Dealing With a Smoke Damaged Building

10/27/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damaged building in Hallbrook, TN.

What Are Your Options When Dealing With Damage from Smoke?

When a fire hits your neighborhood in Hallbrook, TN, even if your building wasn’t the one on fire you can still end up dealing with the fallout. Smoke damage can cause serious harm to commercial buildings, from cosmetic damage to health issues from soot and ash – not to mention the smell of smoke pervading everything. 

Contact Your Insurance Company

Did you know that even if the fire wasn’t in your building, you can still reach out to your insurance company for help? Smoke damage is usually covered by commercial property insurance, and your insurance company can help you with:

• Smoke cleaning
  
• Repairing soot damage
  
• Odor removal
  
• Possible replacement of damaged items
  
  

You’re not on your own when it comes to recovering your business from smoke and fire damage, and you shouldn’t have to live with the unsightly consequences of someone else’s catastrophe.

What You Can Do in the Meantime

While you wait for an insurance adjuster to evaluate your claim and conduct a detailed inspection, there are still steps you can take. Document the smoke damage thoroughly. Create a detailed inventory of all items and the types of damage, describing the damage as accurately as possible. Take photographs to supplement the descriptions. Outline initial purchase costs of damaged items and their current depreciated value, as well as the value of any other damaged property. Try not to move the damaged items too much, as the insurance adjuster will need to see their locations during the time of the incident.

Be Safe

While documenting the damage, always take safety precautions. Inhalation of smoke, ash, and soot may cause issues, and the smell of smoke can be overwhelming and cause headaches and nausea. To prevent a negative reaction, always wear protective breathing gear while inventorying your property, and use gloves and other protective equipment as needed. Avoid contact with soot and other substances as much as possible.