Your first task is to identify the scope of the damage. Once you understand the scope, begin documenting the fire damage (assuming that it is still safe to remain in the house or business). The best way to document the damage is to take photographs of the fire damage. Once this is accomplished, contact fire & smoke damage professionals as soon as possible.

There are different types and sources for water damage.. In some cases, the water damage may be the result of heavy rains or a thunderstorm. This is obviously a much different situation than a leaked pipe or a sewer back-up. For example, an insurance company may pay for water damage resulting from a sudden and accidental loss. However, they are less likely to pay for water damage or mold damage resulting from leaving a faucet on for too long as a lot of insurance companies don’t offer mold coverage.

Homeowners should check their entire home to fully understand the extent of the fire & smoke damage. You should also check for wall damage or discoloration, which might only appear more obvious after several days. 

Smoke specifically tarnishes materials such as metal and glass. Lastly, If there is an odor in your home, determine whether the odor is evident throughout your entire property or contained in a specific area.

Also, you may want to use fans or dehumidifiers to accelerate the drying out process. At this point, you should contact a water damage company as soon as possible, so secondary damage does not occur, such as mold growth and additional structural damage.

If there is an odor in your home or business, figure out whether the odor is evident throughout the entire property or contained in a specific area. As soon as it is safe, all doors and windows should be opened as soon as possible for ventilation.

What happens if your property doesn’t suffer from any fire damage, but smoke damage? There may still be a lingering odor that may need to be neutralized. You should also check for any soot that needs to be removed.