Ten Steps to Take After a Fire
According to Fox 4, “A fast-moving fire left a home in Kanas City’s Historic Northeast gutted, two men inside were killed. Fire crews believe without two critical mistakes, the tragedy might have been avoided. Both men, who are believed to be brothers in their 60s, died. Investigators think careless smoking is to blame.”There are ten steps to take after a fire.
In the 400 block of N. Lawndale Ave., the home is badly charred inside and out, following the blaze, which broke out around 3 a.m. Friday morning.
Grecia Robles and her family, neighbors to the N. Lawndale Ave, house, woke up to the smell of smoke. And while the family is grateful to be safe and their home standing, their hearts break for their next-door neighbor. When firefighters got here, they found a man covered in soot, who narrowly escaped through an upstairs window then down a tree, and frantically told them his two uncles were trapped inside.
Where Were the Smoke Detectors?
“Our crews made an aggressive interior attack. During our primary search, we located one victim on the second floor and pulled him out. He ultimately was deceased, and after we knocked the fire down, we located a second victim,” said Jimmy Walker, Kansas City Fire Department assistant chief.
“We’re behind the eight ball when we show up, and there’s a delayed response. What can stop the delayed response? Smoke detectors. So if we’re alerted sooner, you’re alerted there’s a fire inside your home sooner, we can get out there to reduce the damage,” Walker said.
Neighbors tell FOX4 they are checking all their smoke alarms to make sure they’re working. KCFD reminds you they have the devices on hand, which are free to the community.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration of FEMA, on average, 1,000 homes catch fire every day. A home fire in Kansas City can be devastating to a family. Not only can a family lose everything, but there’s the disruption of everyday life, possible guilt, and grief, not to mention the potential loss of loved ones. There is one critical step to take before a fire: have working smoke alarms! There are ten steps to take after a fire.
There are Ten Steps to Take After a Fire:
Be Safe, Be Smart
It is normal to want to enter the house as quickly as possible to see the damage for yourself and retrieve your valuables. Please wait until the professionals tell you it is ok.Know who to call
It is your responsibility to contact your insurance agent. This is a priority. Calling your insurance agent starts all the paperwork to establish a claim. Call relatives. Call the Red Cross who helps families like yours.Check Your Family for Shock
a fire is very traumatic. Everyone will process the loss differently. Get immediate help or counseling.Establish a home base
One of the ten steps to take after a fire: try to get back to a routine as quickly as possible. You will need temporary housing, clothing, essential bathroom items, medicines, school clothes for children, etc. Be sure to document everything to be reimbursed by your insurance company. You may even need to ask for a draw on your policy for the basics.Get a copy of the fire report
A fire report will discuss where in the house the fire occurred, the time of the incident, the date of the incident, and the incident number if it comes through a fire department.Secure the property
one of the ten steps to take after a fire. The insurance company will require this.Keep track of all your expenses
and correspondence regarding your loss. A three-ring binder is a handy way to document the process.Coordinate with your insurance company
the work needed to restore your home from fire, smoke, and water damage.Last, many people decide not to live in the house again
. They take the cash from the insurance company and move on. However, city ordinances, for safety reasons, require the house either be repaired or torn downEnsure that your house or apartment has a smoke detector
, and for very little money, you can add a carbon monoxide detector. These simple items can and will save your life.
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