4 Things Property Owners Should Do After a Fire

11/21/2018 (Permalink)

Board up in Carthage,TN

Cleanup and Recovery Process After a Fire

A fire at a commercial building may result in the partial or total loss of property. Owners or tenants may also be confronted with the loss of revenue during the fire restoration process. Property owners should follow these four steps to facilitate the cleanup and recovery process.

1. Contact the Insurer

Building owners should immediately contact commercial property insurance providers. Fire damage is usually covered by these standard policies. Depending on the condition of the property, owners or tenants may also want to file a business interruption claim if they have this rider on their commercial insurance or separate interruption insurance coverage.

2. Document the Damage

Owners should try to obtain photographic or video footage of the property to support a fire insurance claim. Wear personal protective equipment such as a mask and try not to touch any contents while obtaining documentation. Spread out towels or other coverings to avoid grinding soot and ash into flooring.

3. Board Up and Secure the Premises

Insurers require that property owners take measures to mitigate fire damage. An owner can do boarding up or tarping with at least one other person, or rely on the expertise of mitigation or fire restoration professionals. Mitigation may involve boarding up missing windows with plywood, covering damaged portions of the roof with tarp, and putting up security fencing.

4. Set Aside Damaged Contents

Property owners may also want to begin sorting through contents to determine whether items are candidates for smoke cleaning or must be disposed of and replaced. This process can help owners file an accurate claim, obtain sufficient compensation for losses, and restore properties to pre-fire condition.

All of these measures can lay the groundwork for the cleanup process following a fire at a commercial building in Carthage, TN. A fire restoration company can repair damage and help owners or tenants get back to business.