In New York, fire can cause severe devastation and lead to loss of property or life. However, even if the fire is extinguished on time, the damage caused will be irreplaceable. Thus, it would help if you had aid through the fire damage cleanup. But, before you start with the restoration, there are certain aspects that you need to be careful about, which we are about to discuss in this guide.
Stay relaxed
Going through a mess caused by accidental fire can become stressful, and you might be trying to cope with the reality. The entire situation can become overwhelming, but you must stay put and try to relax. If you feel paralyzed about what to do next, take a deep breath and try to act right so things don’t go out of control.
Understand the cleanup process
Often, the fire damage cleanup process can take much more time than anticipated, and the repair would happen overnight. The entire process takes time and patience. Trust that everything is going to work out just the way you want it. Also, accept the fact that there are certain things that you cannot control. You have to take one step at a time, narrow down the focus, and make one decision at a time.
Beware of additional damages
Other than fire, firefighters also cause certain damages while trying to extinguish the fire, such as breaking windows and cutting holes through the roof. These steps are meant to ease the work of the firefighters. Also, they use gallons of water to douse the flames, which would further cause water damage. After the firefighters have left, to prevent theft and vandalism, you have to board up the property.
Contact the Insurance agent
You must contact the insurance agent, which will help initiate the cleanup process. You must consult them about your steps right after the fire. The faster you contact the insurance agent, the quicker the cleanup process will be. Depending on whether the fire was small or big and the amount of damage caused, you may need to go through a mitigation service to prevent any kind of damage.
Get assistance from the insurance company
You can also get assistance from the restoration company, which would help prevent further damage. You would get authorization from the insurance company to help with the cleanup process. When the insurance agent approves, you can start the process and join a restoration company to secure the property with tarps or boards.
Get to a safe place
Until the restoration process is over, you have to stay at the same place for at least a few days, irrespective of the fire size. The fire department would inspect the fire and property and go through an air quality check, and only if they prove that you cannot step into the property can you leave. Some materials, such as smoke, soot, and ash, can lead to serious health risks, and all these toxic chemicals and materials should be removed before the property is termed safe for living.
Finally, file the claim and hire a professional
When the initial concerns involving security and water damage are addressed, you need to file a claim by consulting with zicklincontracting.com, which will support you in the cleanup work. You can hire professionals to restore the property to normal functioning.
