After the fire What to do if you experience a fire in your home or business

• Check with the fire department to make sure your home is safe to enter. Be careful when you go inside – floors and walls may not be as safe as they look.
• The fire department will have to shut off your utilities if they are not safe to use. Do not try to turn them back on by yourself. This could be very dangerous.
• Do not eat, drink, or breathe in anything that has been near the flames, smoke, soot, or water used to put the fire out.
• Do not touch any fire-damaged items. Ask the advice of the fire department, local building officials, your insurance agent, or Cousino Restoration & Environmental before starting to clean or make repairs.
• In some cases, you may need to board up openings to secure your property. Cousino Restoration & Environmental can help you with rapid-response board and tarp-up service.
• If you leave your home, call the local police department to let them know that the site will be vacant.
• Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army. They will help you find a place to stay, find food, clothing, and medicine. 
• If you have pets, try to leave them with a family member, friend, or veterinarian. Keep your pets out of the house until the cleanup is complete to keep them safe.

• You will want to find and, if need be, replace many of the following documents if they were destroyed or lost in the fire:
  • Driver’s License & Passport
  • Citizenship Papers
  • Social Security Cards
  • Credit Cards and Checks
  • Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates
  • Divorce Paperwork
  • Wills
  • Titles to Deeds
  • Medical Insurance Cards
  • Medical Records
  • Auto Registrations
  • Insurance Policies
  • Stocks and Bonds
  • Military Discharge Papers
  • Warranties
  • Income Tax Records
  • Animal Registration Papers

Damaged money may still have value. If half or more is still intact, you can get it replaced through your Regional Federal Reserve Bank. If there is not one near you, you can mail it (registered mail – return receipt requested) to:

Department of the Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing Office of Currency Standards

P.O. Box 37048 Washington, DC 20013

After the fire, the cleaning and restoration experts at RestorePro Reconstruction provide the following services:

• Complete board and tarp-up services
• Water mitigation
• Fire and smoke damage mitigation
• Complete restoration services
• Contents cleaning and storage

Whether you or your insurer is responsible for engaging a company to provide these services, be clear about who will pay for it. In addition, be sure to get an estimate of the cost for the work and agree to it in writing.