Cleaning Up After a Fire

Cleaning Up After a Fire

A fire is one of the worst things for a homeowner or business owner to contend with. Even in the fortunate circumstance that the building is evacuated safely and the fire is suppressed quickly, property damage is sure to result. In the aftermath, people are often left asking, “What do I do after a fire?”

If your property in the Twin Cities area has suffered fire damage, taking the right steps in the right order can minimize your losses. Continue reading to learn how you should approach the fire cleanup and remediation process for your home or place of business.

Step 1: Safety First

Once an inferno has been extinguished on your premises, your first priority should be safety. While a fast response by the fire department can minimize damage, the heat and smoke of flames can still weaken structures, while lingering smoke and soot may create unhealthy air quality. Only re-enter the building – or allow anyone else to do so – after fire officials have given you the all-clear.

Once it’s safe to re-enter your fire-damaged building, you’ll need to secure it to prevent both possible injuries and further damage. If windows or doors have been damaged or destroyed, you may need to board the spaces up to keep out bad weather, wildlife, and intruders. Depending on the severity of the damage, you might need to install fencing around the structure to keep everyone out until reentry is possible.

Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Provider

After a fire breaks out in your building, it’s important to file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible. Take inventory of everything that was damaged by the fire – including the structure itself, furniture, personal belongings, and inventory. To support your insurance claim, document all of the fire damage with clear pictures and videos before proceeding with any fire damage restoration.

Ask your insurance company about approved fire damage restoration contractors in the greater Twin Cities area. Your insurance company can help you choose a full-service fire damage repair company that is IICRC-certified and experienced with restoring buildings similar to yours.

Step 3: Fire Damage Restoration

After you select a fire damage restoration company in the Twin Cities area, they’ll take over the process of cleaning up and repairing damage to your fire-damaged home or business. Their first step will be to go through everything damaged by flames to determine what is salvageable and what items will need to be disposed of. While they’re at it, the fire cleanup specialists will dispose of ash, soot, and charred materials throughout your building. Materials such as ceiling tiles, insulation, and drywall will often require disposal and replacement.

Fire damage remediation efforts sometimes require water damage restoration as well. Large volumes of water are sometimes used to extinguish a fire, which can result in additional damage to your property. Fortunately, most contractors that provide fire damage repairs also offer water damage restoration to Twin Cities businesses and homes.

Your fire damage restoration contractor will assess the severity of the damage to the structure of your building. Depending on how bad it is, your restoration company may be able to repair it or they may need to bring in a structural engineer for assistance.

Step 4: Smoke Damage Repair & Odor Removal

Smoke odor and damage can linger in a building long after other signs of fire damage have been remediated. Ask your Twin Cities fire damage restoration company about their smoke damage reversal and odor removal practices. Smoke damage restoration will usually include the following services:

• To remove smoke odor, specialists will ventilate the area with fans and open windows. Ozone generators or thermal fogging may be used to neutralize lingering smoke odor.
• HVAC filters will be replaced and air ducts will be thoroughly cleaned to remove all smoke.
• Soot and smoke residue can be cleaned from painted walls, ceilings, metal, tile, glass, and sealed wood using dry-cleaning sponges, alkaline cleaners, mild detergents, and specialized smoke odor removers.
• Your contractor will use steam cleaning or ozone treatment to clean furniture, carpeting, curtains, and rugs.
• Smoke damage reversal and odor removal can be completed for most personal belongings, including electronics, provided that they were not damaged by the fire itself.

Reputable Fire Damage Restoration Company in the Twin Cities

Arko Restoration is an IICRC-certified fire damage restoration company that helps local homeowners and business owners repair and clean up their properties. Get in touch with us today if you’re in need of professional fire damage restoration services in the greater Twin Cities area!