A Guide to Tackling Fire Damage After it Hits

8/13/2022 (Permalink)

So, you’ve had a fire.

Maybe it was just a small one that damaged the kitchen ceiling, or maybe the damage is significant, and your house burns down. The first thing you should do is make sure everyone is safe. The second thing you should do is call your insurance agent.

You should also contact your close neighbors to let them know your situation. This could be a bigger issue depending on your type of home and where you live. Don’t forget that your fire could have damaged neighboring property. You can ask PCLA to provide you with advice on how you should approach this.

Insurance policies require policyholders to file their fire insurance claims as soon as possible, so call your homeowners' insurance agent immediately to get the process started. The insurance company will require you to submit a "proof of loss claim," which is where you list all of the items you lost, including their value. Your prompt action is especially important if there were many other homeowners affected by the fire. If you don't act immediately, you could fall to the bottom of the list of policyholders who have fire insurance claims, and it could be a long time before the adjuster reaches you.

The following is a list of information to include in your claim:

You'll want to make a list of everything you lost in the fire, which can take some time and reflection from everyone in your household. You want to be sure to start making this list as soon as possible so that you will remember to include everything lost by the time you file your fire insurance claim.

Start documenting losses – If you don’t have a home inventory list, start making one. List all personal property that was damaged or destroyed during the house fire. It should include a detailed description of the item, when and where you bought it, the purchase price, and the estimated replacement cost.

Regardless of the cause of a fire (explosion/gas leak, lightning, electrical, grease, etc.), an owner needs to make quick decisions while still under a great deal of stress and confusion.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Who should we call? Your homeowners' insurance agent.

Where do we stay tonight? A hotel or friends house, and make sure to include the compromised living situation in your insurance claim for possible displacement compensation.

Which belongings escaped unharmed?

What exactly did we have in the building?

How can we start the clean-up process? By calling SERVPRO of Torrance at (310) 320-2112, we will guide you through the process to make the best of an unfortunate situation. Don't worry, we understand. We will make it Like it Never Even Happened.