There may be nothing left to search for after a home burns.
House fires destroy lives and property. In 2009, U.S. fire departments responded to 377,000 house fires, which had killed 2,656 residents, not to mention many firefighters, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The primary concern immediately following a fire is for the safety of people, followed by pets and the welfare of property. Unless you are a trained firefighter or fire investigator, you will not be allowed inside a burnt house to search for anything until it is deemed safe to do so.
Instructions
1. Ensure it is safe to return to the house. The authorities will let you know when this is the case. If it is a particularly bad fire, it can take many hours or even days to cool properly and for structural damage to be assessed. You may have to stay elsewhere while authorities decide whether your house is livable. Contact the Salvation Army or American Red Cross if you do not have friends or relatives to stay with (see Resources).
2. Locate important documents, valuables such as jewelry and photo albums, as well as any important medicines as soon as possible. If the house is going to be vacant while repairs are done, you need to get these items out for security reasons. A fire official or police officer may help you with this task while still on the scene. This is the time to mention any pets you have; depending on the level of damage, you may not be allowed in the house unaccompanied to search for them.
3. Search for structural or wiring damage. If you own the house, hire a professional inspector to analyze the home. If you rent, contact your landlord to arrange this. Your insurance company may cover this expense, so check with it first to see whether you need to contact someone it recommends.
4. Search each room methodically, taking pictures of all damage. Do this as soon as you are allowed access to the home. The pictures will be required as evidence for insurance purposes. Be sure to search the house thoroughly and photograph all damaged items, as well as damage to the house itself. Remember, items such as mattresses and pillows may not appear burnt, but are likely to be damaged by smoke beyond repair. Throw away any food exposed to heat and smoke. Ensure you have good, clear pictures of all damaged items before throwing them away.
Tags: damage house, damaged items
