can help you feel empowered, something that can hasten not just the physical recovery, but your mental recovery as well. However, some people may find it incredibly hard to witness the destruction, and they may want to stay away until the house is looking more like its old safe. Remember that your emotional well-being is just as important as the security of your house, and you should only do what feels most healing to you.
Relying upon qualified professionals can greatly speed up the process
Great water damage remediation companies can get your home back to normal faster than you might expect, as they have a team of experts in several different fields who all work together on your behalf. As soon as you know your loved ones are all safe, get in touch with a restoration company to begin the process of getting your kitchen back in cooking shape.