Securing Your Facility After a Fire

4/19/2021 (Permalink)

Secure your building and valuables to prevent secondary losses.

Tasks To Complete After A Business Fire

It is possible to continue business after a fire in Batavia, IL, but the steps you take after fire damage can determine how quickly it happens. Here are tasks to complete after a business fire.

Document Damages
Many things happen at once following a disaster, so it's imperative to keep records of expenses and activity as much as possible. Something you think you will remember may escape you later. Your documentation may include:

• Photos of the damage
  
• Receipts you incur during fire mitigation
  
• Names and phone numbers of companies and agencies you contact
  
  

Safeguard Your Property
After fire damage, board up doors and windows immediately and put tarps on any holes in the roof. Securing the building will deter vandals and thieves. Keep receipts of fire cleanup expenses to provide to the insurance company.

Hire Security
A fire-damaged building can be an open invitation for looting. Check with your local police department to see if they can patrol the area. You may need to hire private security, though, as the police may not be available on a round-the-clock basis for your building.

Turn Off Utilities
To avoid any chances of another fire, have your gas and electric power turned off at the meter. Shut off the water supply at the main valve. Before resuming services, call your utility company to inspect the building and clear it for use.

Remove Valuable Property
Retrieve valuable papers and property after the fire department permits you to enter the facility. You may need to collect inventory records, employee documentation, insurance policies and business permits. If you can safely access credit cards, checkbooks or money from the premises, remove those items as well. Ask a fire professional about precautions to take before opening a safe, which may cause the things inside to ignite if opened too early.
As soon as you can safely get to your property, secure your building and valuables to prevent secondary losses such as additional fire damage and looting.