No one wants to think about something as devastating as a fire in your home. But wouldn’t you rather be prepared for the worst? House fires are more common than you think. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a home fire occurred every 87 seconds on average in 2018. Here are ways you can prepare for house fire damage in RI.
Have A "Go-Bag" Ready
To some, this may sound a bit silly, but creating a go-bag or emergency kit for you and your family can be crucial if you suffer from house fire damage in RI.
Your go-bag contains things like medical supplies, sealed water, non-perishable food, sanitation/hygiene products, and other emergency supplies. It should be located in a spot in your home close to an exit (like your front or back door) and everyone in your household should know exactly where it is in case of emergencies.
Get creative with it! If you feel that a coloring book for your kids is a necessary item for your go-bag, absolutely throw that in there. Just be sure that you have enough room for the essentials!
Invest In A Good Fireproof Safe
In the event of a house fire, your priority should be escaping the building with the rest of your family and your pets. You shouldn’t need to worry about your social security card or birth certificate! Having a fireproof safe to hold all of your important documents will relax you in knowing that they won’t be ruined after an already stressful event.
Have an updated list of all of your contents
Even in the smallest of homes, you probably have a lot of stuff. Small things, big things, sentimental things, all sorts of things that could be ruined in house fire damage in RI.
By keeping an updated, detailed list of all of your belongings, your insurance claim process will go a lot smoother. After a fire, there’s a very good chance that a decent amount of your contents will be burned beyond repair. Thankfully, homeowner’s insurance policies have a section called Personal Property or Contents insurance that will cover the items in your home.
When you begin the fire damage insurance claim process in RI, your insurance company is going to ask you about what exactly was damaged. By having this list, you’ll know exactly what needs to be replaced.
In your list, include things like:
- What the item is (couch, TV, appliance, etc.)
- How much you bought the item for
- What the model number or serial number of the item is
- Where you purchased the item
Don’t worry, things like a roll of paper towels or small things under the amount of about $10 don’t need to clog up your list. Take a Saturday to write down everything you already have, and keep it updated as best as you can for a stress-free fire damage claim.
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Take Precautionary Measures To Prevent House Fire Damage In RI
We know you would want to do whatever you can to prevent house fire damage in RI. From our blog back in July, house fires can start in a number of ways.
- Kitchen Fires
- Candles
- Grills
- Portable Space Heaters
- Christmas Trees
- Kids
- Smoking
- Faulty Electrical Wiring
- Electrical Equipment
- Chemicals
Do what you can to prevent a fire by keeping an eye on things like candles, grills, space heaters, and Christmas trees. Make sure your electrical wiring in your Rhode Island home is up to date. Do whatever possible to prevent a devastating property damage disaster.
Have An Escape Plan For you & Your Family
The National Fire Protection Association says that in the event of a house fire, you have between 1 to 2 minutes to safely escape your home once your smoke alarms go off. Have a family meeting to determine how to safely escape from your home. Make sure every room has 2 exits, someone gathers your pets, and determine a meeting place once you have exited the property.
The video below goes into more detail on what to do in case of a fire.
Find A Good Restoration Company In RI
After calling 911 to dispatch your local fire department, it’s important to have a good restoration company in RI to come out and ensure your home doesn’t incur more damages after the fire is put out. Restoration companies can begin the cleanup process, board up the windows and doors to your home, and preserve the integrity of the structure of your home.
Have A Public Adjuster In RI Lined Up
After house fire damage in RI, the last thing you should be worrying about is your insurance claim. Public adjusters take the stress of your claim off of your hands by handling all aspects of communication and negotiation with your insurance company. They will find you a place to live if your home is deemed unsafe, file the insurance claim for you, maximize the settlement of your claim, and so much more.
We are happy to help you with your fire damage insurance claim. We offer free, no strings attached on-site consultations for fire damage whether it was yesterday or 2 years ago. We will assess your damages to determine how we can get you the most money for your fire damage insurance claim.
