24 hour Emergency Service

After The Fire Is Out

The fire is out, and the smoke has cleared. The fire department is gone, and the home owners are left with a disaster on their hands. It is important to recommend a professional mitigation company that can meet the required professional standards in service while recognizing the importance of extending true compassion and understanding as your Policyholders cope with their loss.

After a fire is extinguished, a Policyholder's first obligation is to call the insurance company. This is most likely the first, and probably the only time, they will have to deal with this type of situation. They are distraught, stressed and traumatized. They need help.

	So, what do you say to them? What suggestions can you make to begin the process of not only restoring their property, but also helping to restore their lives?
Kitchen Fire Before PuroClean		Same Kitchen after PuroClean

Safety is always the first concern. You want to ensure that the Policyholder does not enter and walk around in the structure, which could expose them or other occupants to hazards. This can be a problem because smoke darkens the structure and obstructs the view of identifiable safety concerns. There may be compromised structural components, falling debris or even electrical-safety issues. Depending on the severity of the loss, the Policyholder or other occupants may need to consider leaving the building.

In addition to the structural hazards, it is also important to consider health issues, especially in exasperating any respiratory ailments or concerns of the Policyholder or others living in the damaged structure. Every fire generates particles of incomplete combustion (PIC's) that remain in the air and on surfaces after the fire is out. Many of these PIC's are known as carcinogens. They range in size from 0.1 to 4.0 microns. A micron is 1/1,000,000 of a meter-take the thickness of a dime and slice it 1,000 times! Because of their very small size, PIC's are easily inhaled.

The Policyholder should consider leaving the structure, at least temporarily, especially if someone already has a known respiratory concern (infants, seniors, diabetics, asthmatics, etc.) If the Policyholder decides to leave, have them secure the property to the highest extent possible.

The next step is to get the professional mitigation company involved immediately! The sooner they start the restoration process, the easier it is going to be to assess, evaluate and act on the damage. The faster the response, the greater the chance of saving property and possessions. For instance:

WITHIN MINUTES:
Plastic and marble surfaces begin to permanently stain.

WITHIN HOURS:
Metals tarnish, grout stains, fiberglass yellows and furniture yellows.

WITHIN DAYS:
Flooring stains, fabrics are lost, and wood furniture finish is compromised.

And, the list goes on. The faster a professional mitigator can begin, the faster the occupants can return to a restored and healthy environment, and the better the Policyholder can manage the loss to keep restoration costs as low as possible.

A professional mitigation company's personnel knows how to allay the many concerns and fears that a Policyholder has after a loss. A prompt, knowledgeable and sympathetic response will go a long way in explaining the process and assuring the Policyholder of the best possible outcome.

The most effective way to ensure maximum service and outcome is to recommend a mitigation company you know and trust. Explain to the Policyholder that they will be contacted; then call the mitigation company with the necessary information and let them make contact. Check with your client to confirm contact, but if you've made the right referral, the company should have already made contact letting the Policyholder know what to expect-and that they will be on the site in a matter of hours.

Another responsibility of the Policyholder is to document the personal items they have lost and try to attach a value. Take a moment and think of all the things you would hate to lose if a fire occurred in your home. Your Policyholders are experiencing those emotions for real. They should review what was in the affected room or rooms and begin documenting losses as soon as they are able.

A professional mitigator will take the time to communicate with the insured on the processes that will take place, how their property and personal items will be protected, and work with them on getting their lives back together.

The responsibility of the professional smoke and fire mitigator includes:

Respond rapidly to the customer

Communicate the procedures and secure an authorization

Scope the damage and provide a detailed estimate

Control and contain to prevent continuing damage

Prevent cross-contamination

Properly clean and process the entire job

Process and properly dispose of wastes

Provide effective odor control

Provide an environment ready for any final repairs

From the time the first call is received until the mitigation is complete, a professional mitigation company like PuroClean Home Rescue is essential in handling the claim and in managing the cost, but even more importantly, it creates a satisfied, lasting and loyal Policyholder.