Fire Damage Restoration, Are You Prepared?

2/26/2020 (Permalink)

An incident that requires fire damage restoration can happen unexpectedly, but that doesn't mean you can't be prepared. During a fire, the safety of you and your family matter first. Knowing what to do during and after the event will help to keep your family, and your property as safe as possible. Here are some tips to help during a home fire.

Fire Damage Restoration 

Getting out of your home

Small flames can grow into a large in as little as 30 seconds, and it only takes a few minutes for black smoke to fill the house. Along with the intense heat of a fire, what some people may not realize is how dark a room can become due to the thick smoke. 

To be prepared you should:

• Practice making your way out of your house without the ability to see
• Locate multiple ways out of each room in your home
• Have a folding ladder in upstairs rooms to escape out of windows 

Once the fire has been eliminated

Caution should always be taken entering your home until the restoration process is complete. Before entering your home again, be sure to check with the fire department to ensure it is safe to re-enter. Upon doing so, be mindful of any possible structural damage, and collect as many valuable documents and records as possible.

Contacting a Fire Damage Restoration Company

As soon as possible, call your insurance company. Keep in mind that your insurance company may have a national account they suggest, but you don’t have to use the company they suggest. After that, be sure to call a restoration company. Fire damage restoration varies in the time it takes to complete depending on the extent of the damage. The aesthetics is just the beginning of what's necessary to restore a home. Soot can be very hazardous to your health and is best handled by a professional. There is also the risk you could be exposed to electrical elements that should be professionally handled. 

If you have experienced a fire and need fire damage restoration, don't wait, call SERVPRO of Champaign-Urbana anytime at (217) 355-0077.

(SB)