7 Questions to Ask About Smoke or Fire Damage

One of the first things to do after a house fire, after contacting 911 and ensuring everyone is safe, is to reach out to a fire restoration professional to assess and potentially repair the damage. When speaking with fire restoration pros, be prepared to answer these important smoke and fire damage questions.

Is this an emergency?

While all types of house fires are an emergency situation, the restoration process afterward may not be. For example, there's a big difference between having the majority of your home damaged by a fire and having a small section of your kitchen damaged by a cooking fire. If you can't live in your home due to the damage, that counts as an emergency situation. 

When and how did the fire occur?

The fire restoration team will want to know details about the fire, such as when it happened and its cause. Some common causes of house fires include:

• Cooking accidents

• Electrical fires

• Heating or appliance malfunction

• Chimney fires

• Smoking or other open flames, such as candles

• Wildfires that spread to residential areas

What is the extent of the smoke or fire damage?

This question may be difficult to answer but try to give the restoration company a general idea of how much was damaged by the smoke or flames. For example, the damage may be confined to a single room or may be spread throughout the house. The emergency response crew can give you a good idea of your home's condition after a fire.

What items can be saved after the fire?

Some items may be fine or salvageable after a fire, while your best option is to discard others. A fire restoration company can give you a good idea of what to throw away or clean following a fire. Often, soft materials, such as carpet and textiles, will need to be completely replaced, while harder items, such as ceramics or hardwood floors, can usually be restored.  

Is the fire or smoke damage covered by an insurance claim?

Homeowners insurance usually covers fire damage, reducing the cost of fire restoration for you. If you'll be using insurance to cover some or all of the expenses, let the fire restoration company know that. The company will most likely need to coordinate with your insurance company. It's also important to get your insurance involved so that you know how much your policy will pay out and what your responsibility will be.

What's involved in fire damage restoration?

Fire damage restoration is typically a multi-step process. Be ready to review the steps with your fire and smoke damage professional. For example, they may begin by assessing the damage and ensuring your home is safe to enter. The actual restoration process may involve water removal, demolition, and smoke damage mitigation, followed by painting and potentially rebuilding.

How long will the restoration take?

You may need to find other accommodations throughout the restoration process, so it's important to discuss how long everything will take. For a small amount of smoke or fire damage, the project may be completed within a day or two. More extensive smoke mitigation and fire damage repair can take several weeks or longer.