After experiencing a fire or smoke damage in your home or office, it is important to take the following steps to ensure the safety of yourself, your family, or your employees and to minimize further damage: Leave the property immediately and call 911 for emergency services. Do not enter the property until it has been deemed safe by the fire department. Contact your insurance company to report the damage and start the claim process. Document the damage by taking pictures and video of the affected areas. Contact a professional fire damage restoration company to assess the damage and begin the cleanup and restoration process. It's important to not try to clean or repair the damage by yourself as it can be dangerous and may cause more damage. It's also important to avoid discarding any items until the insurance adjuster has assessed the damage, because if you discard anything before the assessment you may not be able to claim it.

Even if a fire is relatively small and only affects a small area, it is still important to have professional cleanup and restoration services. This is because a fire, even a small one, can cause significant damage to a property. Soot and smoke can penetrate into areas that are not visible, and may cause damage to walls, ceilings, and other building materials. The odor of smoke can also linger long after the fire has been put out, and can be difficult to remove without professional deodorizing services. Additionally, a professional fire damage restoration company will have the equipment and expertise to properly assess the damage, remove any soot and smoke, and deodorize the property. They will also be able to remove and replace any damaged building materials, such as drywall, insulation, and flooring. It's important to contact a professional fire damage restoration company as soon as possible after a fire, to minimize the damage and to start the cleanup and restoration process as soon as possible. They will work with the insurance company to ensure that the property is properly assessed and that the cleanup and restoration process is carried out in a timely and efficient manner. In short, even if the fire was small, it's recommended to have a professional fire damage restoration company to ensure that the property is properly assessed, cleaned and restored, and to ensure that the property is safe to occupy.