Blog Post

Water Damage Mitigation After a House Fire in Nampa, ID

Ryker Bingham |  Nov 04, 2019

If you have recently been through a house fire, you know the many emotions and fears that have run through your mind. Once you and your family are safe, your next priority is likely to get your home back in its original condition so you can go back to living your life. You already know that you will need smoke mitigation and that any structures that were burned will need to be repaired or replaced. What you might not have thought of is that you will also need some water damage mitigation services in your Nampa home. Read on to learn more about what this and what your post-fire remediation will entail.
Fireman outside of burned house

Why Do You Need Water Damage Mitigation After a Fire?

In just about all cases, the fire department will have used a surprisingly large amount of water to put out your fire. Depending on the cause and location of the fire, this damage might be limited to one room or it might be throughout your entire house. If the fire department had to cut through your roof to spray water into your attic, then it is likely that it leaked into all of the rooms. In the case of putting out fires, water is essential... but it does cause additional damage.

Another cause of water damage after a house fire is when the roof is compromised either from the fire itself or the efforts to put it out. While tarping can be helpful, it will not always keep heavy rain or snow out of a home after a fire.

You might have waterlogged carpets, drywall, and furniture. All of this can be repaired or replaced. Having the work done by a restoration company that does water damage mitigation like Standard Restoration will help prevent mold and other issues caused by water damage that is not addressed correctly.

When Should Water Damage Mitigation Start?

You might be surprised to know that depending on the weather and the humidity levels in your home, mold spores can begin growing as quickly as 24 hours after the water damage has occurred. For this reason, we recommend hiring a water damage mitigation specialist as soon as possible. 

What About My Homeowners’ Insurance?

Immediately after your fire, once you are safe, you should contact your homeowners’ insurance company to let them know what has happened. They will provide you with the funds for temporary housing if you are not able to return to your home right away. The immediate concern will be for you and your family to be somewhere safe. 

After that need has been addressed, you will want to start talking about having your home repaired. Your insurance company will probably want to send someone out to look at the damage. This is also when you should call a fire and water damage mitigation company like Standard Restoration. We can help you work with your insurance company to get your repair work covered. You won’t be dealing with this on your own; you’ll have us on your side every step of the way.

What Does a Water Damage Mitigation Company Do?

At Standard Restoration, we handle not only the damage from the fire, smoke, and soot but also the damage created by the water. If the water damage has been left unaddressed for more than a day (which is very common), then we can also remediate any mold damage that has occurred.

We will go through your entire home, removing and disposing of items that cannot be salvaged. If some items can be salvaged, we will handle that. Often, clothing and furniture can be treated to remove smoke and soot. If yours cannot be, we will work with you to help you get those items replaced. We will also assess the damage to the structure of the house and contact professionals to fix various parts of the home. For example, you might need a new roof, new support beams, new drywall, and some new flooring. 

At the end of the repair process, your home will be very close to its original condition. The goal is to have all of the work done as efficiently as possible to get you back home where you and your family belong so you can heal from the trauma of having gone through a house fire. 

What Should Homeowners Avoid Doing After a House Fire?

First, never re-enter a home after a house fire until and unless the fire department has said that it’s safe to do so. Even after the fire is completely extinguished, there is probably still going to be potentially dangerous smoke residue. In addition, if the structure of the home was compromised, it might not be safe to walk on the flooring or to be underneath the roof. 

Even if the fire department gives you the all-clear, you should not plug in any appliances. Don’t try to vacuum out standing water or turn on fans. The electrical system could have been compromised during the fire and it needs to be inspected before you should attempt to use it.

Finally, don’t attempt to move back into the home unless someone has told you that it is safe. Even if the home’s structure seems stable and the smoke smell has mostly dissipated, the home could have mold developing or the factors that led to the fire could still be present. It is not worth the risk. Wait to go back into the home until the entire thing has been inspected and deemed safe.

If you have been impacted by a house fire and need fire, smoke, mold, or water damage mitigation services, contact Standard Restoration today. We serve homeowners in the Nampa, Idaho, area and we are available 24/7/365. You aren’t alone in this; we can help. Call now.
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