After a House Fire

9/2/2020 (Permalink)

Often, the hardest part for residents after a home fire is knowing where to begin and who to contact. These tips taken from FEMA provide information on what to do after experiencing a tragic home fire.

Your Next Steps After a Fire

Here are the steps to follow after a fire in your home:

• Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross. This will help you find a place to stay and to find food, clothing and medicine.
• If you have insurance, contact your insurance company. Ask what you should do to keep your home safe until it is repaired. Ask who you should talk to about cleaning up your home. If you are not insured, try contacting community groups for aid and assistance.
• Check with the fire department before entering your home to ensure it is safe. Be very careful when you go inside, floors and walls may not be as safe as they look.
• The fire department will tell you if your utilities (water, electricity, and gas) are safe to use. If they are deemed to be unsafe, firefighters will have them shut off before they leave. Do not try to turn them back on by yourself as this could be very dangerous.
• Contact your landlord or mortgage company to inform them of the fire.
• If you leave your home, call the local police department to let them know that the site will be vacant.
• Begin saving receipts for any purchases made in relation to the loss. These receipts may be needed later by the insurance company and are needed to prove any losses claimed on your income tax.
• Check with an accountant or the IRS regarding special benefits for people recovering from a fire loss.