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    Home Fire Recovery

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    A fire in a home can cause serious damage. The building and many of the things in your home may have been badly damaged by flames, heat, smoke and water. You will find that things the fire did not burn up are now ruined by smoke and soggy with water used to put out the flames. Anything that you want to save or reuse will need to be carefully cleaned. The firefighters may have cut holes in the walls of the building to look for any hidden flames. They may even have cut holes in the roof to let out the heat and smoke. Cleanup will take time and patience.

    Now that you have more of an idea of what to expect, here are tips to follow to help you get your family back to normal!

    What Do I Do Now?

    • Take Care of Yourself and Your Family- Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army. They will help you find a place to stay and to find food, clothing and medicine. Make sure that you have a safe place to live temporarily. You have a big job ahead of you. Get
      plenty of rest, and ask for help. Do not try to do it all alone.
    • Security and Safety- Do not enter a damaged home or apartment unless the fire department says it is safe. Fires can start again, even if they appear to be out. Watch for damage caused by the fire. Roofs and floors may be damaged and could fall down. The fire department will make sure the utility services (water, electricity and gas) are safe to use. If they are not safe, firefighters will have your utilities turned off or disconnected before they leave. Contact your police department to let the police know that you will be away from your home. In some cases, you may need to board up openings so that no one can get in when you’re not there.
    • Contact Your Insurance Agent- Contact your insurance company right away. Ask what to do about the immediate needs of your home. This includes pumping out water and covering doors, windows and other openings. Ask your insurance company what to do first. Some companies may ask you to make a list of everything that was damaged by the fire. They will ask you to describe these items in detail and say how much you paid for them.

    Downloads

    • After the Fire! Returning to Normal
    • How to Clean Up Smoke and Soot From a Fire

    Other Resources

    • American Red Cross: Checking Your Home after a Fire
    • American Psychological Association: Recovering Emotionally After a Residential Fire

    Source for Content: U.S. Fire Administration

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    First Arriving Volunteer Fire Company

    First Arriving
    123 Main Road
    America, MD 12345

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    Emergency: 911
    Non-Emergency: 301-774-7400

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    Copyright 1995–2017, Department Name

    First Arriving Logo
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • Fire & Life Safety Information & Resources
      • Apartment Fire Safety
      • Arson Awareness and Prevention
      • Burn Prevention
      • Campus Fire Safety
      • Candle Fire Safety
      • Carbon Monoxide Safety
      • Children and Fire Safety
      • Clothes Dryer Fire Safety
      • Cooking Fire Safety
      • Electrical Fire Safety
      • Featured Fire Safety Topics
      • Fire Department Key Box Installation (Knox Box)
      • Fire Extinguisher Safety
      • Fire Safety for Older Adults
      • Fire Safety for People with Disabilities
      • Fire Safety Topics By Audience
      • Garage and Basement Fire Safety
      • Holiday Fire Safety
      • Home Fire Escape Planning
      • Home Fire Recovery
      • Home Fire Sprinklers
      • More Fire Safety Topics
      • Seasonal Fire Safety Topics
      • Severe Weather and Fire Safety
      • Smoke Alarm FAQs
      • Smoke Alarm Safety
      • Smoking Fire Safety
      • Summer Fire Safety
      • Thanksgiving Fire Safety
      • Travel Fire Safety
      • Wildfire Safety
      • Winter Fire Safety
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