If some grease in caught on fire and burned part of your home's kitchen, then there are some immediate actions you must take to keep your family safe and to recover from the fire's damage, including each of the following:
Have the Kitchen Inspected by the Local Fire Department
If the grease fire was small enough to where you were able to put it out with a standard fire extinguisher, but it burned into cabinets or walls, then it's important to have the kitchen professionally inspected for safety. The best way to do so is to ask the local fire department to come out and inspect the area and ensure nothing else is smoldering or causing a hazardous condition.
Call the 24-Hour Emergency Claim Number for Your Homeowner's Insurance Company
After you have asked the fire department to ensure your kitchen is safe, then before doing anything else, call the 24-hour emergency claim number for your homeowner's insurance company. The fire insurance policy on your home very likely includes coverage for emergency fire damage repair services.
If so, there are professional damage control companies in your area you can call to come and clean up water, soot, and residue left from the fire's smoke. And, if you dive into the project yourself before calling your insurance company, you could have unnecessary issues with the things they will and will not cover.
Steps to Take if Your Policy Doesn't Have Coverage for Emergency Fire Damage Restoration Services
If your home is safe to enter and you discover your fire insurance doesn't cover restoration services, then you will need to clean up the mess as soon as possible. Fire and extinguisher foam aren't the only things that will permanently damage your home and belongings; the smoke will do so as well. With this in mind, follow each of these steps to start the cleanup process for your home:
- remove any foam or water using a shop vacuum
- open all of the windows and run fans to air out the remaining smoke
- wash the soot and smoke residue off of any affected walls and counters
- mop all wood and vinyl floors
- clean all wall-to-wall carpets with a rented cleaner or have them professionally cleaned
- remove all area rugs and have them cleaned or wash them outside
Finally, if you have any broken windows in the kitchen, then board them up with plywood until you can have them repaired.
