A house fire is a jarring experience, and the aftermath can be a confusing time. There are several factors to address, both for your family’s well-being and to move forward with the home recovery process. Use the following steps as a guide so you can get back on your feet and begin fire damage restoration.

What to Do Following a Home Fire

1. Secure a Place to Stay

First, you’ll want somewhere for your family to stay. You don’t want to be outdoors for long, so call local friends or nearby family members. You can also book a hotel, which may even be covered by insurance. Anticipate staying for an extended period while fire damage restoration takes place. It’s helpful to have internet access as well. You can also explore short-term housing options at local apartment communities.

2. Speak With the Insurance Provider

You’ll want to file a claim with your insurance provider right away. Provide all the details of the house fire so they can create an estimated cost of losses. You should keep receipts of any expenses you’ve incurred, such as for accommodations and food, to add to the claim. The sooner you begin the claims process, the faster you’ll receive compensation.

3. Book Remediation Professionals

Fire cleanup needs to be handled by professionals, so reach out to a local fire damage restoration company. Your insurance provider may also share a list of preferred businesses. These professionals know how to address smoke and fire damage and will restore as much of the home as possible. Fire damage restoration professionals are committed to getting families back into their homes and will use deep cleaning equipment, air scrubbers, and ozone machines, to restore the home to its original state.

4. Collect or Replace Key Documents

If you lost any crucial documents in the fire, you’ll want to begin filing for replacements. Work with local institutions to replace the following:

• Drivers licenses and passports
• Auto registrations and titles
• Financial information
• Birth, marriage, and death certificates
• Wills and trusts
• Medical records
• Income tax records
• Social Security cards
• Credit and debit cards
• Insurance paperwork

You can usually begin the recovery process for most of these documents online, which is why an internet connection is helpful. You can also use it to monitor progress on the claim. 

If you need fire damage restoration services, Restoration 1 of Colorado Springs can help. These remediation professionals tackle all aspects of disaster recovery, including storm damage cleanup, water damage restoration, and mold remediation. They can also assist with crime scene cleanup, which you can learn more about on their website. Call (719) 427-6086 to schedule their services in the Colorado Springs, CO, area, and connect on Facebook for updates and additional resources.