Cleaning Up Your Home After a Fire

7/7/2022 (Permalink)

Fire can leave a soot on the walls

Dealing with a house fire in sunny, hot and very dry California can be a daunting task. Not only do you have to worry about taking care of your family and finding a place to stay, you also need to decide how to deal with smoke damage, cleaning, repairs, etc. Luckily, there are a few straightforward steps you can take to get your life back on track.

1. Make Sure the Area Is Safe

When it comes to fires, appearances can be deceiving. While you may not see any flames, fire may still exist deep within your house. It can be best not to go too close or enter the structure until the fire department tells you it’s safe. Your home may be contaminated by unclean water and ash, so it can be best to wait for professional help before attempting to move or touch items.

2. Decide What Needs to Be Done

After you’ve made sure you’re safe, one of the next steps you should take is to contact your insurance company. Your coverage provider can help you understand the costs related to cleaning up smoke and soot damage. You may need to make a list of everything that was damaged or destroyed. Important documents and credit cards may need to be replaced.

3. Get Professional Help

It can be nearly impossible to handle all the things that need to be done after a fire on your own. Hiring a professional damage restoration company to help take care of fire/ smoke cleaning and other repairs can save you a world of stress. A restoration company will generally know exactly what needs to be done to fix your home and possessions, hopefully returning them to their previous states.

After you make sure it is safe to enter your home, you can inventory your possessions and decide what repairs need to be done. A restoration company can help you fix smoke damage and complete other necessary tasks to get your home back to a livable state. For more information, please call our office at  SERVPRO Malibu 310-456-2135.