AFTER THE FIRE An informational guide to assist you in reducing your losses and help get your life back to normal after a tragic fire Presented by 866.679.0699
WHAT S INSIDE Most fires are unforeseen and unpredictable. If your property is damaged or destroyed by a fire, you will likely have many questions and be faced with many decisions. Please recognize that after a major fire strikes your home you may be emotionally overwhelmed. This is a very normal and understandable reaction. Having a trusted friend or family member by your side goes a long way. This booklet provides important information on the proper steps to take after a fire occurs, what to expect moving forward, the claims process, where to find additional assistance, and answers to frequently asked questions. Kustom US, Inc., has compiled the following information to assist you in this time of need. Action on some of the suggestions will need to be taken immediately or in the near future. Protect Your Property...2 Protect Yourself...3 Contact Your Insurance...4 The Claims Process...5 Unsafe Items...7 Important Documents...8 Disaster Relief Aid...9 Frequently Asked Questions...10 Important Information Form...11 Notes....12
PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY After the fire department personnel leave, the property and/or building becomes your responsibility. Property insurance policies require you to secure your property to prevent further damage, vandalism, and looting. This may include boarding up windows and doors, tarping the roof, water removal and drying, structural shoring to prevent collapse, covering furnishings and other valuables. These preventative measures must be taken immediately after the fire department clears the scene. Neglecting these preventative measures may lead to the further damage of your property and/or contents within the property. Any damage caused by this neglect will not be covered by your property insurance. Should you need assistance properly securing your property to ensure your insurance will accept your claim and cover all losses, you may want to contact a local licensed, certified and insured restoration company to help. If you need help selecting a company your insurance company may recommend a company. 2
PROTECT YOURSELF Fires cause all sorts of damage to buildings; whether the damage is in plain sight or completely hidden, you must exercise extreme caution when entering a fire-damaged structure. You must remember; just because the fire department has released the property back to you does not mean it is safe to enter. Fires have the possibility to rekindle from smoldering remains. Be watchful for structural damage and weakness. Roofs, ceilings, walls, and floors may be damaged and subject to collapse. Typically after fires, smoke and sooty deposits that contain toxins may be present. They may include gases produced in the fire, as well as particles such as asbestos fibers used in some building materials. Exposures to some of these toxins have been shown to increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer and other serious health problems. Some individuals are more sensitive to the airborne contaminants present after fires. These include children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Normally, the fire department will see that utilities (water, electric, and natural gas) are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the scene. Never attempt to restore utilities yourself. 3
CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE Notify your insurance company and/or insurance agent of your loss immediately. It is important to provide as much detail as possible about the damages and conditions of your property. You will also need to supply the phone numbers where you can be contacted. Should you be unable to locate your insurance policy information, most insurance companies will be able to locate your policy information by searching your name and address. You may be insured for Additional Living Expenses to cover your living expenses while your residence is uninhabitable and being repaired. So be sure to keep all receipts related to tax expenses due to your displacement for possible reimbursement. If possible, do not disturb or remove any items before the insurance adjuster arrives. Even though the fire department will complete an investigation on the cause and origin of the fire, your insurance may choose to investigate further. Therefore, it is very important to preserve the location of the cause and origin of the fire. This is done by properly securing the structure post-fire. By not doing so, you will run the risk of your insurance company denying the claim. 4
THE CLAIMS PROCESS Once you have notified your insurance carrier of the loss, they will assign your claim to an insurance adjuster. Typically the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim will contact you within 24-48 hours from your claim being filed. Your insurance adjuster will schedule a meeting at your property to evaluate the damages and determine a scope of work for the repairs. Your adjuster will likely take a recorded statement from you and ask you to fill out a proof of loss form. This is a standard procedure for most insurance companies and is used for their record keeping. The insurance adjuster will calculate the costs to repair the property to pre-loss conditions, and you will be compensated based on these calculations. Please note that during the repair process additional damage may be uncovered. Any repairs needed that are not in the insurance adjuster s original estimate are still covered by your insurance policy. You will simply need to notify your adjuster and request that a supplement be issued. Your claim will be divided into two different parts; structural and personal property. Your adjuster may create an inventory for your personal property or they may give you an inventory 5
