Fire Damage FAQ

The first thing you should do is call your insurance agent and submit your claim. After you’ve submitted your claim, the next step is to hire a reputable restoration company, such as, First to Respond Restoration.

The first thing first, is for the restoration company to help you do an assessment of the extent of the damage. Make sure the company provides you with a detailed estimate along with their license, insurance, and any other credentials. We encourage our clients to get multiple estimates before they begin the remediation work to ensure they make an inform decision.

Some of the main causes of home of fires include dried leaves, faulty electrical wiring or equipment, unattended stoves and ovens, unattended candles, children playing with fire, flammable liquids, and careless smoking.

Each policy is different and it depends on your specific policy. Make sure to call your insurance agent and/or adjuster to find out if the loss is covered in your policy.

If fire loss is a covered insurance loss, your insurance will pay any covered invoices up to your policy limit mines your deductible which you are responsible for. You can find your policy limit in your policy or by contacting your agent.

Before getting rid of any items, make sure to photo document and make a list of damaged items. All non-restorable items should be inventoried to support your claims. Make sure to include the items’ name, cost, and the year each item was purchased.

Food safety after a fire is a huge issue, so any non-perishable food exposed to heat, smoke, and firefighting chemicals, as well as perishable food left at room temperature for too long should be discarded. However, you might be able to salvage refrigerated and frozen food after a fire. Other household items, such as, medicines, cosmetics, and burned clothing should be thrown away as well.

Before any restoration starts, local authorities and your insurance will need to conclude their investigation on the fire loss. This process may take time depending on their turnaround time. As for the restoration, the length of time varies on the extent of the damage.

Depending on the degree of the damage and your conform level, you may be able to stay in your home during the restoration process. However, it is recommended you call your insurance agent to check if your policy covers of site housing and staying in a hotel as an alternative plan.

While small fires may visually seem to cause minimal damage, cleaning the soot and getting rid of lingering odors is the most difficult part. In most cases, when fire damage is not cleaned properly within a day or two, soot and smoke can leave permanent damage. Hiring a professional is highly recommended since they have the tools and know the proper procedures to restore your home as fast as possible and mitigate the loss.

Any items with personal or high monetary value should be kept with you at all times. For instance, family valuables, personal documents, checkbooks, cash, and credit cards.