A fire is usually a wake up call for most families. They wonder about what went wrong and what they can do differently once they get back into their home. The first step should be an inspection to narrow down the cause of the fire. Was it electrical? If so, was it the home’s wiring or was it a faulty electrical appliance that caused the fire and the resulting fire damage? Was it human carelessness that caused this tragedy? Was the cause of fire damage never discovered?
Once the fire’s cause is discovered then you can start working on your new upgrades. Wiring should be brought to modern code, especially in the case of older homes. Fire damage usually result in walls being replaced in the initial room as well as those surrounding it, so rewiring will be more convenient at this time. Check your electrician’s credentials, this is no time to save a dollar. Your insurance company may require a certified electrician, or even one of their own to renew your policy.
Another upgrade you can consider to hinder future fire damage is sprinklers and burn resistant materials. Some wall coverings are more burn resistant than others and may well be worth looking into. Sprinkler systems as well as integrated smoke detectors may lower your insurance rates as well as add resale value to your home. At the very least they will give you and your family peace of mind.
Do not overlook the need for fire extinguishers in your home. At the very least you need one in your kitchen, but for ultimate safety you should have one on each level of your home as well as the kitchen, the laundry room and in the general area of the hot water heater and furnace. If you use space heaters in other rooms, then a fire extinguisher should be handy there as well.
After restoring your home after all of the fire damage, you should write and practice an escape route for your family. Consider having a fire drill at least once a year, or more often if you have small children. Make sure that you have more than one exit available to you and a clear cut meeting place once everybody is outside. Other safety equipment to consider here would be a folding ladder for escaping a second floor window. An escape kit might be placed in a garage or with a trusted neighbor which would include spare clothing, and any relevant information for each family member. Include phone numbers that you will be needing in the next few days, including your insurance agent and family members that will need to be notified of what has happened.
Safety upgrades and equipment may go further to easing your mind than anything else, but do not go overboard. Try to settle back into life, and realize that after a fire, with all traces of fire damage lingering around, it will take some time for things to be back to normal. Allow yourself the time to get over the tragedy that has happened to you, and then to start enjoying your house once again.
Samantha Kleiner is a disaster article writer for Orlando Fire Restoration and Chicago Sewer Backup
