What to Do After a House Fire in Lawton, OK: The First 48 Hours

Do not re-enter until the fire department says it is safe. Even then, be careful: ceilings and floors can be weakened, there may be hidden hot spots, and electrical and gas systems may be damaged.

• Ask the fire department whether utilities were shut off and whether it is safe to restore them.
• Have a licensed electrician check the system before turning power back on.
• Wear sturdy shoes, gloves and an N95 mask — soot and ash irritate the lungs.
• Keep children and pets out of the house until it has been cleaned.

Ask the Lawton Fire Department (or the department that responded) how to get a copy of the fire report — your insurer will usually want it. Then call your insurance company or agent as soon as you can to open a claim and ask what your policy covers, including additional living expenses if you cannot stay in the home.

Write down your claim number, your adjuster’s name and phone number, and every conversation you have about the claim.

Before cleanup starts, take photos and video of every room, including ceilings, floors, closets and the contents of cabinets. Close-ups of damaged items help, and so do wide shots that show the overall condition of each room. This record is the foundation of your claim.

Broken windows, doors that were forced open, and holes in the roof need to be closed quickly to keep out rain, wind and intruders. Most policies expect homeowners to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. A restoration company can board up openings and tarp the roof the same day. Our insurance claim guide walks through the rest of the claim.

Firefighting uses a lot of water. That water can soak carpet, subfloor, drywall and insulation, and if it is not dried properly it can lead to mold within days. Professional water extraction and structural drying should start as soon as the home is safe to enter — if it waits, you may also be dealing with mold.

It is natural to want to start cleaning, but wiping soot with household cleaners usually smears it deeper into paint, grout and fabric. Different types of smoke residue need different cleaning methods, and lingering odor often comes from smoke that has worked into HVAC ducts, insulation and wall cavities.

• Do not run the HVAC system until ducts have been checked — it can spread soot through the house.
• Do not eat food, drink, or use medicine that was exposed to heat, smoke or soot.
• Set aside important documents, photos and keepsakes for professional cleaning rather than throwing them out.

After soot removal, odor treatment and drying, damaged materials need to be rebuilt — drywall, flooring, cabinets, paint and sometimes framing or roofing. Working with a company that handles both fire damage restoration in Lawton and the reconstruction means one scope of work for your insurer and one schedule for you.