Service
Fire and smoke damage in Olympia
After a fire there are three kinds of damage: fire, smoke and the water used to put it out. Call to be connected with an independent contractor who takes fire and smoke calls, once the fire department says the house is safe.
Calling soon after you find the water usually leaves more choices. The call goes to an independent contractor.
The water is part of it
Fire crews use a lot of water, and it goes into floors, walls and ceilings. That water is why a fire call often includes drying as well as cleaning.
Smoke travels farther than flame. Soot can settle on surfaces in rooms that never burned, and odor can sit in porous materials such as upholstery and insulation.
Insurance after a fire
The Washington regulator says most home policies cover additional living expenses if you are displaced, and suggests tracking housing, food and laundry costs. It also says you may choose your own contractor.
The same page warns that an assignment of benefits form could affect your rights to your claim. Read it before you sign anything, and ask your insurer about it.
What to write down
- Which rooms burned, which only smoked, and which got wet from hoses.
- Items you think are lost, with what you remember about age and price.
- The name and report number of the fire agency that responded.
- Receipts for hotels, meals and temporary repairs.
Questions people ask
Can I go back in to get things?
Only when the fire department says it is safe. Structural damage, hot spots and wet wiring are not always visible.
Water still spreading? Make the call.
You will be asked what is wet, where the water came from and whether it has stopped. Have the street address in front of you.