When Fires Rage
Among all of the gloom and doom that insurance is related to, amid the storm surges, and the sewage waste, perhaps the most deadly is damage caused by fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately 300,000 – 400,000 thousand home structure fires occur each year in the US. And when the root cause of these fires are sourced, they can usually be attributed to that of cooking fires. When fires rage and after the dust settles, the issues that emerge are related to property damage of items such as drywall, flooring, insulation, HVAC systems and other interior finishes. Most homeowners wouldn’t even know where to start when it comes to soot removal, deodorization, structural damage restoration & repairs.
Here are some tips for policyholders who have become victims to a fire claim loss:
- Obtain incident case number from fire marshal
- Ensure that your local fire department has deemed the site safe for entry
- Take initial photos and a list of damaged property
- Locate your property insurance policy
- Immediately take steps to prevent further damage
- Provide prompt notice of loss to your insurance company
- Develop a plan and claim management strategy with your public adjuster
This is where a licensed public adjuster comes in.
Public adjusters are trained to find additional damage that can’t be seen by most people. They have a sixth sense, intuition and tracking skills for sourcing internal damage. This involves documenting through photos and videos, to ensure all evidence is sealed. Dealing with the aftermath of a fire can be devastating. Having a licensed public adjuster by your side will ease away some of the heat.