You will be left with mixed emotions after experiencing a house fire. It’s a scary and upsetting experience. You may also be worried and nervous as to how you will recover and get life back to normal. The first thing you will need to do is take a deep breath, try and relax, and know that everything will be fine. Once you realize that, you can tackle the recovery process of your belongings and your home. American Hometown Services offers helpful tips below.

What Should I Do After a House Fire?

1. The first step you need to take after a fire is to stay out of your home until authorities have let you know that it’s safe to go back inside. The fire department will ensure that the fire is extinguished completely and then go through precautionary steps to deem the area ‘safe’.
2. You then need to contact the right people. First, contact family members to let them know what has happened and to tell them that you’re okay. Speak with your insurance company and then give a fire restoration company a call to get your home back to pre-fire condition.
3. You will then need to get your hands on the fire report. This usually comes from the fire department. This report will give you all the facts regarding the fire, the structure of your home, the entire area of the fire, along with the date and time it occurred.
4. Securing your home is the next step. If you don’t secure your home, you are leaving it open to robbery of what’s remaining. You may also be liable for injuries that anyone experiences if they are free to explore. Speak with authorities to learn the best ways to secure your home and property.
5. Now you can start the clean-up process. You will almost always need to clean the interior and exterior of your home. Also, there will almost always be damage that you can’t see that needs to be addressed and taken care of. Hire a professional restoration service to thoroughly clean all areas of soot, smoke, and odor.

Dangers of DIY Fire Restoration

It may be tempting to start cleaning up yourself, but you can cause more damage to your home and belongings. Not to mention you!
• Smoke damage is just as dangerous as fire damage. Smoke particles embed themselves in walls, ceilings, carpets, furniture and other belongings. These particles can stick around for years if they’re not removed properly, causing odors and possible health issues.
• Smoke damage can’t be washed away. Soot and smoke residue can’t simply be wiped away. Specialized equipment must be used to remove all traces of smoke and soot.
• You may throw items away that can be salvaged. Professional restoration companies have the experience to determine if items can be salvaged. This can save you money.
• You don’t have the manpower to get the job done quickly. Fire restoration is not as easy as it may seem. It will take longer to restore your home if you try and do it yourself. Professionals can also handle any complications that may come up.

Fire & Water Damage Restoration & More in Quincy, Macomb, Hamilton, Warsaw & East Alton Illinois | Hannibal, Missouri

Most insurance companies cover the cost of a professional restoration company, so there’s really no reason to try and do it yourself. On average, fire damage restoration can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to a year at the most. As stressful as a fire to your home is, restoring and rebuilding in a cool, calm and collected manner with the professionals at American Hometown Services is the way to go!