THE CLAIMS PROCESS (cont.) form to fill out yourself. This will be for reimbursement of any of your personal property lost and/or damaged in the fire. It is important to be thorough when creating an inventory and be sure to list everything lost including small household items and foods. Do not throw away anything from your home until the insurance adjuster documents the condition of each item. The check or draft payment for personal property will generally be made to you. However, the check or draft payment for the house may be payable to you and your mortgage holder if there is a mortgage on your house. You may also be entitled to receive additional living expenses for the duration you are displaced from your home. This may include rental of temporary housing, rental furniture, animal boarding, etc. You should inquire about your additional living expenses coverage during your insurance adjuster s initial visit, and request an advance if you are financially unable to wait for reimbursement. 6
UNSAFE ITEMS Below is a list of unsafe items to use after exposure to heat, smoke, airborne contaminants, and contaminated water. Do not use any of the below listed after a fire no matter what condition they appear to be in. Medicines Medicines exposed to these elements are likely to become contaminated and can lead to diseases that cause serious health effects. Be sure to replace medicines as soon as possible. Cosmetics Cosmetics are not safe to use after a fire. The heat can cause chemical changes which will have an adverse effect if used. Foods Even canned foods can become tainted after a house fire. It is better to be safe than get ill from consuming foods exposed to these conditions. Plastic and Wooden Cookware Plastic and wooden cookware cannot be disinfected after contamination. This includes, but not limited to, dishware, utensils, baby bottles, cups, and containers. All of these items are covered under the personal property portion of your insurance claim. 7
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS If you are able to safely locate the documents below, please do so. If any of these documents have been destroyed you should replace them as soon as possible. Birth Certificates Driver s Licenses Passports Social Security Cards Citizenship Papers Marriage Certificate Divorce Decree Bank Books Payment Books Credit Cards Title to Deeds Stocks & Bonds Wills Income Tax Records Military Discharge Papers Medical Records Insurance Policies Medicare Cards Animal Registration Papers 8
DISASTER RELIEF AID After you have experienced a fire or any other type of disaster you may obtain assistance. Typically the fire department will request the American Red Cross for further assistance. However, you may request Red Cross help yourself by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) any time of the day or night. Upon application to the Red Cross you may be eligible to obtain food, clothing, lodging, and other services. Your Red Cross caseworker can assist you in contacting the appropriate agencies you need for additional aid. The Salvation Army is another agency that provides regular disaster relief. You can reach the Salvation Army at 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). You may also contact your local Social Services Department for any further assistance. Experiencing a fire in your home can be one of the most devastating times of your life. However, you are not alone because you can lean on the assistance of these programs and others to help you. 9
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: A: Q: A: Q: A: Why are windows broken and holes cut in the roof? As a fire burns, it moves upward then outward. Breaking windows and/or cutting holes in the roof (called ventilation) slows the damaging outward movement, helps remove blinding smoke that obscures the actual fire, and enables firefighters to fight the fire more effectively. The result of this is less damage to the structure in the long run. Why are holes put in the walls and ceilings? This is done so that the fire department is absolutely sure the fire is completely out, and that there is no fire inside walls or other hidden places. Do I need to wait for my insurance company before I take any action? No, you don t have to wait for your insurance company. After a fire occurs it s your responsibility to take action to prevent any further damage to the property. It may take up 72 hours or more for your insurance to do the initial site visit. 10
IMPORTANT INFORMATION Date & Time of Incident: Cause & Origin of Incident: Fire Marshall or Fire Investigator & Phone: Case Number: Insurance Carrier: Policy Number: Claim Number: Adjuster Name & Phone: Other: IMPORTANT NUMBERS Red Cross 1.800.Red.Cross Salvation Army 1.800.996.ARMY Local KUSTOM Representative 1.866.679.0699 11
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